GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Application

Specification

Metric

English

General Data

  • Engine Type

90 degrees V-6

  • Displacement

3.8L

231 cu  in

  • RPO

L26, L32

  • VIN

2, 4

  • Bore

96.52 mm

3.8 in

  • Stroke

86.36 mm

3.4 in

  • Compression Ratio VIN K - @ 4 Compression Strokes

9.4:1

  • Compression Ratio VIN 1 - @ 4 Compression Strokes

8.5:1

  • Firing Order

1-6-5-4-3-2

  • Spark Plug Gap

1.52 mm

0.60 in

Balance Shaft

  • Bearing Bore Diameter - Front

51.973-51.999 mm

2.0462-2.0472 in

  • Bearing Bore Diameter-Rear-In Block

47.584-47.612 mm

1.8735-1.8745 in

  • Bearing Inside Diameter - Rear

38.117-38.194 mm

1.5007-1.5037 in

  • Bearing Journal Diameter - Rear

38.072-38.105 mm

1.4989-1.5002 in

  • Bearing Clearance - Rear

0.0127-0.1219 mm

0.0005-0.0048 in

  • End Play

0.0-0.171 mm

0.0-0.0067 in

  • Gear Lash

0.050-0.125 mm

0.002-0.0049 in

Block

  • Balance Shaft Bearing Bore Diameter - Front

51.973-51.999 mm

2.0462-2.0472 in

  • Balance Shaft Bearing Inside Diameter - Rear

38.118-38.194 mm

1.5007-1.5037 in

  • Balance Shaft Bearing Bore Diameter - Rear, In Block

47.584-47.612 mm

1.8735-1.8745 in

  • Camshaft Bearing Inside Diameter - Front and Rear

46.970-46.934 mm

1.8428-1.8492 in

  • Camshaft Bearing Inside Diameter - Middle #2, #3

46.977-46.942 mm

1.8481-1.8495 in

  • Crankshaft Main Bearing Bore Diameter

68.249-68.270 mm

2.6870-2.6878 in

  • Cylinder Bore Diameter

98.5 mm

3.8 in

  • Cylinder Bore Out-of-Round - Diametral

0.0254 mm

0.001 in

  • Cylinder Bore Taper

0.0254 mm

0.001 in

  • Cylinder Head Deck Height

216.459 mm

8.522 in

  • Cylinder Head Deck Surface Flatness - Overall

0.0762 mm

0.003 in

  • Valve Lifter Bore Diameter

21.424-21.450 mm

0.8435-0.8445 in

Camshaft

  • Camshaft Bearing Inside Diameter - 1 and 4

46.970-46.934 mm

1.8478-1.8492 in

  • Camshaft Bearing Inside Diameter 2 and 3

46.977-46.942 mm

1.8481-1.8495 in

  • Camshaft Journal Diameter

47.655-46.858 mm

1.8462-1.8448 in

  • Camshaft Journal Out-of-Round

0.00635 mm

0.00025 in

  • Camshaft Journal to Bearing Clearance

0.041-0.119 mm

0.0016-0.0047 in

  • Camshaft Lobe Duration - Exhaust

330 Crankshaft degrees

  • Camshaft Lobe Duration - Intake

320 Crankshaft degrees

  • Camshaft Lobe Lift - Exhaust

6.56 mm

0.258 in

  • Camshaft Lobe Lift - Intake

6.56 mm

0.258 in

  • Camshaft Lobe Overlap

96 Crankshaft degrees

Connecting Rod

  • Connecting Rod Bearing Clearance

0.0127-0.0660 mm

0.0005-0.0026 in

  • Connecting Rod Bore Diameter

60.295-60.312 mm

2.37378-2.3745 in

  • Connecting Rod Length - Center to Center - S/C

143.205-143.307 mm

5.638-5.642 in

  • Connecting Rod Length - Center to Center - Non S/C

145.796-145.898 mm

5.740-5.744 in

  • Connecting Rod Side Clearance

0.102-0.508 mm

0.004-0.0200 in

Crankshaft

  • Connecting Rod Journal Diameter

57.1170-57.1475 mm

2.2487-2.2499 in

  • Connecting Rod Journal Out-of-Round

0.00508 mm

0.00020 in

  • Connecting Rod Journal Taper

0.00889 mm

0.00035 in

  • Crankshaft End Play

0.076-0.276 mm

0.003-0.011 in

  • Crankshaft Main Bearing Clearance - #1

0.0178-0.0406 mm

0.0007-0.0016 in

  • Crankshaft Main Bearing Clearance - #2, 3 and 4

0.0229-0.0457 mm

0.0009-0.0018 in

  • Crankshaft Main Journal Diameter

63.470-63.495 mm

2.4988-2.4998 in

  • Crankshaft Main Journal Out-of-Round

0.00635 mm

0.00025 in

  • Crankshaft Main Journal Taper

0.00889 mm

0.00035 in

  • Crankshaft Rear Flange Runout

0.05 mm

0.002 in

  • Crankshaft Runout - from Main 2 & 3 to 1 & 4

0.076 mm

0.003 in

Cylinder Head

  • Combustion Chamber Depth - at Measurement Point

3.9166-5.4356 mm

0.154-0.214 in

  • Cylinder Head Height/Thickness

103.492-104.178 mm

4.0745-4.1015 in

  • Surface Finish

0.0032 mm

0.000125 in

  • Surface Flatness - Block Deck

0.1016 mm

0.004 in

  • Surface Flatness - Exhaust Manifold Deck

0.1016 mm

0.004 in

  • Surface Flatness - Intake Manifold Deck

0.1016 mm

0.004 in

  • Valve Guide Bore - Exhaust

8.001-8.0213 mm

0.3150-0.3158 in

  • Valve Guide Bore - Intake

8.001-8.0213 mm

0.3150-0.3158 in

Exhaust Manifold

  • Surface Flatness - Maximum

0.5 mm

0.02 in

Lubrication System

  • Oil Capacity - with Filter

4.3L

4.5 qts

  • Oil Capacity - without Filter

3.76L

4 qts

  • Oil Pressure - @ 1850 RPM

414 kPa

60 psi

Oil Pump

  • Gear Pocket - Depth

11.71-11.75 mm

0.461-0.4625 in

  • Gear Pocket - Diameter

89.10-89.20 mm

3.508-3.512 in

  • Inner Gear Tip Clearance

0.152 mm

0.006 in

  • Relief Valve-to-Bore Clearance

0.038-0.076 mm

0.0015-0.003 in

Piston Ring End Gap

  • First Compression Ring

0.25-0.46 mm

0.010-0.018 in

  • Second Compression Ring

0.58-0.84 mm

0.023-0.033 in

  • Oil Control Ring

0.254-0.762 mm

0.010-0.030 in

Piston Ring to Groove Clearance

  • First Compression Ring

0.033-0.079 mm

0.0013-0.0031 in

  • Second Compression Ring

0.033-0.079 mm

0.0013-0.0031 in

  • Oil Control Ring

0.023-0.201 mm

0.0009-0.0079 in

Piston Ring Thickness

  • First Compression Ring

1.176-1.197 mm

0.0463-0.0471 in

  • Second Compression Ring

1.476-1.497 mm

0.0581-0.0589 in

  • Oil Control Ring

1.854-2.007 mm

0.073-0.079 in

Pistons and Pins - Piston

  • Piston Diameter - Production - S/C

96.489-96.528 mm

3.7988-3.8003 in

  • Piston Diameter - Production - Non S/C

96.482-96.497 mm

3.7985-3.7991 in

  • Piston Diameter - Service Limit - Minimum - S/C

96.434 mm

3.7966 in

  • Piston Diameter - Service Limit - Minimum - Non S/C

96.442 mm

3.7969 in

  • Piston Pin Bore Diameter - S/C

23.0065-23.0105 mm

0.9058-0.9059 in

  • Piston Pin Bore Diameter - Non S/C

22.0060-22.0110 mm

0.8664-0.8666 in

  • Piston to Bore Clearance - New - VIN K

0.010-0.051 mm

0.0004-0.0020 in

  • Piston to Bore Clearance - Used - VIN K

0.050-0.091 mm

0.0020-0.0036 in

  • Piston to Bore Clearance - New - VIN 1

-0.0207-0.0437 mm

-0.0008-0.0018 in

  • Piston to Bore Clearance - Used VIN 1

0.0193-0.0997 mm

0.0008-0.0039 in

Pistons and Pins - Pin

  • Piston Pin Clearance to Connecting Rod Bore - Clearance - VIN 2

0.0066-0.0217 mm

0.0003-0.0009 in

  • Piston Pin Clearance to Piston Pin Bore - VIN K

0.0020-0.0130 mm

0.00008-0.00051 in

  • Piston Pin Diameter - Clearance - VIN 4

21.9950-22.000 mm

0.8659-0.8661 in

  • Piston Pin Clearance to Connecting Rod Bore - Press Fit - VIN 1

0.0073-0.0225 mm

0.00029-0.00089 in

  • Piston Pin Clearance to Piston Pin Bore - VIN 1

0.0065-0.0155 mm

0.00061-0.00026 in

  • Piston Pin Diameter - VIN 1

22.995-23.000 mm

0.90531-0.90551 in

Valves

  • Valve Face Angle

46 degrees

  • Valve Face Runout

0.0508 mm

0.002 in

  • Valve Head Diameter - Intake

46.37-46.63 mm

1.826-1.836 in

  • Valve Head Diameter - Exhaust

38.481-38.735 mm

1.515-1.525 in

  • Valve Length

119.464-119.972 mm

4.7033-4.7233 in

  • Valve Seat Angle

45 degrees

  • Valve Seat Runout

0.050 mm

0.002 in

  • Valve Seat Width - Intake

1.53-2.03 mm

0.060-0.080-in

  • Valve Seat Width - Exhaust

2.29-2.79 mm

0.090-0.110 in

  • Valve Stem Diameter

7.948-7.965 mm

0.3129-0.3136 in

  • Valve Stem-to-Guide Clearance - Intake

0.031-0.071 mm

0.0012-0.0028 in

  • Valve Stem-to-Guide Clearance - Exhaust

0.036-0.074 mm

0.0014-0.0029 in

Valve Lifters/Push Rods

  • Push Rod Length - Intake, Yellow

178.13 mm

7.013 in

  • Push Rod Length - Exhaust, Green

178.13 mm

7.013 in

  • Valve Lifter Diameter

21.387-21.405 mm

0.842-0.843 in

Valve Rocker Arms

  • Valve Rocker Arm Ratio

1.66:1

Valve Springs

  • Valve Spring Free Length

49.78 mm

1.960 in

  • Valve Spring Installed Height

42.93-44.45 mm

1.690-1.750 in

  • Valve Spring Load - Closed

334 N @ 43.69 mm

75 lb @ 1.72 in

  • Valve Spring Load - Open

1014 N @ 32.4 mm

228 lb @ 1.277 in

  • Valve Spring Total Munber of Coils

6.6