V8 LaSabre?

[aTrueBudFan]

I was wondering if the 4.9 liter out of a 1992 Cadillac DeVille would fit in a 1987 Buick LaSabre.

I had bought the DeVille for a parts car because it has left side damage. The motor is in pretty good shape, about 88,000 miles on it. As for the LaSabre i had bought it for my first car a few years ago, and the motor that's in it right now has about 150,000 and doesn't run to terrible.

It just sounds like a project i would like to tackle, and I'm pretty sure no one has ever done this before.

If there is any help i could get i would be very thankful of.

[GMCSonoma]

It would fit...physically...

I'd suggest a complete swap...engine/trans/harnesses/computer...that'd be the easiest, IMO...

[327]

It can work, all you have to do is find the right trans and bell housing. I know the northstar can work in a RWD engine by using the 3.4/3.8 L v6 bell housing. If thats any help

[Tone]

Well, this guy dropped the same engine into a Citation X-ll, so I'm guessing it'll fit in your LeSabre!

See: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/264625

[2002 Caddy]

Originally Posted by 327

It can work, all you have to do is find the right trans and bell housing. I know the northstar can work in a RWD engine by using the 3.4/3.8 L v6 bell housing. If thats any help

No, not the 3.8... The 3.8 is the BOP V8 Bell housing... Lets not forget that a 3.8 is a Buick V8 with two holes lopped off... Like a 4.3 is a Chevy 350 - 2 cylinders... The 3.8 Tranny (which is most commonly a 200-4R will bolt to just about every V8 GM made in the last 30 years EXCEPT the Northstar.

You need a RWD "narrow angle" 700-R4 tranny from a 2.8/3.1/3.4
These came in 82-92 Camaros & Firebirds or 82-86 S10

[nailhead425]

You could complete the swap, but you'd be best to use the engine, trans, computer, cooling, etc. from the Cad. It's not a direct swap, but pretty close. The 4.9 will fit, but will require fabrication and time.

Keep in mind there are lots of parts for the 3.8 and not many for the 4.9.
You might be better off selling the 4.9 and rebuilding the 3.8.

Compare the '92 specs to built 3.8 specs. You'll find the Cad may have a slight advantage in torque.

An '87 LeSabre is front drive and uses the Metric (FWD) bellhousing.
True, RWD 3.8s have a BOP pattern, but not FWD. 2.8/3.1/3.4 RWD vehicles have a Metric bellhousing, but it's not as easy as that. Dual bolt pattern Th200R4s exist, mostly on 307 powered Cadillacs. There are four (main) RWD bellhousing patterns from '64 to today: Chevy, BOP (and Cadillac RWD), Metric, and GenIII/IV (which is nearly identical to Chevy, but the Torque converters require different depth).

[2002 Caddy]

Originally Posted by nailhead425

Dual bolt pattern Th200R4s exist, mostly on 307 powered Cadillacs.

Actually all 200-4Rs came dual bolt pattern...

About 10 years ago Hot Rod Mag miss printed that 200-4Rs came either Dual or BOP only... And this began an urban myth about these units...

They only came Dual... Any 4 speed auto 3.8 or 307 Powered G or B body or 307 Power Caddies have this tranny.

The single bolt pattern 200-4R is a lot like the Solid main web 403... Everyone likes to think they exist... Just no-one has ever seen one..

[aTrueBudFan]

Originally Posted by 2002 Caddy

No, not the 3.8... The 3.8 is the BOP V8 Bell housing... Lets not forget that a 3.8 is a Buick V8 with two holes lopped off... Like a 4.3 is a Chevy 350 - 2 cylinders... The 3.8 Tranny (which is most commonly a 200-4R will bolt to just about every V8 GM made in the last 30 years EXCEPT the Northstar.

You need a RWD "narrow angle" 700-R4 tranny from a 2.8/3.1/3.4
These came in 82-92 Camaros & Firebirds or 82-86 S10

Why do i need a RWD tranny if both cars are FWD??
Can't i just drop in the Caddy motor and tranny?

And this is a the 4.9, a few years before the first Northstar came out. If this was one of the first Northstars to come out i probably wouldn't be thinking about doing this because they where known to have problems.

Thanks for the help i have received so far though, if anyone else has some advice for me i would appreciate thank you.

[nailhead425]

Originally Posted by 2002 Caddy

Actually all 200-4Rs came dual bolt pattern...

They only came Dual... Any 4 speed auto 3.8 or 307 Powered G or B body or 307 Power Caddies have this tranny.

The single bolt pattern 200-4R is a lot like the Solid main web 403... Everyone likes to think they exist... Just no-one has ever seen one..

Good to know mine was a dual bolt pattern.

[2002 Caddy]

Originally Posted by aTrueBudFan

Why do i need a RWD tranny if both cars are FWD??
Can't i just drop in the Caddy motor and tranny?

And this is a the 4.9, a few years before the first Northstar came out. If this was one of the first Northstars to come out i probably wouldn't be thinking about doing this because they where known to have problems.

Thanks for the help i have received so far though, if anyone else has some advice for me i would appreciate thank you.

Sorry dude your thread got hijacked at least twice. Once where someone misspoke and said a N* will fit on a RWD 3.8 bolt pattern and later with a 200-4R discussion.

Lets start with a "for sure" the 4.1/4.5/4.9 will bolt up to all 2.8/3.1/3.4 transaxles. As will a North* (once you bang a hole for the V mounted starter) This is why you see North* and 4.9s commonly swapped into Fieros. Physically this swap is "easy"... Getting the ECM and the BCM etc happy that is another issue. Kits exist... but they are not cheap.

Another "for sure" All RWD 3.8s are mounted to BOP bolt pattern trannys.. and the 4.1/4.5/4.9/N* wont work.

FWD 3.8 have a two different bolt patterns from 1984-1988. This engine was called a 3.8 and it is reported to have the BOP bolt pattern. In 1989 The engine was significantly changed, renamed the 3800 and these have the 4.1/4.5/4.9/N* pattern

Of course if you plan to swap the tranny too none of this is of interest. You will have to have custom drive shafts made... Keep in mind that your body style is very similar to the Pontiac Bonneville. This car, late in its life could be optioned with the N*.

If I were to consider this swap I try to swap the entire cradle.