New member from NY, block swap question, 04 CompG

[Tom0247]

Awesome site, great job to all the contributors!
I just purchased a beautiful 2004 Comp G with high miles and the motor has an issue. My work schedule has been busy and I have had only a few moments to check it out. I have read a lot about top end swaps so I have gained some info. My thought was to just buy a low mileage engine to replace the original engine and put the top on the replacement engine. I have read here a lot this week. So what Im getting out of these articles is, it doesnt matter what year bottom end I use? I do business with a local junk yard I trust. They have several 3.8 from various year LeSabres and a few from grand prixs. From the listings it appears 04 and up have a different fitment. So does it matter if the engine I buy is a 2000 or 2006? I will buy the lowest mileage available, if it doesnt matter. Im going to do this as a winter project, no hurry to get it done. I will also have the oem transmission rebuilt. Reliability is my goal. The car will never see any track time, just a daily driver. I have done plenty of motor swaps in other cars and have a nice clean warm garage to work this winter.
Thank You,
Tom

 

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

If you want a direct swap bottem end with pretty much zero modding or changing of other parts then you want to find a L67 or L32 bottem end. Then just swap the top of your motor over and be on your way.


If you bought a L36 or a L26 bottem end from a NA car, they are a higher compression ratio than a supercharged motor. Thus needed somesort of exhaust work and likely a tune to make everything work great and not run into any problems.

 

[BillBoost37]

The blocks are identical from 96-08. The oil pan is different as the newer ones are structural. I'd go with what you are saying, lowest mileage, best running. The other stuff is small and can be swapped over.

 

[Tom0247]

Thank you both.