1985 Pontiac 6000 Wagon 3800 Supercharged swap is complete!

In this video we take a look at the complete 3800 supercharged series 2 v6 engine swap in my 1985 Pontiac 6000 wagon. We also take it for a drive and discuss future plans. Thanks for watching and make sure to like, comment and subscribe.
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[@topher8634]

I did a 3100 swap into an 89 LE that i salvaged out of a 96 century (same "A" body). It made it an OBD 2 vehicle with the 4T60-E trans. Was surprisingly easy and it was mostly a drop in. Very little wiring modifications. Still had factory R12 A/C from 89. Only had to buy a PCM, engine harness, and front pipe with Cat and the factory service manuals (for wiring diagrams) to complete project. I would have loved to had a 3800 series 2 or 3 supercharged engine and trans to do what you did, but i used what was given to me. Great job.

[@RearEngineShop]

That’s pretty cool!

[@wingedhorsegarage473]

I love it! Takes me back to the 6000 sedan that my wife was driving when I met her. ❤

[@RearEngineShop]

Thanks for watching!

[@RobertMacNeil-t7c]

nobody expects a station wagon! Love it!

[@RearEngineShop]

👍

[@Buckle111]

I have a Pontiac 6000 SE station wagon this is definitely inspired me to do the swap😊

[@RearEngineShop]

Do it. You won’t regret it.

[@mattquerio]

Absolutely sick man. I love this thing. You gotta keep the wire hubcaps.

[@RearEngineShop]

The hubcaps stay

[@danielsingleton3576]

Engine bay looks amazing. Just super clean look. Especially that exhaust.

[@RearEngineShop]

Thanks!

[@davetritt7139]

I had one of those 6000 wagons...white with the fake wood paneling. Loved that car! The wagons with the rumble seats in the back had little triangular shaped vent windows in the back side windows, the ones that didn't had all solid rear side windows. Hopefully that helps you save time when looking for the seat!

[@RearEngineShop]

Thanks for the info. 👍

[@stebecinc]

Wow this is bringing back memories. Back in the 80's I was selling chevys. I sold some celebrity wagons to a customer that needed a small fleet of them to cart kids around. A few years later it was time to replace them so they replaced them and traded in the wagons so I bought one of them and my cousin bought one and the others went to used lot. I got one with out the rear seat. Bought a rear seat some place and installed. Quite easy. Bought the rear seat belts also so that the whole family could ride in it. Hey I recall they had rack issues and the racks had to be replaced. You may want to keep an eye on that. Before I bought the wagon I had a low mileage Celebrity Eurosport wagon come in on trade. Bought that and little later had to replace the rack. The same for the fleet wagon I bought.

[@RearEngineShop]

You have a lot of wagon experience for sure!

[@charlesleake930]

best car ever made........i have a 92 buick century

[@RearEngineShop]

Thanks for watching!

[@petrovicmotors3775]

Rock Auto rules!!💫 Good build!!🍀👍👏

[@RearEngineShop]

Thanks! And yes I love rock auto.

[@stebecinc]

Car looks great. Looks like a sleeper to me. Those spark plug wires look larger than standard wires for a 3800.

[@RearEngineShop]

Thanks! Those plug wires are bigger for sure.

[@robjones8733]

Sweet! I love the sound, please don't tone it down! 🥰

[@RearEngineShop]

Thanks for watching.

[@charlesleake930]

try a seat out of a 97 to 2005 century ....almost free at the pick a pull......little more side bolster...but still comfortable

[@RearEngineShop]

I’ll have to look.

[@skidog7440]

That is the perfect example of a "sleeper'! The engine bay looks factory, sooo impressive! You really need to do a track day with it. Sub 13 ET?..... Keep the amazing projects!

[@RearEngineShop]

Probably in the 13’s if it has traction, lol.

[@leftventricle3]

10-15 years ago someone L67 swapped a Ciera coupe, and it ran 13.7 right out of the box. The wagons are only a couple hundred pounds heavier, so a high 13, maybe a low 14 is likely. kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4abe3SfjZV7rMU

[@RearEngineShop]

@@leftventricle3 this engine has a smaller supercharger pulley and a tune so maybe more horsepower.

[@kevinworth9586]

That sounds so good! Can’t wait to go for a ride!

[@RearEngineShop]

🤘

[@rickwitt5735]

Fantastic work! From what I saw, that 3800 looks right at home in the car.I can't wait to see what your next project will be.

[@RearEngineShop]

Thank you!

[@topher8634]

If you like 6000s, check out the 88-90 AWD versions. They had a modified 3T40 (THM 125) trans with a front diff out of a 4WD S10 or AWD Astro/Safari in the back with a locking center diff. Cool car. Full digital instrumentation with a Driver Information Center that would tell you everything from a bulb out to a door open. Air ride with an inflator accessory kit in the back. Way ahead of their time.

[@RearEngineShop]

Oh trust me I already know.

[@topher8634]

@@RearEngineShop I had 4 of them. All 89s: 3 blue and 1 red. I sold 3, one was t boned and totalled. It was getting difficult to get parts for them. Just about everything was AWD specific and GM had discontinued everything. The rear struts namely, you could make some by chopping off the lower bracket and welding it back to the same era Bonneville air strut, but it wasn't easy. The Teves ABS was constantly tearing up. You had to replace the pressure accumulator about every 6 months to keep the pump from burning up-fortunately the dealer could still get it for 60 bucks. The last time I replaced it, I bought 10 of them.

[@aneilsingh8145]

You really make it sound like a simple easy swap haha.... I would be very interested in the schematic drawings for the wiring

[@RearEngineShop]

It’s not bad but I’ve done it before in Fiero’s.

[@charlesleake930]

@@RearEngineShop would be great to have a layout of what to change in the wiring and computers ..something to make it a 1 day event : )

[@RearEngineShop]

@@charlesleake930 may happen. 👍

[@charlesleake930]

@@RearEngineShop Excellent !

[@eddiea3782]

Nice sleeper.

[@RearEngineShop]

Thanks!

[@Magnero]

You need to share the quarter mile time, when you get it! like this thing. I'm planning on building a 6000 too, as soon as I find an AWD version.

[@RearEngineShop]

There will for sure be a video of that. I’ve always wanted to swap an AWD 6000 also.

[@Magnero]

I plan to build an ultimate STE. The 3.1 turbo from the Drans Prix STE or McLaren Grand Prix. switch it utonthr more modern 4 spend AWD from an ATec. Do like you, put coilovers. Should be able to use C4 rottors.

[@McGools]

nice job!

[@RearEngineShop]

Thanks!

[@piculon]

Sweet swap!! Is she running a little rich when you give her gas? I ask because the black smoke coming out of the exhaust.

[@RearEngineShop]

At wide open throttle you will get that. Thanks for watching.

[@piculon]

@@RearEngineShop Thank you for your reply and keep it up with the fine work you do.

[@charlesleake930]

great vid !

[@RearEngineShop]

Thanks for watching!

[@Jac2Mac]

I was surprised to hear a scary buzzer when you started up this 1985 Pontiac 6000 wagon. I thought that the Pontiac 6000 would have only used a chime by this point.

[@RearEngineShop]

My 84-88 Fieros have a chime but the 6000 has a buzzer. Maybe because it’s a base model?

[@Jac2Mac]

@@RearEngineShop I guess so, but even then, you'd think that Pontiac would used the electronic flute tone for the base model's seatbelt reminder instead of the scary buzzer by 1985.

[@RearEngineShop]

@@Jac2Mac agree! It’s funny because anytime we take this car my kids ask what the buzzing noise is when I start it.

[@landyachtfan79]

Oh, those old buzzers used to terrify the you-know-what out of me when I was little. I was even afraid to get in a car with one unless the driver fastened the seat belt before starting the engine or removed the ignition key before opening the door.

[@charlesleake930]

new evaporator.....back to R12 ....put nylog on the o - rings....and more cold AC than you can handle .....update the condenser and perfect ac even add the pusher fan for the 93 - 96 model

[@RearEngineShop]

AC will happen in the future for sure

[@topher8634]

The speed sensors should be the same. Ithink they were 4000 pulses/mile. The wire is yellow or green if i remember. passenger floor board engine to IP harness.

[@RearEngineShop]

Yellow and purple. They do both use a 4000 ppm signal. My “buffer” was bad.

[@topher8634]

@@RearEngineShop cool. Couldn't remember the color, it's been 20 years. I know I had to tap into it for the dash and then later when I put the electronic cruise servo on in place of the old vacuum operated one. Man I'm envious of your project. Makes me want to start collecting junk cars and engines to do it!

[@reklesscruise3663]

I just bought the same car. It has 3.1L v6 sadly it’s fwd. where are you guys based?

[@RearEngineShop]

Mine was a carbureted 2.8L v6. They are all FWD. I’m in south west Michigan.

[@charlesleake930]

Well then ...in your opinion ...what is the best year and model doner car ? for the series 2 engine/trans Jay aka CarsRcool channel

[@RearEngineShop]

As far as I’ve been told a 3.3l car would be easiest. I’m not sure of that because I’ve never tried. My wagon was a carbureted 2.8l v6.

[@charlesleake930]

@@RearEngineShop well ive got the buick Century 3.3 .Wagon ...so that is good news !

[@rocknroller7034]

I want to everything you did, to my 91 gs regal .....

[@RearEngineShop]

Would be cool!

[@johnwoods6239]

How was the clearance between the exhaust down pipe and the steering rack? do you have pictures of that?

[@RearEngineShop]

There’s an inch or two there. I heat wrapped the headers and down pipe so it should be fine. It’s really not much closer than the factory exhaust was.

[@johnwoods6239]

@@RearEngineShop thanks, I am thinking on doing a similar engine swap in an X body, very close to being the same

[@charlesleake930]

i have a 1992 Buick century Wagon .....what would be the easiest sway to the 3800 instead of the 3.3 i have ? Series 1 ? and keep my trans ...or Series 2 and use the Electronic version trans that goes with a Series 2 engine ? Thanks in advance Jay aka CarsRcool channel

[@RearEngineShop]

If it was me I’d go series 2 if you’re going to go to all that work.

[@charlesleake930]

@@RearEngineShop does that mean going to the electronic trans also ...lets say a complete pull out of a Lesabre or such ? thanks in advance Jay aka CarsRcool channel

[@Leo_celebritovich]

I also do not have a working speedometer. if i give a signal from the new ecm nothing happens. i am willing to keep the factory speedometer. i need to match the pulse for the old speedometer. any ideas how to do it?

[@RearEngineShop]

According to the factory service manual for the 6000 it receives a 4000 ppm signal. The 3800 pcm has a 4000 ppm output. Should be able to wire that to the cluster. I believe my speedometer is bad.

[@Leo_celebritovich]

@@RearEngineShop That's what I thought, too. I thought I had a faulty speedometer, too. Turns out the signal is different. Your charger also has a different signal from the body computer

[@RearEngineShop]

@@Leo_celebritovich well my 6000 had a separate module under the dash that turned the speed sensor signal into a 4000 ppm signal. I had that wired up and it still didn’t work. I have a digital cluster form a 6000 I’m going to install. I’ll try to get it figured out then.

[@Leo_celebritovich]

@@RearEngineShop I'm very interested in how you get the factory speedometer to work

[@RearEngineShop]

@@Leo_celebritovich there will be an update/video of the cluster install and getting the speedometer working

[@Leo_celebritovich]

hi what year is the supercharger engine?

[@RearEngineShop]

It’s from a 97 Grand Prix. 3800 series 2 engine.

[@charlesleake930]

is this drive with the 200 Lbs coil overs ?

[@RearEngineShop]

Rides and drives great.

[@charlesleake930]

@@RearEngineShop so 200 Lbs coilover springs up front...and stock replacement in the rear ? variable rate of straight in the rear ? Jay What's not to love....Wagons are cool !

[@anthonybha4510]

OPEC plus loves this fool...and economy EVs running on LOCAL fuel can destroy him off the line. What a huge waste of resources and time to keep junk on the road!

[@RearEngineShop]

EV? I’ll pass. Have fun driving your appliance.

[@wingedhorsegarage473]

Fool? This guy put a Supercharged 3800 in a grocery getter from the 80’s. Show me your work before you throw stones. I think it’s awesome. He’s saving cars that have character.

[@potatobill]

Well except when it’s cold out bro! 😂

[@potatobill]

What’s local fuel?

[@wingedhorsegarage473]

@@potatobill 😂😂