Maybe getting a new park avenue before new years

[BuickGirlFromMars]

well I got about 2,400 dollars as of now saved up since I just got payed today.

but the selection of buicks around me (Im talking 100 miles or less) are not that.. many. im gonna call a transmission shop on monday i think and see what they may charge to replace the trans. I already know its shot since the shear amount of debris that happened, and im not dropping that much for a full rebuild (if it could be even). I even looked for Buick Lesabre Limiteds (I wouldnt want a custom)

but we will see. If so, I need to budget a radiator, trans cooler lines, updating registration on the plates, fuel lines(they are rusty af) and replacing the BCM(my bcm is dying thats unrelated lol!), and a new battery. I also need to replace my battery tray or figure out a way to hold down a battery. the captured stud on mine broke off. New headlights(mine are foggy) and a couple tie rods and an alignment.

I can wait on the tie rods and alignment because the only reason I would need to is because I have bad boots on otherwise currently ok tie rods. They will wear out fast but I can go through the winter with them, ya know?

I also need a tensioner for my supercharger but thats low priority.


something to mull over

 

[BuickGirlFromMars]

also if i get proportioning valves for my rear running brake lines my ABS and traction will work as factory designed.

 

[Pirate Pete]

well I got about 2,400 dollars as of now saved up since I just got payed today.

but the selection of buicks around me (Im talking 100 miles or less) are not that.. many. im gonna call a transmission shop on monday i think and see what they may charge to replace the trans. I already know its shot since the shear amount of debris that happened, and im not dropping that much for a full rebuild (if it could be even). I even looked for Buick Lesabre Limiteds (I wouldnt want a custom)

but we will see. If so, I need to budget a radiator, trans cooler lines, updating registration on the plates, fuel lines(they are rusty af) and replacing the BCM(my bcm is dying thats unrelated lol!), and a new battery. I also need to replace my battery tray or figure out a way to hold down a battery. the captured stud on mine broke off. New headlights(mine are foggy) and a couple tie rods and an alignment.

I can wait on the tie rods and alignment because the only reason I would need to is because I have bad boots on otherwise currently ok tie rods. They will wear out fast but I can go through the winter with them, ya know?

I also need a tensioner for my supercharger but thats low priority.


something to mull over

That's a lot of repairs. Might be cheaper to buy another car . Just have to be patient . It took me 4 months to finally find my PA. As time passes there's less and less PAs out there. You mentioned LeSabre Limited. Probably have more of those in the market than PAs . Keep us posted. Hope you get everything sorted out soon 🙏

 

[Pirate Pete]

also if i get proportioning valves for my rear running brake lines my ABS and traction will work as factory designed.

I always turn the traction control off when I start up my car . You probly live someplace where you get rain so it's better you have it . What state are you in? I can help you look for a car. I've got a lot of extra time being home 7 days a week .

 

[90sbuickrescue]

I'm probably coming from a different perspective, but to me the supercharger with the 4t65"hd" is just a matter of time. Ls4 King on youtube has been putting some good info out about 4t80 swaps, and there's even a company making aftermarket converters for them now. With the swap becoming more popular (although not popular enough to drive the price of the 4t80s up yet) that's what I would do myself. The 4t80 is physically much bigger than the 4t65, and while I don't know exactly what is required to get it to fit, there is a decent video on youtube of what it takes to fit it in a GTP, so it should be able to fit in a park ave, probably even easier.

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

Additional information about a 4T80E swap on a 3800

Technical - (Draft) 3800/4T80e Master Swap Guide

This document is UNDER CONSTRUCTION. I have a ton of info that I need to dig up from my brain, pictures, and conversations of me helping others work through their issues with their swaps. It will take a while to update to my current knowledge base of the swap. CHOOSING YOUR 4T80e Ratio...

www.thechicagogarage.com

 

[BuickGirlFromMars]

I'm probably coming from a different perspective, but to me the supercharger with the 4t65"hd" is just a matter of time. Ls4 King on youtube has been putting some good info out about 4t80 swaps, and there's even a company making aftermarket converters for them now. With the swap becoming more popular (although not popular enough to drive the price of the 4t80s up yet) that's what I would do myself. The 4t80 is physically much bigger than the 4t65, and while I don't know exactly what is required to get it to fit, there is a decent video on youtube of what it takes to fit it in a GTP, so it should be able to fit in a park ave, probably even easier.

it wouldnt take a lot to fit in a park avenue. some changes to crossmemembr, changing the rear mount setup, and rewiring the pcm and a tune ofc, but the thing weighs over 150 more pounds than the 4t65e
as you can see the main difference is the differential which is MUCH more stout than the 4t65e. should have been on the 3800s due to torque alone. THe side plate and its contents also take more space but at least its able to fit in something like the oldsmobile aurora, which is the same platform as a park avenue

Tight fit tho!

 

[90sbuickrescue]

One thing I've wondered about, and not to pull this thread too far off topic, but I wonder how bad the newer northstars really are. I would prefer a 3.8 or ls4 (with standard lifters, etc installed, afm removed) but I wonder if the latest northstar is any good. I know the LH2 is, the reason I know that is nivlac57's video on youtube. He takes one all apart and shows the internals, including the valvetrain parts he says it has in common with the vortec 4200. (In my opinion the 4200 is excellent, and GM really should have designed a decent RWD car just for that motor. If I remember correctly, nivlac57 did almost 900 whp with one of those 4200s through a slipping th400 trans.) Anyway, I haven't researched it, so I don't know if the northstar in the 06+ lucerne or bonneville gxp has those same upgrade, or what. But I know the older northstar has a horrible reputation for all kinds of dumb stuff, primarily the head bolt design. So if they redesigned it enough to actually be a good motor, but still has that reputation, it might be super cheap, with that 4t80 trans.

Not really trying to convince anyone to consider a northstar swap, just thinking while typing!
I briefly owned an eldorado with a northstar, and that was one of the worst made vehicles I have ever owned. It looked sharp, and everyone always stared when I drove it, but even the aluminum castings weren't up to par. Porous castings that let oil seep right through the aluminum. The motor didn't have bad head gaskets, but it wouldn't hold a consistent coolant temp, so its power output varied constantly depending on how much timing the ecu was pulling at that moment. A 300 hp motor that in the real world made less than the L67..with significantly worse fuel economy too. The rest of the car was typical caddy quality of that era, sunroof leaked water all over the leather, window glass so sloppy in the doors that when it hit the weatherstripping it wouldn't seal, etc.