3800 swap into 88 GT, Can a NA 3800 be supercharged? (Page 1/1) phils88GT FEB 03, 12:49 AM I really want to swap in the 3800SC engine into my 88 GT 5-speed. I do have a couple of questions. If I cannot find a good 3800SC engine, can the N/A 3800 be supercharged? Also, will the 2.8L clutch work on the 3800? Thanks everyone! mad dad matt FEB 03, 08:47 AM You may be able too but not advised. You would have to use the stronger, lower compression ratio sc rods rings and pistons. There may be other differences but you could just buy 2 used 3800sc motors for the same price as new pistons and rods. The 2.8 clutch pack will not survive if it did fit. The 3800 will need a custom flywheel, there is no factory part. You can get one from a fiero swap vendor or have a machine shop mill down a camaro flywheel. Plenty of threads with all the specifics and endless options but that is the quick over view. fieroguru FEB 03, 08:57 AM The short answer is yes, and it has been done several times. You will need to swap heads as the injectors for the supercharged versions are in the head and in the intake on the NA versions. So Supercharger + NA heads = no injector holes. The internals of the NA 3800 are not as strong as the supercharged versions, and also have higher compression - both of these will narrow the tuning window. The 2.8 clutch will work to move the car and cruise, but will not hold the increased torque from the 3800SC. If you don't want to go through the effort to find the supercharger and heads, you can install a centrifugal blower or turbo it as well. cam-a-lot FEB 03, 07:12 PM quote Originally posted by mad dad matt: You may be able too but not advised. You would have to use the stronger, lower compression ratio sc rods rings and pistons. There may be other differences but you could just buy 2 used 3800sc motors for the same price as new pistons and rods. The 2.8 clutch pack will not survive if it did fit. The 3800 will need a custom flywheel, there is no factory part. You can get one from a fiero swap vendor or have a machine shop mill down a camaro flywheel. Plenty of threads with all the specifics and endless options but that is the quick over view. Lots of people have done this without any issues. I have been driving a NA block with a top swap for many years, and so do many others. It works just fine, and I am running a 3.0 pulley, full stack intercooler, XP Cam, etc. phils88GT FEB 03, 07:37 PM Ok. I have to think about this and figure out what I want to do. My other thought was getting a 3400 and rebuilding it, throwing on a turbo setup. Not sure how well that would hold up. I wonder what the CR is for most 3400’s? mad dad matt FEB 03, 08:32 PM You will be running into the same fundamental problems with SC or TC a motor not built for it. The block and crank will work fine, but that is abought it. You can not use the boost if you start with a high compression motor. NA are around 9.5 and boost run closer to 8.5 ratios. Pre-detonation will happen as soon as the boost kicks in. Short stout rods that lower compression and can handle the power. NA, SC, and TC piston rings are not the same. That's just the short block. Haven't gotten into heads and intake flow. You have 3 options. 1)Find a SC or TC motor and swap it in. Takes time to locate. 2) Completely rebuild a motor to convert it to take boost. A lot of research time and funds. 3) Throw boost on a NA motor and send it. Won't make as much power as the first 2 and won't last. So you can do it, but why? "Any motor can take any shot of nitro once. Making more power or doing it twice is a whole different story." phils88GT FEB 03, 08:36 PM You are right. If I am going to do it, I believe it is best to do it right the first time. I don't like doing things twice if I can help it. What are other common swaps for 88 GT's? I don't want to go crazy with HP, as I will DD this and need it to be reliable. Thanks everyone! mad dad matt FEB 04, 10:12 AM Rebuild your 2.8 for 140 HP 93-95, 3.1 or 3.4 RWD, iron head ,from Camaro/ S10. Drill starter holes then it is a direct swap for 140 or 160HP . Getting hard to find these motors. Most documented and available swap parts would be the 3100 for 140 HP / 3400 for 170HP / 3800 for 205 / 3800SC for 240HP 3.4 DOHC for 205HP. People love or hate this one. Harder to get swap parts, timing belt not chain fails, harder to work on but great performance. 4.9 Cadillac for 200HP. More advanced swap with more parts to fabricate or buy but they can be locate. Dependable, good gas millage, lighter motor for better handling. Pretty much everything has been shoved into these things even LS4s. The ones I listed are easy to find build threads on and vender supplied swap parts. Parts for the 3xxx series II are pretty easy to fabricate if you can weld and read a wiring schematic. As the size goes up on 3xxx, the available aftermarket performance parts also increases.