hey everyone. Ive been debating ideas and have come up with a couple of paths I could take in regards to fixing my '86's engine...

it is an 86 3.8 v-6 with a c-4 auto. It has over 200,000 miles on it.

I have pretty much put the v-8 idea on the back burner for a good long time, as I may have the money to purchase a used 302, but I certianly dont have all the money toupgrade all the acessories, brakes, suspension etc...

now here is the problem with the engine. It has a bad main bearing somewhere, which is causing the engine to run hot and cause oil vapor to come out of the breather cap, thus making a mess everywhere... Now when I bought the car I had no awareness of the bad main, just leaking headgaskets, which I fixed(and took me forever) so the top end is freshly rebuilt and has only 55 miles on it. I did replace the connecting rod bearings when I went under the car to replace the oil pan gasket (leaky) and they are new too, didnt replace the mains cuz I had no time to do so...

I came up with two possible outcomes

I want to know if I can replace the main bearings from underneath the car (without rebuilding the entire engine) I dont want to go through rebuilding the heads and dismantling all the engine acessories again, as that was a huge pain... This would save me a ton of time plus the money I invested in the gasket kit and head bolts...

the other is..

suck it up and yank the engine and rebuild it, but in doing so, can I reuse the pistons, crank and assorted parts? If I cannot, where can I pick up the parts cheap so I can finally get this car out of the corner of my driveway and on to the road.

I'm looking for the easiest and most cost efficient way of fixing my baby, and any suggestions and reccomendations are appreciated.

on a final note, is there anyway I can repace the CFI unit with a carb? The thing stinks and I hate all the wires on the engine. would I need to repalace the fuel pump then/what stuff would I need?

thanks

 

Yank it out man, jus lettin you know, prolly wont get alot of response, mostly newer 3.8's try in the 5.0 section. And while your at it, i would replace everything, but me personally, go to a junkyard and get one with less miles, save you a big hassle. your 3.8l are hard to come by

 

Buy my 89 GT , 5.0 5 speed, runs good, No smoke, new back seat, new cobra mags and tires, new carpet,
Houston area $1400. no title.

fireltb@hotmail.com

Ron

 

If you are going to fix the 3.8 do it right and pull it out. With 200K on it it should be bored at least 10 over so new rings are needed and the crank probably needs turning too.

 

ok, would I be able to use a later 3.8 and just mate my intake onto it? or is that a big can of worms that I dont want to open?

I was far from happy when I discovered this problem, especially after all the work I put in it...

or could I get a 3.8 from a van? didnt they cram those in Windstars or Aero stars a while ago? or are those designed differently?

 

Problem here is I don't think you're gonna get a lot of help from us. Most of us here have 94-04 3.8's. Nobody that I know of it really familiar with the 3.8 Fox body chassis.

 

I know some one is making a carbed intake for the 3.8 but can't remember who but I just saw one a few days ago.

 

try the 2.3 liter fox section underneath the v6 section

 

thanks for the help guys, I know that the 3.8 foxes are a dying breed, most end up in yards or with V-8s which is what mine will become in a while, as long as I can afford a used 5.0. but nothing can be done until the semester is over...