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--Bighorn--

Yes, this thread will wind up in the archives.
Better yet, it will be up in article form shortly....

Randii

OK, somebody slap me! The quest for knowledge is neverending. In my junkyard travels I came across a 94 Isuzu 3.2 laying on the ground. No tranny on it, just the motor in the mud. The bellhousing pattern on the back of the motor sure looked like the GM 60 degree pattern to me! To make sure that's what it was, I found an S10 2.8 V6 bellhousing still attatched to a T5 in a pile of trannies. I unbolted the bell from the tranny and took it over to the 3.2. It fit perfectly! All of the bolt holes lined up. So... if we extrapolate... that means the Dakota and Jeep 2.5 bells will fit the 3.2 as well. I'll find out later when I cart my Dakota bell down to the yard to make sure.

Greg

So are the auto trannies in the cars with FWD GM 3.8's computer controlled? I mean, would I be able to get the motor and harness from one of those cars and hook it up to a manual transmission provided I found a flywheel? It would be awesome to be able to go out and simply pick up one of those cars and be able to drop it in my truck. Those motors are everywhere! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

The GM 3.8 and 3800 series are 90degree v6's, 2.8's are 60 degree. They may bolt up, but definity not drop in. AFAIK no one has tried this yet. I think most of the fwd trannies are computer controlled? I'd look for an fwd engine with a manual tranny, if they even built any?

3.4 v6's are nearly everywhere, bolt in and very close to 3.8 powerwise <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />. Research it out and go for it if the 3.8 seem doable <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />.

(edit) NathanC I just read your sig. line and didn't see the connection to a Mitsu 2.6 motor or the Dodge. Sorry <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I'm not a GM "fan", so forgive my ingorance, but what vehicles did the 3.4 come in? I mistakenly thought the 3.8 was 60* while the old 231 was 90*, oops.

I never planned on bolting anything up to the stock Mitsu tranny, I'd swap it out too. As far as the Dodge, nothing GM will EVER touch that thing <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/barf.gif" alt="" />.

Thanks for the corrections, I'll have to do a little more research. I'm looking for the most bang for the buck.

I'm not an Isuzu guy so this is all somewhat new to me.

Things I've learned today:

Bellhousing for the 2.5 Dakota DOES bolt up nicely to the 3.2 SOHC Isuzu V6. Apparently the block has a dual bolt pattern. The inner one is the GM 60 degree pattern. Starter on the Drivers (left) side may require some clearanceing. Otherwise, good fit.

Question: Is the SOHC 3.2 bolt pattern the same as the later DOHC 3.2\3.5?

Things I've verified today:

Dakota bellhousing fits Chevy 3.1 V6, Buick 3800 V6, Cadillac 4.1 V8 and Aurora 4.0 V8.

For Aurora\Northstar usage, bell requires clearanceing around external water jackets and repositioning one bolt hole.

For other motors, bell requires cut out for starter (unless you're using a mini-starter).

Nathan, in Rear wheel drive applications, the 3.8 V6 used the Buick-Olds-Pontiac bellhousing bolt pattern. In Front wheel drive applications the engine used the GM 60 degree bellhousing bolt pattern (even though it is a 90 degree engine). The 3800 V6 is an updated and slightly modified version of the original 3.8 V6. It is only available in the 60 degree bolt pattern. All 2.8\3.1\3.4 V6's also have the 60 degree bolt pattern.

Greg

Yes. They all share the same block (well almost, there are small differences, but mainly it's the same).The difference is in the heads (for the most part).

Now if i understand you correctly, i can go out & get a Cadilac 4.1 V8 or Aurora 4.0 V8 & it will just bolt up to my tranny (4L30E)?

rubo

That's what I thought. Thanks for all the info <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />.

I'm very interrested in the 3800 Series 2 Buick motor. 95 and later they make gobs of torque down low, and deacent HP. Better numbers, down lower, than the much talked about 4.3 Chevy.
OK, let's see if I've been paying attention here... You could use a Buick 3800, bolt that to an S10 bell housing, then bolt a V6 MUA 5 speed to that, correct???? At least in theory anyway?