Thread: LeSabre 3800 Questions

So, my Dad is in need of a new beater work car, and a friend of ours' is selling his '98 Buick LeSabre for $500, it's a late model '97 (8th month to be exact). He's owned it for two years but never drove it, and he bought it from the original owner/buyer who religiously had it shop-serviced every 3k miles. It has 206k miles on it (commuter car), barely any rust, and overall nice condition. I know that buying a S/C '97 3800 and tranny is something to generally avoid, but I'm wondering if there is anything about '97 NAs (engine and tranny) that I should be worried about/look for, maybe avoid '97s?



It's definitely a '97 engine - alternator bracket, engine cover...

Just the normal 3800 common problems. Tranny is probably getting to the end of its life at that mileage.

Yeah, I figured it probably has the older tranny - but, if it was well-maintained and never abused it might go for a while. I got a tranny out of a 12/97 GTP with 180k on it, that wouldn't work would it because the GTP trannies are different?

Originally Posted by Kaiser Pontiac

Yeah, I figured it probably has the older tranny - but, if it was well-maintained and never abused it might go for a while. I got a tranny out of a 12/97 GTP with 180k on it, that wouldn't work would it because the GTP trannies are different?

You can install a GTP tranny in a GT of the same year. I don't know if you can do it with that tranny though.

Originally Posted by SubwayGirl

You can install a GTP tranny in a GT of the same year. I don't know if you can do it with that tranny though.

not exactly, gear ratio's are different and would need a tune.

Originally Posted by Grimsin

not exactly, gear ratio's are different and would need a tune.

It will bolt up the same and you could basically swap trans. The GTP tranny he was will bottom line not work in this LeSabre.

Originally Posted by SubwayGirl

It will bolt up the same and you could basically swap trans. The GTP tranny he was will bottom line not work in this LeSabre.

Yes it will, you just have to retune the pcm for the gear ratio change.

Okay, that's what I thought.

Thanks for the input guys! Looks like we'll be going for it, should be exciting, hah.

Originally Posted by Kaiser Pontiac

So, my Dad is in need of a new beater work car, and a friend of ours' is selling his '98 Buick LeSabre for $500, it's a late model '97 (8th month to be exact). He's owned it for two years but never drove it, and he bought it from the original owner/buyer who religiously had it shop-serviced every 3k miles. It has 206k miles on it (commuter car), barely any rust, and overall nice condition. I know that buying a S/C '97 3800 and tranny is something to generally avoid, but I'm wondering if there is anything about '97 NAs (engine and tranny) that I should be worried about/look for, maybe avoid '97s?



It's definitely a '97 engine - alternator bracket, engine cover...

If it is a 98 it should have a 4T65-E. And just FYI the engines were the same 97-98 they didnt change the alt bracket till 99.
Also a 97 GTP engine and trans are not the things you want to avoid its the 97 car itself and the 97 na cars with the 4t60.
The 97 l67 is 99% identical to the 98-03 with the exception being the vac tree on the blower and some of the sensors, and the tb change in 99. The 97-98 4T65-E HD has cooler lines for the tranny that screw in, the 99+ have quick release fittings.

Originally Posted by Slick2500

If it is a 98 it should have a 4T65-E. And just FYI the engines were the same 97-98 they didnt change the alt bracket till 99.
Also a 97 GTP engine and trans are not the things you want to avoid its the 97 car itself and the 97 na cars with the 4t60.
The 97 l67 is 99% identical to the 98-03 with the exception being the vac tree on the blower and some of the sensors, and the tb change in 99. The 97-98 4T65-E HD has cooler lines for the tranny that screw in, the 99+ have quick release fittings.

Originally Posted by Slick2500

Now to tell if it does in fact have a 4T65-E in it is very simple, look for 2 things,

1. Is there a vac line going to the trans?
2. Does the trans have just a wiring harness plugged into it.

If it has a vac line its a 4T60-E
If it has just a wire harness its a 4T65-E

Ahhhh, thanks for the good info, guys! I'll have to check it out tomorrow...

FWIW..

A 96-99 H body is very different than W body. For example that Alt/bracket will be there until 2000. They were not changed and that's a better alt than any W body ever had.

Trans.. being a 97, it'll have a 4T60. Swapped to a 65 would be as easy as adding 5 wires/pins and changing the transmission connector, blocking off a vacuum line and then updating the pcm from a 60 to a 65 which you need a dhp to do in my experience. I can tell you how to do it if you'd like. If you'd like to swap to a 99 harness, I can provide you with the pinout differences if you'd like.

Just like the steer wheel controls.. you guys are suggesting normal W body stuff for a different vehicle. It's not apples to apples.

Originally Posted by BillBoost37

FWIW..

A 96-99 H body is very different than W body. For example that Alt/bracket will be there until 2000. They were not changed and that's a better alt than any W body ever had.

Trans.. being a 97, it'll have a 4T60. Swapped to a 65 would be as easy as adding 5 wires/pins and changing the transmission connector, blocking off a vacuum line and then updating the pcm from a 60 to a 65 which you need a dhp to do in my experience. I can tell you how to do it if you'd like. If you'd like to swap to a 99 harness, I can provide you with the pinout differences if you'd like.

Just like the steer wheel controls.. you guys are suggesting normal W body stuff for a different vehicle. It's not apples to apples.

Yes Bill but its not a 97 its a 98. August of 97 would make it a 98 model year car. And unless Kaiser goes out and actually looks at the trans to see if it is in fact a 60 or 65 then we are all just sitting here wasting our time typing things.

This is why I love this place, so much information!

Is it worth it, what are the advantages? Also, only a DHP tuner would work? I've been hoping to find a used tuner and learn how to use it, is there any advantage for DHP vs. HPTuners?

Thanks Bill!

As soon as my Dad gets home from work tonight I'm gonna go check it out.

It just has a wire harness plugged into it, so it's a 4T65-E.

I still haven't read the first post..but congrats..