Removing the engine on my 97 Riviera

Pulling the knocking 3800 supercharged out of my Riviera to make way for the replacement engine. Came out relatively easy thanks to the engine wiring for the most part is one harness that unplugs at the firewall. Everything is in that harness except the starter, alternator and speed sensor wiring. The AC compressor and power steering pump unbolt and can be left in the car so you don't have to drain the fluid/refrigerant. The biggest pain was getting the axis motor mount off, the bolts were pretty rusty. The ironic part is those bolts have to be removed to change the belts, which are so cracked and chipped I wouldn't doubt they are original. The old engine will either be used for parts, or I may rebuild it at some point.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• 1997
• 97
• Buick
• riviera
• 3.8l
• 3800
• supercharged
• engine
• removal
• rod
• knock
• coupe

[moldymac]

The engine should bolt in but I'm sure some electrical stuff would be different along with the computer. The one in that Riviera is probably a pre- series 1 where as your lesabre has a series 1.

[jerdmo]

Hey, we are taking the 3800 non-supercharged out of my 99 Regal. We have the components detached but can't seem to get it loose. We think we might be missing a bolt somewhere. Our best guess is it is an 18mm bolt that connects the engine to the transmission on the bottom behind the engine. We can't even figure out how get at it to see if a bolt is even there though. Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks

[moldymac]

@jerdmo Your probably missing the "backwards bolt" on the rear of the engine, it goes in from the opposite side of the others. Its also referred to as the "bastard bolt" because its such a pain to get to. Its near impossible to see. I had to use several feet of extensions just under the rear exhaust manifold to get it.

[RCSMAXX]

hey did u have to drain the transmission oil out or u just left in the torque converter

cause i am in the process of taking my engine out of my grandprix with the same engine u have this is my first time and i dont want to mess up and something went wrong so when u can reply back to me thank be waiting on message laters

[moldymac]

@RCSMAXX Nope, just take the 3 bolts out that hold the flywheel to the torque converter. Afterwards I drained the tranny out and took the TC off and drained it. the fluid looked pretty nasty in this car.

[Prince0Charles]

hey being ur pretty familiar with these i just took my 3800 outta my 97 regal and i bought a used 3800 but its came out of a 02 monte carlo now im runnin in tho the problem were plugs are not plugin in and some are lookin different some one told me i would have to change the manifolds someone else told me i the chevy motor is to new is this true

[moldymac]

@Prince0Charles Did you swap the engine wiring harness from the old engine to the new one? The engines should be similar enough where they would swap.

[perry244]

how a 1989 buick riveria 3800 fit into a 1995 buick lesabre with a bad 3800 engine? because we found the lesabre at a autoauction for only $750 and notised that it was a 3800 engine and we have an old one

[lawnside82]

the motor mount got to come off to change the belts? wow another great design gm!!

[fanelli18]

Love the Kan of Kroil sitting on the edge there... I just did this over the weekend myself.. Just seeing what others are doing.. If I had a lift.. i would have just did the subframe drop.

[Prince0Charles]

@Prince0Charles yep i neva took it out the car