my 50$ lesabre fixup

[atjones44]

As ya'll know the 113k 1986 lesabre custom had a cracked block
so got another motor from a 86 riv, replacin bunch stuff. the motor is original and has 180k on it.
still ran like a top tho

here are some teardown pics.

before the pull:


engine coming out:




shes out!


that was the motor with the cracked block...so i got the motor pulled from the riv and on the engine stand.
Im ganna swap exhaust manifolds and intakes off the motor with the cracked block so all the vacuum stuff is the same.

anyway heres the motor im using on the stand:


crappy stock nylon cam sprocket, but for 180k its still perfect! amazing.


new timing gears on:


cleaned oil pan and installing new felpro gasket:


doin lower intake gaskets:

[87 PA-Tc]

Sweet, looks like your having fun. Are you multitasking the other other build as well or has it been put on hold?

[atjones44]

ya multitasking
i should be done by friday...but i just realized this freakin lesabre had a 3.0 v6 in it...
i dunno what issues this will cause with harness or wireing lol...tranny should be the same tho.

i can use the 86 riv's computer if the harness is the same. but i dunno haha i thought all lesabres had a 3.8 in them back then

[osseo86coupe]

ya multitasking
i should be done by friday...but i just realized this freakin lesabre had a 3.0 v6 in it...
i dunno what issues this will cause with harness or wireing lol...tranny should be the same tho.

i can use the 86 riv's computer if the harness is the same. but i dunno haha i thought all lesabres had a 3.8 in them back then

I thought that you said that it was a VIN B engine? If so that would be the flat tappet 3.8... The 3.0 was the VIN L.

[atjones44]

Ya i did, according to rockauto the 3.8 was a vin B, i had no idea about the 3.0...kinda had me stumbling last night when i figured it out....
i really didnt know they had a 3.0 in a full size lesabre, lol ..this really sucks. maybe the harness will work and i can swap ECU's from the 86 riv.

kinda sucks really, i didnt plan on having to swap other stuff...didnt expect another engine swap, i just wanna know if the 3.0 computer will control the 3.8, i know the tune would be way off probably

[86 2dr.ltd steve]

That does look like the 3.0 with the intake without a power6 logo but I dont know for a fact that all the LG2 and 3's always had the logo. I have forgotten what my 86 Rivs LG2 had on the manifold. Quickist way to tell would be if it has a cam sensor and there in lies your computer and engine harness problem. As I recall from comparing to my 87 LG3 engine... and its been years... is there is one wire difference at the ECM and also on the ignition module. Seems on the ignition module there is one less wire and connection all together... something like that.

3.0 LN7 was the standard engine in 86 on LeSabre and Delta 88 with the 3.8 being the optional. I think it was more how they were delivered to the dealers than actually "ordered". My Limited has most basic power options but came with the 3.0. Then at one time I saw 86 customs with hand crank windows, manual seats that came with the LG3. I'd kill today for a pair of those hand crank regulators and door panels.

[86 2dr.ltd steve]

Ya i did, according to rockauto the 3.8 was a vin B, i had no idea about the 3.0...kinda had me stumbling last night when i figured it out....
i really didnt know they had a 3.0 in a full size lesabre, lol ..this really sucks. maybe the harness will work and i can swap ECU's from the 86 riv.

kinda sucks really, i didnt plan on having to swap other stuff...didnt expect another engine swap, i just wanna know if the 3.0 computer will control the 3.8, i know the tune would be way off probably

I dont think its that complicated if you have the Rivs harness unless thats quite a bit different due to relay locations and stuff under the hood, I dont remember any of that stuff. With correct engine harness there will just be a bit of a difference inside the firewall where the dash harness plugs into the computer... and your a pro at this now... LOL

So out of curiosity where is the LN7's block cracked ? Was this a freeze issue or what ? (thought you were a welder... LOL )

[atjones44]

lol ya this is a 86 lesabre custom with the hand crank windows

The block is cracked on the # 2 cylinder by the freeze plug and its cracked all the way to the front cover! it was pretty severe. i cant believe i could drive it! it ran ok but had a miss. of course the oil was milky. the guy musta changed some things and thought he fixed it cuz it had brand new lim gaskets and all that.

Im a good welder but the block is cast right? cast doesnt weld good at all. and i believe the crack was well into the case if coolant was leakin in the crankcase and out lol.

ya we'll see if the 3.0 computer controls it first. the 3.0 and the 3.8 front covers are identical. the intake is way different. fuel rail is way smaller,

I guess i just didnt know lol.should be an ez swap.
I guess we'll see.
maybe the 3.0 computer will run it. i dunnoo if it will run lean. but my best bet is to get the ecu and harness out of the riv.

[atjones44]

Im sure the 3.0 computer will control it. David (turbokinetic) is usually right on stuff like this.

the sensors are pretty much the same. using the 3.0's maf and injectors in the 3.8's rail. it should work. this is fun. hope to have this done by friday (taking the day off work)
then i can paint the engine bay of my ttype and get the series 3 in sometime lol.

[86 2dr.ltd steve]

So your saying the LG2 has no cam sensor and is multi port like the LN7 ? And the ignition module has the same plug ? Im curious myself to see how this goes.

That 86 Riv with the LG2 I had... had a running issue no one could figure out, I thought I had it for a matter of a few weeks and it came right back. Today perhaps I could figure it out. The previous owner had 3 different mechanics throw every electrical part at it on the engine. It had no codes and even the computer was replaced. I put a new (used) MAF and fuel pump which went during its sitting when all were stunned and thought I was brilliant... for two weeks... LOL. Would have been one sweet car otherwise, it only had 90some thousand on it, barely broke in, clean as a whistle with just peeling clear coat. Oh well its been gone for some time now I only paid $200 for it because the owner was fed up and the mechanic whos shop it sat at gave up as well.

[atjones44]

Well the 3.0 had no cam senser. the LG2 had one but since im swapping it over into the lesabre it shouldnt be needed. so i used the LN7's front cover. (they are identical. it just had a blockoff plate where the cam senser went. I used the 3.0's ignition module / coil pack, crank senser, injectors, front cover, harmonic balancer, and a sensor that was in the LN7's intake that the LG2 had a hole for with a plug in it. so it will be plug and play basically. I hope it runs good

David should be right, i shouldnt have to swap the computers or use any wiring from the riv

The only issue i will have is that the throttle body on the LG2 doesnt have a bracket for my throttle and cruise...will weld on the old bracket somehow so it works. but i dunno...maybe the bracket from the riv will work but i doubt it since the cables are shorter on the lesabre

I dunno about the 3.0 much but it seems to share many of the same parts.
The crank the same as the 3.8? cuz everything fits from it lol.
is it a 90 degree block? i'd think not since the intake is smaller...maybe the heads are just different i dunno
but the 3.0 had just been worked on it had all new gaskets and pushrods from what i could tell lol. someone tried to fix the coolant leak problem and didnt see the crack on the back of the motor.

[86 2dr.ltd steve]

Ok, then thats kind of a reverse or multi directional swap, turning the 3.8 into a multiport rather than the car to sequential... I see. So as well as being a engine swap its also a swapped engine . 3.8 should be more bear like with multi port but less economical. Computer fuel map may also be tuned differently as the 3.0 s peak HP was IIRC 500 rpm higher. Your tranny may also have the 3.06 final drives this would be represented by FW2 on your trunk deck. I take it you are putting some 87+ grill pieces back on and re-selling this ? If not its a good place to bury any extra old disregarded F41 suspension pieces .

[atjones44]

Lol yep puting in 87+ parts so i can use the 86 front end parts like the headlights and front plastic headlight piece and grill in my Ttype. I dont really wanna sell the car if it runs good

[atjones44]

So you think it will work? haha

[86 2dr.ltd steve]

oh yeah it will work, I just never considered converting the engine for some reason. Dave never posted on this topic so it must be you spoke in a PM, so it never dawned on me what you were actually doing about the SFI vs MPI. I like the multi port on my 3300 in the Ciera, it easily smokes a LN3 with standard final drives at any rate, I'd dare say its even quicker than my L27 Regal was but it loves its gasoline by comparision as well. Who knows maybe someone messed with the ECM sometime in its past.

I would appreaciate it if you would check your trunk for that final drive code. These are just things I've always been curious about, such as if the 3.06 final drives were always attached to the 3.0's or how many 86 Buick and Olds model and trim came with the LG2 rather than the LG3.

Im going to look at a 86 Delta sedan today, just for curiosity because its there and a rare surviver, not to buy. Gonna suck for me if its a decent example but I dont need it. I found it because I have been looking for cars for my daughter but found a decent 97 Cavi thats more what she needs for size and economy purposes. I cant bare to see her smash up anymore higher shelf cars. She can get the GTP back later if she wants it and has developed better driving skills.