Thats a really good point. Its about the only issue that can't be fixed for a reasonable price / effort on these cars.

 

Greetings, I have another question for all you MC fans: The DEMC car I can get for $800 is a 2001 with a seized engine. I have access to a 2001 Buick Ultra with a bad trans but.... It is equipped with the same 3.8 engine and it is supercharged. What components would I need to swap to make this engine run correctly, besides the computer? I'm guessing all the bolt on items should match up, it's just the electronics that intimidate me. your opinions matter, please let me know your thoughts, thanks.

 

That 2001 Monte in the pics is not a Dale Earnhardt Monte. It is a 2001 Pace Car that some one slapped some #3 stickers on. The Dale Earnhardt Sr Monte is a 2002 only. The Intimidator Monte is a 2004 Monte only.

Now, as for swapping engines, going from the L36 (non-supercharged) to the L67 Supercharged, I know this is asked a lot and probably still out on the Internet. Bumpin' can probably add to anything I have to say on the topic. I believe in swapping those engines, you will need the oil pan and the brackets for the dog bones (as the Buick Ultra has different ones than the Monte). And I believe the engine harness. The Buick PCM should get re-programmed with your VIN, I am not sure what else it takes to get the proper adjustments so the electronics all work right....

 

You fellas are much more knowledgeable than me, however I did post the RPO for the 2001 MC and it shows that it was produced as a Pace Car Replica coded Y92. If you want to view the RPO, it's the attached file after the last posted pic. From what you are saying the swap shouldn't be too difficult. Just guessing my overall cost including the MC purchase and acquiring the Buick Ultra will range around +/- $2500. I think I'll go for it! BTW the Buick Ultra really was owned by a little old lady at 86 years of age, LOL

 

It's not bad at all. Some thoughts:

• The two engines are externally the same - so all of the stuff that bolts to one can bolt to the other. This will be important as you're going between vehicle platforms, so a lot of stuff will need transferred over. Definitely don't scrap the blown engine until the new one is 100% up and running.
• Maniac is spot on with the vehicle platform differences, there are quite a few important ones. Youll need to swap the lower engine mount over from the old engine. I believe you'll also need the oil filter adapter too.
• The issue is going to be the upper mounts, you may be able to pull over the W body driver, but the passenger side won't work (as it has the coil pack mounts and SC belt system parts attached). You'll likely need to source a supercharged 3800 passenger side upper mount setup for a W body (monte carlo, impala, gp) to connect up properly with the monte's upper body mounts. I do wonder if the Buick thermostat housing will have to be swapped too (it looks like its at a different angle as the Buick doesn't have the high top engine mounts in the way).
• Wiring is entirely the same except two items (map and bbv solenoid), so you'll keep the existing harness in the monte. They do sell 'l67 swap' or '3800 top swap' wire kits to fix these two minor issues. Alternatively you can eliminate the electronic bbv solenoid completely and move the map/swap the plug yourself if you want to.
• You may run into issues with some of the plugs being different - fans and alternator are common ones, but Im not familiar enough with the Buicks to say 100% for sure. Just make sure you save all of the parts until its done in case you need more parts from it.
• The torque converter will be your next issue. The two engine flexplates are drilled for different patterns. The easiest option is to take the converter from the Buick if its not destroyed. Itll be a little lower stall speed, but its no big deal - thats the standard stall for the supercharged 3800. There are other options here if needed though (different flexplates, different converters).
• The last challenge is one you'll likely need external help with - the pcm tuning. You need the engine parameters flashed to your pcm (maf/map is different, injectors are different, data is different, etc), but you can't just swap pcms as the gearing is different between the two. So you need a place (ZZP is one option) to mail order a pcm with the supercharged engine parameters, but with your stock transmission tables.

 

In the first quote you said DEMC (implies Dale Earnhardt Monte Carlo; which it is not). But your statement about being a Pace Car Monte is correct, it is a 2001 Monte Carlo Pace Car. In the end, it is minor details. I am just pointing it out because too many people get fooled when they see #3's on a Monte to believe it was a Dale Earnhardt Monte. The more important part is get it running and enjoy it

This means the Buick is +/- $1700. That seems a bit excessive to just get the engine unless you see other plans for the Buick to re-coop some cost. I have not gone looking, but I thought these engines could be had for a couple hundred.