Thread: 1998 Olds Intrigue mod questions

I wasn't sure where to post this since I have an Intrigue,but here goes. I wanted some opinions on top swapping my '98 Intrigue with a 3800. The main problem that I am seeing is the tuning of the PCM. Can anyone out there tune a top swapped Intrigue? This car is my daily driver,so it cannot be down for an extended time. Has anyone actually succeeded in doing this swap with good results? Any input is appreciated. Thanks. Mark

Originally Posted by 1BAD99GTP

I wasn't sure where to post this since I have an Intrigue,but here goes. I wanted some opinions on top swapping my '98 Intrigue with a 3800. The main problem that I am seeing is the tuning of the PCM. Can anyone out there tune a top swapped Intrigue? This car is my daily driver,so it cannot be down for an extended time. Has anyone actually succeeded in doing this swap with good results? Any input is appreciated. Thanks. Mark

I believe dhp and hp tuners support a 98 intrigue. For a top swap you'll need the heads, blower, LIM, fuel rail, injectors, harmonic balancer, idler pulley, tensioner pulley, ignition coil bracket, and some odds and ends I'm sure I'm forgetting.. Plus all the various gaskets and fluids. Figure on $600 minimum... if you do your shopping at a junkyard.

That doesn't count a tune and then since you're running a higher compression bottom end you'll likely have a significant amount of KR without doing some supporting mods (TR55/TR6 spark plugs, a 180* tstat, headers, etc.) Total budget may be closer to a grand when you're all said and done. And then there's the transmission to account for... the non-HD trans has a weaker differential which is stressed on launching... by top swapping you're adding 50 horse but more like 80 torque... something to consider, you may have to start saving for a trans.

To cheap out a bit, you could buy an offset pulley from ZZP (their SSM90 pulleys) and run a single belt setup. That would save you the trouble of pulling the balancer, finding some pulleys, or replacing the ignition bracket... I got a friend who's running a 3.5 pulley on a single belt and doesn't have any belt slip.

PM me if you want and I can make a more complete write up with how we did it

its been done, bills got a dhp bin file he made for that car, and the same year too.

Ok,cool. At least it's been done before. I know that I need all of the hard parts mentioned above for the swap. Would rockers be a good upgrade? If so,which rockers and valvesprings? Would a powerlog and a 2.5" downpipe be enough exhaust upgrades,or should I just go ahead and do headers? Thanks for the replies and input. Mark

p log and dp would work fine, but speed daddy headers are cheaper in the long run. any time you top swap a engine headers or p log/dp should be added to let the engine exhale all the extra air your stuffing into it.

rockers cant hurt either, 1.8 or 1.9's would work. most run like a 90 lb spring. guys who know more about the specs should have more to offer on them tho.

and you'll want some way to monitor KR theres fancy scan gauges or a simple less then 20 dollar torque app works just as well. if you have a droid phone that is.