First off I'm bummed they stopped making them all together. I have had plenty of japanese cars and none can touch this one in quality, comfort, coolness and reliability.

The venerable old 3.8 is the best I have ever had. first car I have fully paid off it is at over 100k and doing great!

Looking out for used ones is rough. all the ones that had the 3.8 are getting up there in miles. (like mine). Also I have found way too many with leather seats and they all crack and look like hell. (thats why I love cloth)

Anymore the only cars left with that engine and platform is the lacross and a few grand prix's that are still around.

So bummed. I am also worried with the restructuring they may finally kill 3.8 production.

it won awards for one of the best 10 engines in the last 100yrs!! not bad for an early 60's buick motor! shows you how a good design can last!. maybe I should buy a 'spare' to hold for my monte as it gets older!?

 

well first off welcome to the forum randyk and that is not a bad idea to get a spare engine...but an engine that never runs will deteriorate quite quickly once it begins

 

Welcome to the forum Randy.

The 3.8 engine is one of the reasons I bought my Monte. It's such a reliable engine. Something the engine in my previous car wasn't.

The 3.8 engine has gone through many changes over the years, and will most likely come to an end eventually no matter what. That`s just evolution.
But there's always some good ones available in junkyards and such. They may not be "new", but can be easily rebuilt.

Thanks for joining us. Glad to have you here. Congrats on paying off your car. I'm still paying on mine. (Just bought it last year)

 

Welcome to the Official Unofficial Monte Carlo Forum, Randy. How are things in Chester?

I share your sentiment with the 3.8. I first tasted for myself it when I test drove a 3.8 Camaro with 5-speed manual on the dealership lot where I worked when I first moved to Las Vegas. I LOVED it. Especially since I was driving a '93 Camaro coupe at the time that had the 3.4 that need a little tuning. The 3.8 felt SOOOO much better. When I bought my Monte new 2005, the 3.8 sealed the deal for me. It has been a completely trouble-free engine for me so far. Recently, I had to replace a water pump (warranty repair), but I attribute that to *****-OUT 120mph speeds on a deserted hiway while being tested by a Hyundai Azerus (no, I did not tell the dealership service department that!!!).

 

The 3.8 is THE reason I went to the W-body cars. Started with a white 01 Impala, then a berry red 01 Impala, then a black 01 SS LE Monte Carlo, then a step up to this L67 04 Intimidator SS. This thing is at about 315 hp now, and looking to kick it up farther maybe next summer, depending on the economy. I got another car that has priority 1st. The 07 Solstice GXP isn't done being modded yet. I'll finish that MAYBE this winter and spring, then I can get back to the Intimidator SS. 1.9 rockers are next for me.

And Bigg Jason, I've hit 135 in mine! Got chicken. Should hit 140 easy.

And the 3.8L is nice, but I REALLY want an LS7 in the Solstice!

 

Hasnt the 3.8 already been discontinued? I thought they closed the plant that makes them. Its a shame.

 

From what I understand they were discontinued this year. I believe all vehicles using the 3800 currently are moving to the 3.5L for the N/A and the 3.6L DOHC engines to replace the s/c 3800. I believe they closed the plant that made these engines also.

 

Figures GM would do something like that. Just like they killed off the small block years ago only tobring it back.

Chevy never made an engine better then the 283. They made it for 1,000 years and used it in everything. A guy I went to high school with sold a '55 Chevy he owned so he could buy a one-onwer '69 Nova he wanted. He told everyone the Nova had a 350 under the hood but come to find out it was a 283 in there. And he beat more then one car with the 283 in a street race.

The 283 in my 4-door Sedan '57 has surprised several drivers who think my 4-door is a 6 cylinder under thehood. She purrs right along with her original 81,000 miles on the engine.

 

What about the 3.9? Is that engine still offered in 2009 models? Or was it a one year wonder?

 

biggriggs...you are exactly right, they closed the plant that made these engines on august 22, 2008, and they are no longer being manufactured. the 3.5(LZ4) has replaced the n/a 3.8(L26) and the 3.6(LY7) has replaced the supercharged 3.8(L32)

taz...the 3.9(LZ9), is currentlyonly offeredin the Buick Lucerne and Pontiac G6 GT convertible, itWAS available on the PontiacG6 GTP in 2006, the G6 GT in 2007,the ChevroletMalibu SS in 2006 and 2007....it was a one year wonder on the 2006 Monte Carlo and Impala, and was in the GM minivans from 2006-2009

all that info is form wikipedia

its a shame because that 3.9 seems like a great engine