vr motor ecotech or not?

[minimefx]

i am changing the motor in my vr series2 wagon because there is a noise in the bottom end when reved and oil light comes on. so i pulled the motor out today and on the side of the block back left it has EV6 but the other vr motor i have does not have this marking on it. Is the one i pulled out an ecotech block?. intake is not ecotech and both blocks look the same just different markings on them.

[moff_man]

from some of the parts i have got for my s2 vr, they are the same for the vs, ie harmonic ballancer and timing gear bits.

im thinking there the same blocks but not 100% on this one, i would like to know tho

[Surfwagon]

No the ecotec block is completely different to that of the VN-VR buick block as it is known in australia.
The VN buick came in series 1 and series 2 engines with the series 1's having the sealed cooling system and series 2 and later thru to the VR2 having the overflow style cooling system.
I believe the EV6 was cast into all VR blocks but not into VN-VP blocks.

[moff_man]

this might help quoted from Buick V6 engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pre-Series I

[edit] LN3 Naturally Aspirated

An LN3 installed in a 1989 Pontiac Bonneville. This engine produced 165 hp (123 kW) and 220 lb·ft (298 N·m) of torque.The 3.8 L (3800 cc) LN3 was an engine produced by General Motors' Buick Division. Introduced in 1988, the 3800 LN3, would later be loosely considered the Pre-Series I, although the older 3.8 SFI (LG3) was still available that year in some models. Designated initially by VIN code C, the 3800 LN3 was a major redesign, featuring changes such as a balance shaft, on-center bore spacing, use of a 3x/18x crank-trigger system, and other improvements. This generation continued in use in several GM products into the 1990s. It produced 165 hp (123 kW) and 220 lb·ft (298 N·m). The LN3 is very closely related to the Series I L27 and Series I L67 Supercharged. In fact, supercharger-related hardware can be fitted to an LN3 without changing the cylinder heads (ECM reprogramming required). The L27 has a two piece, upper plenum intake and lower intake, the LN3 is all one piece.

Applications:

Buick Electra
Buick LeSabre
Buick Reatta
Buick Riviera
Holden Commodore (VN Series I)
Oldsmobile Delta 88
Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight
Oldsmobile Toronado
Oldsmobile Toronado Trofeo
Pontiac Bonneville

[edit] 3300

Series I

[edit] L27 Naturally Aspirated

A 3800 Series I L27 Naturally Aspirated engine installed transversely in a 1995 Buick Regal.The LN3 was replaced by the 3.8 L (3791 cc, 231 cu in)[3] L27 in 1991-1992 and produced 170 horsepower (130 kW) from 1992 onward, this engine was referred to as the Series I 3800. In Australia, the LN3 was also replaced by the L27 by Holden who used the engine in their series 2 (1991) VN Commodore range. However, the Australian L27 retained the LN3's one piece upper intake and lower plenum. Power was still boosted to 127 kW (170 hp) for the Holden L27. The L36 made its debut in 1995.

Applications:

Buick LeSabre
Buick Park Avenue
Buick Regal
Holden Commodore (VNII, VP, VR)
Holden Statesman (VQ, VR)
Pontiac Bonneville
Pontiac Trans Sport
Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight
Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight
Oldsmobile Toronado
Oldsmobile Toronado Trofeo
Oldsmobile Silhouette

Series II
Introduced in 1995, the Series II is quite a different engine. Although the stroke for the 3.8 L engine remained at 3.4 in (86 mm), and the bore remained at 3.8 in (97 mm), the engine architecture was vastly changed. The deck height is shorter than the Series I, reducing weight and total engine package size. This required that the piston connecting rods be shortened 1 in (25 mm), and the crankshaft was also redesigned. A new intake manifold improved breathing while a redesigned cylinder head featured larger valves and a higher compression ratio. The result was 205 hp (153 kW) and 230 lb·ft (312 N·m), better fuel economy, and 26 lb (12 kg) lighter overall weight (to 392 lb (178 kg)). The 3800 weighs only 22 lb (10.0 kg) more than the High Feature V6, despite being an all cast iron design.

The new intake manifold greatly improved breathing. To meet emissions standards, an EGR tube was placed in the intake manifold to reduce combustion temperatures. This increases fuel mileage by a substantial margin.

The 3800 Series II was on the Ward's 10 Best Engines list for 1995 through 1997.


[edit] L36 Naturally Aspirated

A variation of the L36 engine in a 1998 Holden VT Commodore
Another variation of the L36 engine in a 1995 Oldsmobile 88This engine is or was used in the following vehicles:

Buick Le Sabre
Buick Park Avenue
Buick Regal LS
Buick Riviera
Chevrolet Camaro
Chevrolet Impala
Chevrolet Lumina LTZ
Chevrolet Monte Carlo (LT, SS)
Holden Commodore (VS, VT, VX, VY)
Holden Statesman (VS, WH, WK)
Holden Ute (VU, VY)
Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight
Oldsmobile Intrigue
Oldsmobile LSS
Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight
Pontiac Bonneville
Pontiac Firebird
Pontiac Grand Prix


[edit] L67 Supercharged

A 3800 Series II L67 Supercharged engine in a 1998 Buick Regal GS.The L67 is the supercharged version of the Series II L36 and appeared in 1996, one year after the normally-aspirated version. It uses the Eaton Generation III M90 supercharger with a 3.8" pulley, a different throttle body, fuel injectors, cylinder heads, and lower intake manifold than the L36 uses. Both engines share the same engine blocks, but compression is reduced from 9.4:1 in the L36 to 8.5:1 for the L67. Power is up to 240 hp (180 kW) and 280 lb·ft (380 N·m) of torque. Final drive ratios are reduced in most applications, for better fuel economy and more use of the engine's torque in the low range. The engine was built in Flint, Michigan. The engine was certified LEV in 2001.

This engine is or was used in the following cars:

1996-2005 Buick Park Avenue Ultra
1997.5-2004 Buick Regal GS / GSX (SLP)
1996-1999 Buick Riviera (optional 1996-97, std. 1998-99)
2004-2005 Chevrolet Impala SS
2004-2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS
1995-2004 Holden Commodore (VS, VT, VX, VY)
1995-2004 Holden Statesman (VS, WH, WK)
Holden Ute (VU, VY)
2001-2004 Holden Monaro
1996-1999 Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight LSS (limited)
1996-2003 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi
1997-2003 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP

[VrWagz1]

I read on the forums here and it had info to back it up i think, and it read to the effect that the very last few VR's did have an ecotect in them. Sort of a piolet run before the VS or somthing. So the VR ecotect does exist, its just very unlikey you have it. The ecotec is a very different looking engine and the intake manifold should give it away staight away.

[5ivespeed]

there is no h in ecotec

[Fu Manchu]

they all share the same water pump.

[jas98]

vr and vs engines are pretty hard to get confused....the VS has a couple more pullys on it, power steering pump is near the bottom of engine, alternator is on driver side,intake is diferent, throttle body is on sire of intake and not at read etc....

also the ecotec blocks are smaller/shorter..so ive been told