3.8 V-6 Upgrades???

Ilovefirebirds · #1 12-15-2003, 02:28 PM

I have a 99' Firebird, white w/ custom ram air hood, flowmaster catback exhaust, and custom decals. Does anyone know of any ways to upgrade this dang engine so i can get more horsepower out of it. I have found a supercharger for it but it is a waste of money (only 73 horsepower and they ask for 3700). If i had to, i would swap engines but i mite has well buy a new car for that price. Plus, i was thinking about selling it and getting another Firebird (trans am hopefully, 6 speed) but i cant find one in my general area so my options are pretty limited. Also, does anyone know how much horespower i could get out of my little 3.6 liter without ripping apart the engine? With all the upgrades, headers, RPM programer, and anything else you can think of.

xx_chronic_red_xx · #2 12-15-2003, 02:54 PM

Sadly but true, our v6s arent getting the high performance parts we need made enough. besides adding a cat-back system with a high flow catalytic converter, new pipes, and a nice flowmaster or warlock muffler... there isnt much u can do without tearing the engine apart, besides adding a cold air intake. even adding headers requires lifting the engine out to get into the spaces needed to get them on. my 3.1 liter is gonna go through a total overhault his christmas break, with modified s10 headers (which were 300bux cheaper than fbird ones), a new cam, ported and polished heads, electric ram air turbine. and all that still doesnt guaruntee an enormous change.

Ilovefirebirds · #3 12-15-2003, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xx_chronic_red_xx

Sadly but true, our v6s arent getting the high performance parts we need made enough. besides adding a cat-back system with a high flow catalytic converter, new pipes, and a nice flowmaster or warlock muffler... there isnt much u can do without tearing the engine apart, besides adding a cold air intake. even adding headers requires lifting the engine out to get into the spaces needed to get them on. my 3.1 liter is gonna go through a total overhault his christmas break, with modified s10 headers (which were 300bux cheaper than fbird ones), a new cam, ported and polished heads, electric ram air turbine. and all that still doesnt guaruntee an enormous change.

Would you suggest selling my car and getting a trans am? My car now is worth about 8800 but i also have the catback system which should up the resail value. All i am looking for is a Firebird that can put out AT LEAST 300 horsepower and AT LEAST 325 torque. Any suggestions would be great. Thx

xx_chronic_red_xx · #4 12-15-2003, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ilovefirebirds

Would you suggest selling my car and getting a trans am? My car now is worth about 8800 but i also have the catback system which should up the resail value. All i am looking for is a Firebird that can put out AT LEAST 300 horsepower and AT LEAST 325 torque. Any suggestions would be great. Thx

if u got the money, that is the best way to go. LS1s and LT1s have sooooo much aftermarket parts for them, from intake manifolds to headers. theyre everywhere. summit even dedicates a whole section in their catalog for firebird/camaro/corvette specific mods. id do it but i wanna learn on a lil guy first

if ur going for a car with horsepower right out of the box then ur definately gonna wanna go with the ls1 trans am. puts out around 325-350 horsies stock. good luck!

GTPCatz · #5 12-15-2003, 08:07 PM

all you 3.8 guys should check out the Grand Prix Forums at http://www.clubgp.com.

There is more you can do to that engine then what you think!

I own a Grand Prix GTP
couple other places to check out:
http://www.intense-racing.com
http://www.thrashercharged.com/home.shtm
http://www.zzperformance.com

Ilovefirebirds · #6 12-16-2003, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTPCatz

all you 3.8 guys should check out the Grand Prix Forums at http://www.clubgp.com.

There is more you can do to that engine then what you think!

I own a Grand Prix GTP
couple other places to check out:
http://www.intense-racing.com
http://www.thrashercharged.com/home.shtm
http://www.zzperformance.com

Why are you giving me sites that have Grand Prix upgrades? Does the GP have the same type of engine or something? I checked out those sites and all that is on their Grand Prix stuff.

GTPCatz · #7 12-16-2003, 09:15 PM

The Grand Prix has the same engine as you!

98GPGT · #8 12-16-2003, 11:38 PM

Yeah the v6 firebird is a 3800 series II right? SAme as gp motor. http://www.zzperformance.com/ and http://www.intense-racing.com/ both have alot of L67 and L36 (what you have I think) upgrades.

Ilovefirebirds · #9 12-17-2003, 05:30 PM

About how much more powerful is the LS1 engine compared to the Buick 3.8 liter? Also, i have heard that the 3.8 liter found in firebirds are one of the most indestructable engines. Is this true and if so, what makes it that?

98GPGT · #10 12-17-2003, 11:00 PM

We'll the 3.8L is only 200 hp stock. LS1's have over 300. The LS1 also has alot more aftermarket parts as you have already found out. If you want to make your car fast just pull that v6. You can get horsepower out of it but not as much as a v8 for the same cost. If i were you i'd pull the v6 find a 350 from a junkyard rebuild it (or have it rebuilt depending on your skill) and toss it in there. It will be worth it compared to that v6. Plus your car is heavy compared to other v6's. Just get a V8 don't waste money on the v6. I, on the other hand, don't have a choice I have fwd and thats the best motor I can get in my gp.

Ilovefirebirds · #11 12-28-2003, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTPCatz

The Grand Prix has the same engine as you!

So the Grand Prix has the same engine as i do? So when i shop around on the zzperformance website and they talk about superchargers for Grand Prixs, does that mean i can get that and fit it to my firebird?

carguyinok · #12 12-28-2003, 01:34 PM

Quote:

The Grand Prix has the same engine as you!

So dose this mean you can take the 3.8 FWD and put the bellhousing from the 3.8 RWD and it will work as a RWD set-up?

GTPCatz · #13 12-28-2003, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ilovefirebirds

So the Grand Prix has the same engine as i do? So when i shop around on the zzperformance website and they talk about superchargers for Grand Prixs, does that mean i can get that and fit it to my firebird?

With alot of modifications yes
first -- your intake is differant then ours
second -- our engines are in sideways....you'll need a differant belt setup

I dont think that it is impossible but would need some work to make it work correctly...

GTPCatz · #14 12-28-2003, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carguyinok

So dose this mean you can take the 3.8 FWD and put the bellhousing from the 3.8 RWD and it will work as a RWD set-up?

I don't know....I dont think anyone has tried that yet....
I guess it would work...I dont see why it wouldn't

98GPGT · #15 12-28-2003, 10:26 PM

I've heard of people doing that and I guess it works. I know a guy that put an LS1 in his gp. Dont do it though. You'll break stuff like mad. Its just not worth the $. If u want a V8 buy a trans am or camaro or something unless u have money to burn and don't mind wasting it.

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