3.8L Stroker?
09-29-2009, 03:07 PM
#51
If you got good service out of a 2.8 GM V6, you were in the minority. That was one of GM's worst engines. From cracked blocks, to leaking intake gaskets, they had it all. I must admit though, I have seen one good one.
09-29-2009, 04:16 PM
#52
JK Super Freak
I've seen quite a few. The Jeep 2.8ls sucked because GM sold them all of their defective blocks. Also, in '86, the first year of TBI for the GM trucks, they made a lot of internal improvements. They wouldn't have kept using the 60* V6 block on the 3.1l and 3.4l if they were so bad.
You just had to change the oil on schedule or they gunked up on you. Mine were nearly indestructible. The guy before me, on my second one, didn't change the oil and the valves were all caked up. I got most of it out with a shop vac and drove it like that for nearly another 100k miles before I sold it.
You just had to change the oil on schedule or they gunked up on you. Mine were nearly indestructible. The guy before me, on my second one, didn't change the oil and the valves were all caked up. I got most of it out with a shop vac and drove it like that for nearly another 100k miles before I sold it.
10-01-2009, 04:28 PM
#53
JK Newbie
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And did it come out of there ? 
and if not why was it your choice ? 
10-21-2009, 02:18 AM
#54
JK Newbie
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While on the topic of the 3.8, has anyone had any serious reliability problems with this engine like internal breakages, broken cranks, rocker pedestals, etc? I like to think that it is simple and reliable - am I kidding myself?
10-21-2009, 05:03 AM
#55
Yeah. You are kiddin yourself. There are bunches with the ticking and or knocking. Mine had it. Kept gettin worse so I took it in. I had to have a new engine at 18K. Many other people also have.
10-21-2009, 10:30 AM
#56
JK Super Freak
Redneck had a bad experience and is justifiably jaded towards the 3.8l.
10-23-2009, 02:06 PM
#57
JK Junkie
I'm sorry. I was just tryin to be realistic. There are those who are gonna keep tryin no matter what to make power from 3.8 liters of 60 degree V6. It's just not in the cards. Now, it if were something close to the old 90 degree Buick 3.8L, that would be an ENTIRELY different ball game. You just cannot get people to see the difference between 60 VS 90 degrees. they just cannot get their heads around it. The 60 degree engine will just never, ever be what a comparable 90 degree engine will. It's almost like comparing a 2 stroke to a 4 stroke.
Is 90 deg better because it closer to 120 deg angle?
Out of curiosity, is there a new theory or are engine builders just applying the much deeper knowledge base there is on V8s to v6s?