I am looking for a few answers: 1. I have a 79 Lemans with a 231 Buick V6 I have rebuilt it, it is for the most part built to stock spec.’s other than being bored 40 over, double roller chain, high volume oil pump and a mild cam. Now I know were there is a complete early Turbo motor, What were the differences? Another words can I just bolt on the hardware from that motor to mine without doing in my current motor.
2. Motor mount, this is not a Turbo car but I seem to have a problem breaking motor mounts. Got any help?
To solve your motor mount breakage contact HR Parts n Stuff listed in the website vendor pages.
He has made up some bulletproof urethane mounts that will hold unbelievable amounts of torque without breakage. I'm sure that you will NEVER have that problem again once you've installed his mounts.
Dwight Hayden
The important thing is the year of the donor turbo system. 1978 systems were for the earlier style heads. The 1981/83 systems used an ECM which would complicate the swap. Also, if the turbo set-up is from a Riviera (FWD) it won't fit engine compartment.
A 1979/80 RWD turbo system will bolt right up. While the turbo motor came with a better crank and pistons, the non-turbo crank should handle the power well and if you used good quality pistons, you'll be fine. Everything else is the same.
Thank you Dwight for the info on motor mounts. Rich I am not sure of the year yet , I know it is a carb. car and it is RWD. ( I spoted it at a junk yard and need to go back and look closer).
I used TRW pistons and the crank is the original ( ground 10 and 10 ). Thank you for you input.Oh by the way is the Q-jet on the turbo cars the same as other GM cars or is it something specal and by adding the turbo what kind of HP gain will I see from my now app. 110 HP
The Q jet definetly is calibrated differently than a regular Q jet. It will have smaller dia metering rods amongst other things.
You might want to consider a torque strap. This solved my motor mount problems.
But those urethane mount(s) will also solve the problem.
In 1983,
3.8 NA V6
110 hp @ 3,800 rpm
190 ft-lbs torque @ 1,600 rpm
3.8 Turbo V6
180 hp @ 4,000 rpm
290 ft-lbs torque @ 2,400 rpm
(Of course the nice thing about the turbo is upping the boost.)