Is the 3800 V6 Worth it?

[93CivicSiD16HB]

I'm in the process of looking for a faster car, and was thinking of the 98' Firebird. I was choosing this for the gas milage but from what it seems they're fairly slow (my friends GRAND AM has 200 some horses )

The trans am i was looking at is only a few thousand more but thats less i have to spend on the car, (and the Trans am has 120K miles)

Is it really that hard to get a v6 bird to go? I know with a turbo set up a civic can get to 300 some horses "fairly" easily/quickly, but as far as the bird and a turbo goes, i can't seem to find any for the V6.

Also maybe does anyone know of a way to put the Bonneville SSEi Supercharger on the bird's 3800? Or if that would be a good idea at all?

Sorry for the long post, just trying to find my way out of tuner cars (at least for now)

[kahuna7]

I have a 98 Firebird with the 3800 Series II V6. It does have some get up and go to it and burning rubber isn't a problem at all for me. When I first got the car, I did a burn out for 40 feet. I love my car and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world...except for a Trans Am. My car does suck me back in the seat when I floor it but then again my dad's LS1 powered 2000 WS6 Trans Am gives me an erection everytime I run it through the gears.

I say defenitely get the Firebird, but if you have the money then go for the Trans Am. I want a Trans Am now, but my dad is giving me his Trans Am as a graduation present when I graduate college, so I guess I can wait.

At least get the Firebird, you will not regret it. By the way, Firebirds and Trans Ams don't have speed governers...well the 98-02 don't anyways. None of the ricers in my town can keep up with me in my Firebird. I outrun my Friend's 84 Firebird...it had a 305 V8. I kept up with my Friend's fixed up 89' Mustang GT. Sadly, I was unable to keep up with my Friend's 06' C6 Corvette.

[93CivicSiD16HB]

Yeah, My mom used to have a 98 V6 but i just can't remember how it felt exactly, but i liked it.

I really WOULD get the trans am, but it has 120,000 miles on it, which wouldnt be bad if it wasnt a 2001.. plus the firebird i get might have the ram hood and trans am spoiler on it already.

I'm just trying to find resources for parts now. Maily a turbo kit for the 3800, then w/e i need to get it to the ground.

[kahuna7]

To tell you the truth...you would probably spend more money on upgrading a Firebird than you would saving the money just to get a Trans Am. I've decided not to mod my car at all until I can afford another Trans Am. We're trying to keep low mileage on my dad's T/A.

[93CivicSiD16HB]

Well, with gas prices always slowly going up as they are, and the T/A needing premium (i think, still needs more gas though)

Wouldn't the modded v6's gas milage make up for the parts, whereas you can have the fast V8 but have no money in your pocket?

Just wondering i dont really know, I've driven honda's all my life

Priorities
1. Gas Milage
2. Performance
3. Comfort/Safety (i know the bird is fine on this part)

[andyjs3589]

If you get a v6 I would recomend getting a eaton m90 supercharger, that comes on the gtp's, and regal gs

[TMC2k1]

Originally Posted by 93CivicSiD16HB

Well, with gas prices always slowly going up as they are, and the T/A needing premium (i think, still needs more gas though)

Wouldn't the modded v6's gas milage make up for the parts, whereas you can have the fast V8 but have no money in your pocket?

Just wondering i dont really know, I've driven honda's all my life

Priorities
1. Gas Milage
2. Performance
3. Comfort/Safety (i know the bird is fine on this part)

I have a 2001 bird and on a full tank i usually get close to 300 miles. Thats with no highway driving. So its around 20-21mpg Im fine with that. Im getting decent mileage in a sexy ride.

I love my bird and like the guy above said i wouldnt trade it for anything except for a trans am. With the 3.42 gears and i floor it it does suck me into my seat and i love that feeling. So far ive beaten an RSX and a Lancer Evo..Only have had the car almost 3months

BTW..I have no problem spanking honda's unless of course its the new 2006 accord..they give me a challenge

[93CivicSiD16HB]

Well, is there a site (i'm new to the firebird scene) or sites i can go to that would have an eaton supercharger?

But which would bebetter for gas AND power, a turbo or a supercharger?
As i can't find any turbo's for the V6 either.


And lastly as a new quesiton, it's a bit difficult i hear to change the spark plugs on the V8 model, but on the v6 how hard is it? My friends 3400 was easy he says and i figured it would be roughly the same?

This is the one I'm looking at

It's one of the few i can find in my area (toledo ohio) and its 300 miles away
Yet it's a rebuilt title, so i have to go look at the frame etc.
He says it was front end damage and the airbags were deployed, but it shows it rebuilt and says it has airbags so i dunno.
Price $6,900
Body Style Hatchback
Mileage 76,018
Exterior Color Silver
Engine 6 Cylinder Gasoline
Transmission Automatic

And i could probably talk them down but i dunno. The other ones are gold and green/red which i'm going for a blue or silver (but blue only with tan int. which i think was only on the T/A's)

Or should i run away from this car?

[mcbeefer]

If it has a rebuilt title i'd definatly check with your insurance to see if you are gonna have any problems in that area. also as far as i know its very hard to impossible to get a loan for a car that has a rebuilt title. unless you know every thing that happened to the car in the accident yoiu might have things that pop up later that you didnt expect, in other words deffinatly look the car over for a long time (taking it to a mechanic wouldnt be a bad idea either) be for you decide you are going to buy it.

[93CivicSiD16HB]

Yeah well I have the cash, I'm just worried about the unibody/frame/chassis of the car. I dunno if i'm even going to buy this one (the hood/spoiler/ground efects really pulled me in)

Any info on the plugs though?

[Mr. Luos]

A manual LS1 car will get better gas mileage than the V6 car.
As long as you can stay off the pedal for the most part.

Also, there is not a newer Grand Am (since at least 1987) rated over 200 horses.

[93CivicSiD16HB]

The T/A gets better mileage? I thought for sure they'd get worse because of all that extra displacement. Plus doesn't it run premium? Or can it run on pump gas efficiently (i.e. without any cause for engine damage)

I dunno how thrilled i am about another manual though.. My civic is easy as it gets but it's a bit of a hassle. I found an auto T/A, the milage is 17/23 as opposed to the auto v6's 19/28 (city/hwy) I'm just wrried with prices slowly creeping up all the time that a v8 would burn a hole in my pocket.

Do they make a limited-slip for the v6, i know the T/A has one stock?

And my friend's 03 Grand Am Has Aftermarket Throttle Body, Intake, Spark Pulgs/Wires, and Exhaust so its around 200 horses he's guessing. We still have to head up to the track next wednesday.

[SLPbirdy00]

Well hello guys, i'm brandon, being new to the boards and noticing this thread, I currently own a 00' Firebird with the 3800 II.

So far I have the Flowmaster 80 Series, Hypertech Powerstat 160F, SLP CAI Kit, and a Custom Air Baffle Tube.

It runs well to 120 mph. I would grab one for now (later if you get have the money-swap motors for a trans am LS1, vette LS2, or hell maybe an LS6 if it fits) But i love my car and will be doing a motor swap here in about a year.

I have a buddy that ran around high 14's at 98mph w/ the 3800.

[TransAm87]

Plus doesn't it run premium?

It is recommended, but all TA's are capable of running on regular (says so in the car manual) and trust me it will not cause any problems running on the lower octane..thats what mine has been on for two months now..

[Mr. Luos]

The LS1 is 10.1:1 compression.
If you don't run premium, your computer knows it and will pull timing to prevent knock.

Like I said, the LS1 with a manual will get better mileage than the V6. It is more efficient. Of course, if you drive the hell out of it all the time it won't.
Mine got 22.5 MPG around town with a cam in it.
Best I got on the highway was 31 MPG. Pre-cam for that.

Originally Posted by 93CivicSiD16HB

And my friend's 03 Grand Am Has Aftermarket Throttle Body, Intake, Spark Pulgs/Wires, and Exhaust so its around 200 horses he's guessing. We still have to head up to the track next wednesday.

I believe that would make it about 170-175 WHP. Low 15's most likely with perfect conditions.
I have a 2001 Grand Am GT with the 3.4 in it. I know what they are lacking in power, trust me.