Naturally Aspirated - This means that the engine is not inducted, not supercharged, not turbocharged, it pulls its own air in.

Supercharged - This means that air is force fed into the cylinders by a belt-driven induction device called a supercharger. It has the same function as a turbocharger, except that a supercharger is driven by the engine's accessory belt, rather than by exhaust flow. This avoids the problem of "turbo lag", but still serves the same purpose of force feeding the engine with oxygen.

Pre-Series I

LN3 Naturally Aspirated

An LN3 installed in a 1989 Pontiac Bonneville. This engine produced 165 hp and 210 ft·lbf of torque.

In 1988, the 3800, also known as the LN3 RPO designation was introduced, and these engines 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, including Australian Holdens, into the 1990s. It produced 165 hp (123 kW) from 1988 through 1991. The LN3 is very closely related to the L27 and Series I Supercharged. In fact, supercharger-related hardware can be fitted to an LN3 without changing the cylinder heads (ECM reprogramming required).

Applications:

• Oldsmobile Delta 88
• Pontiac Bonneville
• Buick Regal
• Buick LeSabre
• Buick Electra
• Buick Reatta
• Buick Riviera

3300

A smaller 3.3 L 3300 was introduced in 1989 and produced through 1993. It is effectively a lower-deck version of the 3800, with a smaller 3.70 in (93.98 mm) bore and a 3.16 in (80.26 mm) stroke for a total of 3344 cc (204 in³). Like the 3800, it used a cast iron block and heads, pushrods, and hydraulic lifters. Unlike the 3800, however, it used a batch-fire injection system rather than sequential injection, as evidenced by the lack of a cam position sensor. Power output was 160 hp (119 kW) at 5200 rpm and 185 ft·lbf (251 N·m) at 2000 rpm with a 5500 rpm redline.

Applications:

• Buick Century
• Buick Skylark
• Pontiac Grand Am
• Oldsmobile Achieva
• Oldsmobile Calais
• Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera

Series I

L27 Naturally Aspirated

A 3800 Series I L27 Naturally Aspirated engine installed in a 1995 Buick Regal.

The LN3 was replaced by the L27 in 1991-1992 and produced 170 hp (127 kW) from 1992 onward, this engine was referred to as the Series I 3800. The L36 made its debut in 1995.

Applications:

• Buick LeSabre
• Pontiac Bonneville
• Buick Park Avenue
• Pontiac Trans Sport
• Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight
• Buick Riviera
• Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
• ...and many more!

A supercharged 3800 installed in a Buick Riviera for 1995, the last year of Series I L67 production. Power is 225 hp (168 kW) for this version.

Supercharged

The Series I supercharged engine went through many internal changes and the horsepower changed rapidly between the time it was introduced and the time that the Series II L67 was introduced. HP was rated at 205 for 1992-1993 engines, and 225 for 1994-1995 engines. The additional horsepower was gained by using Teflon coated supercharger rotors, improving efficiency (though a larger diameter pulley is used).

Applications:

• Pontiac Bonneville SLE (opt. SC package), SSE (opt) & SSEi
• Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight LSS (opt)
• Buick Park Avenue Ultra (Opt)
• Buick Riviera(Opt)

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 piston connecting rods were 1 in (25 mm) shorter, so the crankshaft was redesigned. A new intake manifold improved breathing, and a new cylinder head had larger valves. The result was 205 hp (153 kW) and 230  ft·lbf (312 N·m), better fuel economy, and 26 lb (12 kg) lighter overall weight.

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

L36 Naturally Aspirated

This engine is or was used in the following vehicles:

• Buick Park Avenue
• Buick Le Sabre
• Buick Regal
• Buick Riviera
• Chevrolet Camaro
• Chevrolet Impala
• Chevrolet Lumina LTZ
• Chevrolet Monte Carlo
• Pontiac Bonneville
• Pontiac Firebird
• Pontiac Grand Prix
• Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight
• Oldsmobile Intrigue
• Oldsmobile LSS
• Holden Commodore

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 3 M90 supercharger, with different throttle body, fuel injectors, cylinder heads, and lower intake 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  ft·lbf (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 is built in Flint, Michigan. The engine was certified LEV in 2001.

This engine is or was used in the following cars:

• Buick Park Avenue
• 1997-1999 Buick Riviera
• 1997.5-2004 Buick Regal
• Buick Riviera (optional 1996-97, std. 1998-99)
• 2004-05 Chevrolet Impala
• 2004-05 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
• 1996-? Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight LSS (limited)
• Pontiac Bonneville SSE & SSEi
• 1997-2003 Pontiac Grand Prix
• 1996 - 2004 Holden Commodore

Series III

The Series III motors include many changes. The intake manifold is all-aluminum on the naturally aspirated models. Electronic throttle control is added, as is returnless fuel injection. Stronger, powdered metal connecting rods are used, instead of the cast iron style from Series II engines. Emissions are also reduced.

L26 Naturally Aspirated

The L26 is the Series III version of the 3800. It is still a 3.8 L design.

This engine is used in the following vehicles:

• 2004+ Pontiac Grand Prix
• Buick LaCrosse
• Buick Lucerne

L32 Supercharged

The L32 is a supercharged Series III. Introduced in 2004, the main differences between the L67 and the L32 is the L32's electronic throttle control, slightly improved cylinder head design, and updated Eaton supercharger, the Generation 5 M90. HP output is up to 260 hp in the Grand Prix GTP, although excessive torque management in the PCM results in the 2004+ being no faster than the 1997-2003 Grand Prix GTP in stock form.

Applications:

• Pontiac Grand Prix GTP, GTP Comp G, & opt on 06 GT