[camerjeff]

Originally Posted by SRR

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sf...912785644.html

Check out how many miles it has on it. Holy crap. So much for the 3.8 being a turd.

The old Buick 3.8 V6 was kinda a turd, but the 3800 V6 is a great engine, and the series II N/A version in that Bonneville was probably the best engine GM had ever built durability wise. Some of the newer engines may be better, but only time will tell.

N/A 3800's routinely would last over 250,000 miles. but by then the rest of the car was usually shot. And the transaxle they were bolted to had been rebuilt at least once.

The supercharged versions were good engines also, just not as long lived.

[Will]

Originally Posted by camerjeff

The old Buick 3.8 V6 was kinda a turd, but the 3800 V6 is a great engine, and the series II N/A version in that Bonneville was probably the best engine GM had ever built durability wise. Some of the newer engines may be better, but only time will tell.

N/A 3800's routinely would last over 250,000 miles. but by then the rest of the car was usually shot. And the transaxle they were bolted to had been rebuilt at least once.

The supercharged versions were good engines also, just not as long lived.

This. The 3800 V6 is one of GMs best engines ever.

The 4.3s are good engines, also. Routinely go well over 200K with no issues.

[Lightfoot]

Originally Posted by camerjeff

The old Buick 3.8 V6 was kinda a turd, but the 3800 V6 is a great engine, and the series II N/A version in that Bonneville was probably the best engine GM had ever built durability wise. Some of the newer engines may be better, but only time will tell.

N/A 3800's routinely would last over 250,000 miles. but by then the rest of the car was usually shot. And the transaxle they were bolted to had been rebuilt at least once.

With the benefit of a transmission replacement, the 3800 are a 300,000 mile engine all day long. I have seen a photo of one late 80s LeSabre odometer with over 400,000.
The best ones are from 1988-1992. Before 1988 it was called a 3.8. Then they changed the nomenclature to 3800 when they upgraded it with an internal balance shaft and roller lifters.
1992 was the last year they used all aluminum intake manifolds. For '93, the bean counters at GM decided to make the upper intake plenum out of plastic .
These are well known to cause a coolant passage failure in the intake gasket, usually before 125K-150K miles. If it's caught early, they can have the same longevity as the 88-92 motor.

The 3.8 "turd" SSR was informed of must have been the one found in Ford mini vans.

[Mister Pontiac]

Originally Posted by BOB VIDAN

What the H___ is a pattern 32 car?

Hehe... I haven't the faintest idea. I'm guessing the seller doesn't either.

Originally Posted by GTOnly70

No great bargain - that car is a mess.

True, but still... a legit carousel red 4 spd 69 Judge? Sure the drivetrain is gone, but the body seems mostly solid in the pictures. Seems like a good place to start, and the last "Judge" I saw for sale in this price range was a complete rusty basket case missing the important parts. I would think this could be a good base for a true 69 Judge fanatic that wants to go thru it all. I dunno. Makes me wonder.

At least the parking brake cable is holding up the exhaust.