In the automotive engine building  industry, most engine builders are confronted with problems  buying  internal engine components at one time or another.  While challenging, these engine builders  normally are capable of finding solutions  and the components necessary to build a durable performance engine.  One engine make that has seen reduced parts availability lately is the 3.8L turbo Buick V6 engine.

Turbo charged 3.8L Buick V6 engines were produced in the in the late 1980′s.  These performance engines were only installed in select performance vehicles, including the widely popular Buick Grand National.  This car was definitely powerful for its day and remains powerful with the proper internal engine parts.  Unfortunately, numerous domestic manufacturing companies have stopped manufacturing parts for this engine.  Their reasoning is that the sales volume is too small and not profitable for them to maintain production.

Foreign manufacturers have taken advantage of the potential to manufacture parts for USA made performance engines.  In many instances foreign manufacturers are producing crankshafts and other hard to purchase internal engine parts for Buicks and many other performance cars.  And in most situations, the quality is good enough to work fine with extreme performance engines, including those with a turbo.

Even though the quality of most foreign made engine parts are good, the engine rebuilder still is required to inspect every components carefully to determine if any defects exist.  In addition to this, close tolerances must be maintained.  Especially in racing engines, any internal engine parts which are outside of acceptable tolerances might cause early engine failure.

There are some residing in the USA that blame offshore competition for American job losses.  It is important to note that many American based manufacturing companies have discontinued making specific low demand components in their efforts to maintain profitability.  If it were not for offshore manufacturing, a good number of engine builders would not have the components they need to rebuild many engines.

In the performance engine building industry, there are a very select few machine shops which specialize in selling difficult to find turbo Buick internal engine parts.  Thankfully, through domestic and foreign manufacturing sources, leading engine rebuilders are still reconditioning Buick V6 engines that have not been manufactured in years.