What can be done to the 3.8L SeriesII Performance wise?

[brian.busby1]

What are some performance mods that I can do this engine and what is the potential of this engine? Any info to help would be greatly appreciated. I plan to start doing some things to the car slowly after I get back from Iraq. Thank you in advance.

[Joshu]

I think I might get some support for this idea...SO

with the plans listed in your sig, i would just buy a V8 F-body. It would be the better long term situation. The market is very good for them. Many guys at LS1tech.com selling theirs dirt cheap.

[brian.busby1]

I plan to do that in the future. But for right now, It is kind of a little project of mine. I really want to see what I can do with that V-6. When my wife first bought me the car, I was a little upset about it being a V-6. However, since I have driven it, I am quite impressed with the power that it has. Just kid of something I would like to do. Thank you for the advice though. Much obliged.

[RAF7789]

Get 'er breathin better first! (Intke and exhst)
Then improve the suspension and handling.
Then you may think about a head and cam combo...if you don't mind getting money out of the bank and into your car, ya know.

[brian.busby1]

So i have been back and forth about a whisper airlid with a K&N Filter or a Full blown cold air intake. What is your take on that? I have also been looking around at cams. I havnt looked at heads yet. I definately want the pacesetter headers and the flowmaster with cutouts. Is there any other exhaust sytems that are a bit beefier sounding though? Magnaflow or Borla possibly?

[Christopherrr]

www.camarov6.com <---- a load of tech info, vids, sound clips and pics.

[brian.busby1]

Ill definately check this site out.Thanks

[3800_Firebird]

Free-breathing on both ends seems to improve things. I currently have a intake that is much smoother flowing (more volume) than stock. It helps a bit. I'd like to see what a new, higher volume exhaust would do.

And of course it helps to have good plugs, wires, coils and fuel filter.

[99Firebird3800]

Best bang for your buck will be a Turbo kit. Look up Intense Racing and a guy named Tim King. He has a turbo'd 3800 F-body that is running....low 9's or 8's, I believe.

Short of a turbo, you can do basically all your normal options, but first and foremost do intake/exhaust work. Throw in a cam (some people do roller rockers, then wish they did a cam). You can also get a custom tune done that will really wake the thing up. Then there's the typical head/valve work.

Don't worry about the motor. Tim King's turbo F-body? It runs on the STOCK bottom end.

[brian.busby1]

I have been debating getting a turbo or supercharger. Dont know yet. Just cleaned the throttle body, seafoamed the Gas, oil and the engine via the brake booster vacuum line and already the car is running a whole lot better. Doing the oil tooday or tomorrow and the fuel filter. I plan on doing the exhaust and intake when I get back from Iraq. I just havnt decided on the whisper airlid or the cold air intake yet.
Thank you for all the replies. You guys are most definately very helpful.

[Trash man]

nice in-expensive route for exhuast is a take off from a V8 car, its better and wont give u a drone as bad as a flowmaster would

[Joe 1320]

Here I go, the voice of dissention...........

I'll bet my next week's paycheck that a well done turbo 3.8 will roast all but the most expensive and exotic machinery. I have a girdled 3.8 block motor with all forged internals, rated for 700 lbs of torque. My plan is to put that in the 94 Camaro with an automatic and 3.23 gears. No doubt the differential will need to be swapped, but 700 lbs of torque should be one heck of a big stick.

So my opinion is that if you have a 3800 to start with, you can build one hell of a performer with the right parts and tuning. No matter which direction you go, expect to drop a boatload of cash. These cars are great in stock form when driven moderately. Upgrade the power and start pushing it, other things will likely need attention. That T-5 won't last long as it's internals are meant to cope with a stockish V6. The rear will handle a bit more, but it gets dicey at modified LT1 and LS1 power levels. You better plan on changing lots of stuff if you ramp up the power.

Make sure you have a rock solid bottom end, I prefer ARP studs. Headgaskets are a weakness of the 3800. I would do headwork, upgraded headgaskets and fasteners. Cam or rockers depends on how much power you ultimately want and how that power works with forced induction.

Another thought is to pick up a supercharged version out of the GTP or the like, ditch the supercharger for a turbo and it's associated plumbing.

[brian.busby1]

Here I go, the voice of dissention...........

I'll bet my next week's paycheck that a well done turbo 3.8 will roast all but the most expensive and exotic machinery. I have a girdled 3.8 block motor with all forged internals, rated for 700 lbs of torque. My plan is to put that in the 94 Camaro with an automatic and 3.23 gears. No doubt the differential will need to be swapped, but 700 lbs of torque should be one heck of a big stick.

So my opinion is that if you have a 3800 to start with, you can build one hell of a performer with the right parts and tuning. No matter which direction you go, expect to drop a boatload of cash. These cars are great in stock form when driven moderately. Upgrade the power and start pushing it, other things will likely need attention. That T-5 won't last long as it's internals are meant to cope with a stockish V6. The rear will handle a bit more, but it gets dicey at modified LT1 and LS1 power levels. You better plan on changing lots of stuff if you ramp up the power.

Make sure you have a rock solid bottom end, I prefer ARP studs. Headgaskets are a weakness of the 3800. I would do headwork, upgraded headgaskets and fasteners. Cam or rockers depends on how much power you ultimately want and how that power works with forced induction.

Another thought is to pick up a supercharged version out of the GTP or the like, ditch the supercharger for a turbo and it's associated plumbing.

Awsome! Well that definately gets me going. I have been doing alot of research and everything you just told me was what I was beginning to figure out. It will take some time but I expect it to be fun and challenging. I am leaving to go back to Iraq tomorrow for the last 40 days or so of my tour. I will be starting with some simple mods when I come back along with working out small issues with the car. (You know, little rust underneath, small leaks (nothing major that is leaving puddles on the ground), odds and ends throughout the car) From there I will just continue to progress and learn. Little bit here and there, save some money here and there. I will be hitting you guys up alot more once I get started. Thank you so far for all the tips and advice. It will help me alot.

[99Firebird3800]

Here I go, the voice of dissention...........

I'll bet my next week's paycheck that a well done turbo 3.8 will roast all but the most expensive and exotic machinery. I have a girdled 3.8 block motor with all forged internals, rated for 700 lbs of torque. My plan is to put that in the 94 Camaro with an automatic and 3.23 gears. No doubt the differential will need to be swapped, but 700 lbs of torque should be one heck of a big stick.

So my opinion is that if you have a 3800 to start with, you can build one hell of a performer with the right parts and tuning. No matter which direction you go, expect to drop a boatload of cash. These cars are great in stock form when driven moderately. Upgrade the power and start pushing it, other things will likely need attention. That T-5 won't last long as it's internals are meant to cope with a stockish V6. The rear will handle a bit more, but it gets dicey at modified LT1 and LS1 power levels. You better plan on changing lots of stuff if you ramp up the power.

Make sure you have a rock solid bottom end, I prefer ARP studs. Headgaskets are a weakness of the 3800. I would do headwork, upgraded headgaskets and fasteners. Cam or rockers depends on how much power you ultimately want and how that power works with forced induction.

Another thought is to pick up a supercharged version out of the GTP or the like, ditch the supercharger for a turbo and it's associated plumbing.

Actually, alot of guys are finding the L36/L26 bottom end is better - Higher compression. Otherwise the blocks are identical. They're also putting 600+ ftlbs of torque and approximately the same HP to stock bottom ends (again, look up Intense and ZZ Performance to see what they're doing with FWD grand prixs). You're still going to have some work to do if you try to use the s/c LIM, as the thermostat would move to the back of the motor . If you're going to go s/c'd, I'd try to get my hands on a Holden setup - Yes, they've got L67's that go in RWD vehicles with a roots-style blower. God I wish I lived Down Under...