Aurora/other V8 engine swap?

Since the Aurora and the Rivi share the same platform, I'm curious if anyone has ever heard of dropping an Aurora V-8 in a Riviera? I know the wiring harness, computer, etc. would have to be swapped. But, I wasn't sure what else would have to be transferred over... Any thoughts

Only if you want to go slower with worse mileage, oil leaks, and higher maintenance.

I'd be more interested in swapping an LS2 (2?) from the new Impala SS or Gran Prix GXP.

Jack, meet Jack. 8)

Bah, where's Jill?

I agree, I'm not saying it's the greatest V-8 in the world. I just thought it might be an easier swap than an LT1, LS1, LS2, etc. There is just something about the sound of a V-8 that I prefer over the 6 banger. No offense to the six bangers...I have one.

hey my dad and i test drove a GXP bonneville with a 4.6 V8 and yes it pulls BUT it doesnt get any tractiiion haha u shoulda seen us we smoked the tires for 100 feet or so hahaha sorry pontiac........ LOL but we raced and my riv beat it because of the traction issue with some 2 feet wide sliks it'd proly beat me !!!!

98riviera98 wrote:

hey my dad and i test drove a GXP bonneville with a 4.6 V8 and yes it pulls BUT it doesnt get any tractiiion haha u shoulda seen us we smoked the tires for 100 feet or so hahaha sorry pontiac........ LOL but we raced and my riv beat it because of the traction issue with some 2 feet wide sliks it'd proly beat me !!!!

The GXP has a 3.73 FDR compared to your riviera 2.93 FDR. Couple of boltons and even with traction your fathers car won't catch you.

oldsman105 wrote:

98riviera98 wrote:

hey my dad and i test drove a GXP bonneville with a 4.6 V8 and yes it pulls BUT it doesnt get any tractiiion haha u shoulda seen us we smoked the tires for 100 feet or so hahaha sorry pontiac........ LOL but we raced and my riv beat it because of the traction issue with some 2 feet wide sliks it'd proly beat me !!!!

The GXP has a 3.73 FDR compared to your riviera 2.93 FDR. Couple of boltons and even with traction your fathers car won't catch you.

yah from a 50 mph roll i was in Overdrive he was in 2nd gear he smoked me!!!.. grrrr but yes thats correct those do have 275 hp...........not my dads we were test driving it LOL.............go to the my dads is the blue midsize SUV in the background of my pics 04 mitsubishi endeavor

Yeah our engines don't do so well up high. Is that because of the low FDR?

I'm 54 years old, and I've had more cars over the years than I think I can count. My very first car was a hand-me-down 1969 Datsun 510 wagon... I bought it from my older brother when I was 16. During my college years in the early to mid-70's, I had a Datsun 1600 sports-car, and for awhile in the mid-80's, I owned one of the first 'hard-body' Nissan 4-wheel drive trucks... a 1986. While the first two Datsuns were 4-cylinder motors, the truck was a V-6, and that was the first and only 6-cylinder vehicle I'd ever owned... until now. All the other cars/trucks in my life have been USA-made V-8's, and most have been GM products. As a matter of fact, I've manged to own one or more of each of GM's brands... except I've never owned a GMC truck or van... well, my company's delivery truck is a GMC, but it's actually an Isuzu with GMC's badging on it, so I don't suppose that counts, does it?

My '95 SC Riv is my second Buick. Back in '88 - '90 I owned a '72 Centurion Coupe... that monster had the awesome 455 under the hood, and I did a few modifications to the car to bump-up the horsepower... a truly awesome machine that Buick! I changed out the exhaust... turned it into duals with Flowmasters... really made that big-block sing in 4-part harmony.

Like someone's earlier post in this thread... I, too, prefer the sound (and power) of V-8's, but I have to admit, I'm impressed with the power of this 3.8L V-6, and the supercharger makes a rather significant difference. Also, the older I get, the more the need for speed seems to diminish. What I like most with these 9th Edition Rivieras is the look... I truly appreciate the over all design of this car, and I love the simple analog layout of the instrument panel. This is one of those 'love 'em, or hate 'em' kind of cars, and I think mine is just simply a sexy looking automobile! I've had people ask me if this car wasn't a Jaguar on several occasions...

So, as far as a 'concept'... GM should have offered a V-8 option with these Rivieras. They should have provided Cadillac's Northstar V-8 at 300+ horsepower with a heavier-duty, more reliable transmission, beefed up the suspension, slapped on some 18" wheels and tires (I did do this for my Riv), and zoom-zoom-zoom, the Riviera would probably still be on the market today. That's my idea of the 'Dream Riviera' for this generation... but I'll take a 1971 Boat Tail in mint condition ANY DAY! A white one with red interior...

first of can it be done, i have about 4-5 monthes now before i get my car ready for paint and the finish the body work. so im thinking because of all of my problem with my stock engine (which we found out is flooded) why not do a V8 swap idk if Cadillac made a FWD V8 does any one one if the auroa(SP) the 4 door version of our car is a FWD cuz i think they had a 4.0 V8. im really looking for a hardcore pavement pounder. if possible a SC V8. please all im asking is for you input. i got a raise today and im ready to bring my car back in to the garage for the winter i think this will be a great winter project.as im sure most of you know im going to a quick lowered riv that all smoothed out

so hear what i have planed if its even possible, a V8 supercharged convert to RWD thats what i would like today over the winter let me know.

Nothing wrong with dreaming big. Good luck with the V8/RWD conversion project. It won't be easy, or quick.

Please define "we found out is flooded". I suppose there are a few ways that statement could be interpreted, so please explain.

If your 3800 is really "toast", I'd strongly suggest looking for a Series II engine swap instead. Lots have done it, and can offer advice, but I doubt anyone here has experience going V8/RWD. It's not all that hard or terribly expensive to put a Series II into the 13's if you want. Plenty fast for a street car. AA runs high 13's, daily driven Riv.

the engine is TOAST, i would rather go with the V8, only because im going for show point, and swapping a V8 is car like this would be more points then just another 3.8 with the series 2

If you're determined to go that route, I'm sure it is possible. I haven't heard of any last gen Riv that has gone the V8 route, and only one that has had a RWD conversion, and that one is not streetable. It's possible someone else here knows someone somewhere involved in such a project, but typically they would have told us all about it already. You may want to do some Google searching in case there is info out there.

why isnt it streetable

It's a full blown race car, tube frame and all. Twin turbo 3.8, shooting to run in the 6's.

i dont know about anyone else.... but ive smoked an aurora with my car stock.....let alone a $10,000 Cadillac s/c motor.... too much work for not enough practicality. Yeah, you could drop a WS6 drivetrain in it if you plan on welding up an entire roll cage with it.

show is easy, but ur looking for show and go. and a V8 swap dont mean shit if ur still getting walled by the v6's. I picked a used longblock and trans for $800. of course i ripped it all down and went crazy...but do i have any doubt....of course....theres enough torque to sheer the trans from end to end.




and as far as shows...nothing like setting off everyones car alarms
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=13991999

its just to early for me to telll what im going to do

A good question would be, do you have the skills, tools, experience, time, and money to do such a complicated swap yourself, or will you have to pay a shop the big bucks to do it? Do you have a budget in mind for this?

Here's an idea, why not go Series II with a turbo kit? Fairly common among the W body racers, and much more affordable, if cost is an issue. I don't know of any Rivieras that have gone turbo yet.

the 95 aurora frame is almost exactly the same as the riv and its got a 4.0 v8 i wouldnt suggest doing it though it is a slow car my brothers got one i beat him in it whenever he trys to race

ok the V8 swap is out im just going to build a series 1, im just going to use lots of chrome and "bling bling "now what i need is a site that has performance parts for the series 1. i dont think i have seen too many high performance series 1's

Not nearly as much of a selection of performance parts for the Series I, that's why we've been pointing you towards the SII. However, there are some options: www.seriesoneperformance.com

but from what im told, from numerous shops, it would be more work to put in a series 2 then a V8. and now that we have my engine torn apart , were just going to build that

I wonder if those shops have actually done both for comparison. I know guys here have done the I to II swap. Rivman comes to mind.