A neighbor has a 1997 Catera. Like 7 others I know of around here they have solid bodies and interiors...

and junk 3 liter engines.

I'm seeking advice here:

If you had one would you put in ________ engine.

350 Chevy, (LS-1)
Northstar
or a 3800 S/C Series II or III

any input appriciated, just keep it social and fun. (no flames intended here, please)

If you also know what parts ill need besides the Catera and the engine, feel free to let me know.

My neighbor hates the 3.0 V6 in it now. LOL

I'm thinking the LS1.
But don't forget about the 3.6 VVT that's in the CTS, especially since the CTS is an evolution of the Catera anyway.
(Catera Touring Sedan, anybody? But hey... I could be wrong.)
Seems like I read that the RWD 3.6 block even had the same bellhousing bolt pattern as the 3.0. Please don't take that as gospel, though.

Or you could always do a 4.9!

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 12-13-2008).]

LS1....my final answer. Talk about a sleeper, that little car with an LS1......ooooohhhh, I'm getting excited.

Paul

Sorry, I don't see how any of those would fit.

quote Originally posted by Raydar: (Catera Touring Sedan, anybody? But hey... I could be wrong.)

Cimarron Touring Sedan? Nah...
DeVille Touring Sedan - DTS
Seville Touring Sedan - STS

Your forgetting about the Catera itself.

Can
Any
Thing
Ever
Replace
Allante

I guess not, Id love to have one of them with the N*.

-Joe

quote Originally posted by ryan.hess: Sorry, I don't see how any of those would fit.

Cutting torch

Paul

LS1 into a Catera is already in the works. Check it out.

quote Originally posted by Deabionni: LS1 into a Catera is already in the works. Check it out.

quote Originally posted by Gokart Mozart: Cimarron Touring Sedan? Nah... DeVille Touring Sedan - DTS Seville Touring Sedan - STS

And don't forget : Eldorado Touring Coupe - ETC

LS1 - The headers a a HUGE PITA, on the drivers side it needs to be necked down to a 1.75" dia collecter. Its like trying to paralell park a dump truck, its possible but unless you have an AWESOME fabricator this might be unrealistic.

EDIT: From the thread posted above, Lingenfelter had rare GM prototype V8 catera parts for a conversion, (GM was gonna make a V8 Catera) LPE deemed it unprofitable to re-produce so they have sold the parts, I doubt whoever they sold them too will have the resources/drive to re-make reprodution parts.

The Monaro/GTO and G8 which have the same chassis have a totally different front section of the car to fit the V8

However the 3800 supercharged came factory on the commodore sedans in australia, which is where the catera originated from, the catera has the same identical frame as the commodore so it should be a fairly straightforward swap using aussie parts.

I would pretty much kill for a 3800sc catera, after driving around my buick with the same engine I long for that awesome tourque in a RWD chassis.

EDIT: Oh, the northstar? hahahahahahahahahahahahaha (ok really I would pay to see that)

[This message has been edited by 4-mulaGT (edited 12-14-2008).]