Looking at a 3.8

Topic: Looking at a 3.8 (Read 1333 times) previous topic - next topic

Looking at a 3.8

March 03, 2014, 01:44:58 PM

Im looking into buying a super coupe with the 3.8. I hate it when people post and ask what they should look for, but since i cant seem to find a thread where someone else did that. what should i look for? or if someone could refer me to a thread that tells all the things to look for that would be appreciated also!

thanks everyone!

Looking at a 3.8

Reply #1 – March 03, 2014, 02:16:42 PM

All I have heard about those is they blow head gaskets. But I also heard that there is a special head gasket that you can get that doesn't blow as easy. So a question for the current owner might be, have the head gaskets been replaced, and what model gasket did they use?

That's all I know. Well, more accurately, that's all the hearsay I can provide.

Looking at a 3.8

Reply #2 – March 03, 2014, 02:55:57 PM

http://www.sccoa.com

That's the best resource I know of.

Looking at a 3.8

Reply #3 – March 03, 2014, 03:14:13 PM

The only coupes we talk about here are TurboCoupes. 89 and later T-bird guys should join here. This is where they talk about MN-12 cars, we talk about Fox chassis cars. There you go, good luck.

Looking at a 3.8

Reply #4 – March 03, 2014, 06:40:15 PM

They can look really good, but have rust issues underneath. check the irs bushings and junk really well. good luck.

Looking at a 3.8

Reply #5 – March 03, 2014, 08:03:15 PM

Also they like to eat up cam and crank sensors. The under hood heat from the supercharger is hell on wiring and sensors.

Looking at a 3.8

Reply #6 – March 05, 2014, 07:59:22 PM

and,,,
search this user
"spazpuppies"

all posts posted by him,,,, he did the SC swap.

I highly recommend it not from experience but for the fact that its a power house of a swap.
you *must* have the transmission as well or you will regret it. The SC AOD is much more durable, Turbocoupe50 (tom) can speak to that subject.

good luck and remember to post pics.

I have always wanted to do one of these swaps.

going further into the topic,, and this would absolutely be awesome,,, grab the crank, rods and pistons from the 4.2L and that will stroke it. The oil pan will need clearance mods done,, not sure what solution is out there to solve this....

or get new rotary parts for a 4.2L,, both the SC3.8 and 4.2 are internally balanced and will interchange.