Operating temps

[David Cooley]

Actually, The 3.8L Even fire buick wasn't related to a V8 (Except maybe it 
calculated to the displacement of a 305 if you added 2 on).  It was a fresh 
design.  The Turbo blocks had the heavier deck surface, and the heads were 
also a special casting.  The large open water port on the ends was webbed 
to add strength, and the water jackets flowed much better than the NA v6 heads.
The oiling system on the Turbo V6 was also much enhanced over the NA 
counterparts.  I added an oil pressure guage (mechanical) and plumbed it in 
to the rear end of the main galley (ran a line from the block out the 
bellhousing... it was a bear to get the trans in and out!) and I had 35PSI 
at 750 RPM hot (Running 10W30) and at 2000 RPM was against the pressure 
regulator at 65 PSI.
If Buick had used the Turbo Block/crank/heads on the NA apps, they would 
have had a lot better luck!


At 08:43 AM 9/28/1999 -0400, you wrote:
>Ahhh yes the ole'90 deg 3.8 v6. Now you are trying to compare apples to
>oranges.  That is a totally different story, but yes that is related to
>heat.  Even though you had a the 160 deg stat in there, I bet that it was
>about 240-275 deg around the exhaust port (have done testing on dyno.. about
>560 hours) and combustion chamber on the center cylinders on each bank.
>Like the Chevy 4.3l, the motor was basically a 90 deg v8 with 2 cylinders
>missing.  The 3.8's big brother, the Buick 350 was notorious like the 403
>and 350 olds motor for having problems with inadequate cooling system. They
>ran extremely hot between center 2 cylinders.  Their oiling system also
>sucked.. but that is another story. Also the 3.8 had thin deck surface.
>Around .35-.45.  The new 3800 series with al. Heads have .875-.9" deck
>surface with more space around combustion chamber and is thinner around ex.
>bowl.  From my testing, experimenting and listening I have verified a way to
>help get rid of this problem not only on the 3.8 but more for 350 Chevy by
>running a sup line to the heads right under  ex ports 3&5 and 4&6.  Also if
>you have ever done any testing you would find that 7&8  around the cylinders
>run hotter.  Pipe a  sup line to Ls to RS on the intake on the back 2
>cooling ports.  (I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel but just get up close
>to a nascar some time and look how the cooling system is done) Just because
>the fans kick on that high does not mean that every thing is just A ok. Auto
>makers have to run them hot due to emissions. So if the engine life is a
>little less, well they would be happy to sell you a new one :-)
>BTW: Installing a petcock on the thermostat housing so that when you fill
>they rad you get all the air out will also help.  Air pockets tend to
>collect in high rough spots in the heads and turn into steam pockets. And
>they do not move and end up creating hot spots :-)
>Mike Rolica
>EXT. 260
>  :-)
>
>
>
>
>My 85 Buick GN at 96K had to have the head gaskets replaced... It ran a 160
>thermostat from about 1000 miles on the clock and had Iron heads...  They
>had to be milled .015" to clean them up, so I don't think it's the heat.
>
>===========================================================
>             David Cooley N5XMT           Internet: N5XMT at bellsouth.net
>       Packet: N5XMT at KQ4LO.#INT.NC.USA.NA   T.A.P.R. Member #7068
>     Sponges grow in the ocean... Wonder how deep it would be if they
>didn't?!
>===========================================================

===========================================================
David Cooley N5XMT Internet: N5XMT at bellsouth.net
Packet: N5XMT at KQ4LO.#INT.NC.USA.NA T.A.P.R. Member #7068
We are Borg... Prepare to be assimilated!
===========================================================