Chevy 3.8 3800 Series ll V-6 Coolant Tesioner Bracket Modification

[3.8L Strong]

I'm looking for feedback on the following modification I have made. Being that I live in Hawaii, I really don't have the need to run the heater in the car. With that in mind, and for other reasons, I have removed the aluminum coolant bracket that supports the alternator and belt tensioner. I have started on a project to install a Chevy 3.8L 3800 Series ll V-6 into my PT Cruiser. I'm in the process of fabricating my own mounts and brackets, which includes: both front engine mounts, transmission mount, alternator brackets, air condition compressor brackets, belt tensioner bracket and idler pulley bracket. My main concern with this modification was to not interfere with the coolant flow direction. I would appreciate your support by reviewing the picture of the engine that I have posted at this
Web-site: http://ptcruiserworld.tenmagazines.c...Gold/83888.jpg This engine will be installed in my PT Cruiser in the back ground. I'm refered to as Hawaiian Gold at that web-site. Please review the by-pass hose mod I made that you see in the picture. I want your feedback on that mod. The coolant flow direction is out of the intake and into the water pump housing cover. The other reason for the mod is that I wanted to free up the upper half of the engine block, to give it a more nostalgic look. To me that aluminum coolant bracket was an eye sore. I'll be waiting for your response. Thank you very much for your support. If you need more info you can reach me at: kamaki8@hawaii.rr.com.

[ September 12, 2004, 03:35 AM: Message edited by: 3.8L Strong ]

[Wicked 3800 V6]

I dunno. Lots of folks loop the in/out for the heater fluid because they've removed HVAC to save weight.

[3.4 slow to go]

expandable freeze plugs work for me, but then my engine aint as purty as yours is :( ;)

There should'nt be any probs w/the setup.

[ September 12, 2004, 02:53 PM: Message edited by: 3.4 slow to go ]

[3.8L Strong]

Yes, my first thought was to loop the in and out.
However, I still wanted to get rid of that ugly aluminum bracket. I was then going for the freeze
plug idea. But, I wasn't sure about the coolant flow. Would I be cutting off the flow supply some where is what I was concerned about. If it worked for you 3.4 slow to go, it must be ok. Thanks guys, I appreciate your comments and support. 3.8L Strong.

[3.8L Strong]

I'm currently fabricating my own engine mounts, ac compressor brackets, belt tensioner brackets, idler pulley brackets etc. It is such a big time consuming job, however, I'm enjoying every minute of it. When that is completed I'll post pictures of how they came out in the same location as the 1st picture.

[AllTheGoodNamesAreGone]

cool.. nice project.. motor looks good/clean

if you dont mind me asking.. why?? why switch to the chevy 3.8? i am just curious/interested..

[3.8L Strong]

Chevy's have always been my car of choice. I thought I'd try something different and purchased my 2002 PT Cruiser. I like everything about the PT Cruiser, except for the engine. No power. In 2003 Chrysler came out with the turbo charged engine. Amazing how much power that engine puts out. However, I'm from the nostalgic era. To me the PT Cruiser deserves a V-8, or at least a
V-6 engine. I chose the Chevy 3.8 V-6 for the following reasons. The main reason is, If my calculations are correct, and I'm sure they are. I will be able to install the 3.8 without cutting into the firewall. Another reason is this particular year engine(2000)has a distributorless system, which allows me to set the engine closer to the firewall. Another reason is opportunity, it was there when I was looking. I may have even gone with the 4.3 Chevy if it were available at the time. In any case, when I pop that Chrysler hood, I want to see a rear wheel drive Chevy smiling back at me. Thanks for your comment and interest.

[malice10985]

I used the same expandable freeze plugs that 3.4 slow to go used, but I put them directly into the engine block, eliminating the need for the nasty bracket.

If I knew the size I used, I would tell you. I have long since reverted back to the stock setup though.

With the setup I used, I got a code for "insufficient coolant temp for closed loop ops". You are probably gonna custom tune your PCM, so you could just program that code out.

[3.4 slow to go]

For those that eliminated the bracket, did you fab up a spacer for teh bolt to go thru & keep the alt in place???

[3.8L Strong]

3.4 slow to go, for my conversion I have chosen to
relocate the alternator, belt tensioner,idler pulley & ac compressor. To keep the conversion as simple as possible, I'm using the stock PT Cruiser AC compressor. The stock PT Cruiser compressor has a 4 rib pulley. I ordered another compressor with a 6 rib pulley to match the 3.8 serpentine system. I'll be posting pictures of what all of the brackets that I'm fabricating looks like when I'm done. I hope to finish those modifications by this weekend.