Thread: Motor & Trans Rebuild Questions

Just bought 3800 s/c motor & trans & I am going to do a complete rebuild on both for spring time upgrade.
Wanting to get idea's & input from everyone here on parts to get , Head work, port matching, pulley size , & etc. Because I know someone here has been through this already. My goal is to be in the 300whp+ area & still be a daily driver.
I can get good prices on Comp cam parts through work so I was looking at the Xtreme Energy™, 264 HR15 Blower Performance Cam PART #76-802-9 & new Beehive™, Valve Springs PART #26918-12 & build the motor around that cam.
Thanks to anyone that leaves there idea's & input.
BTW the Motor & trans is out of 1998 GTP

Well if thats all you want as far as WHP then I would do just a regular rebuild on the motor. To reach that power level you def don't have to have a cam, but it would make it easier and the same with the heads.


If you're going to port the heads there is not an extensive amount that can be done to the intake side because the walls are prety thin as it is.


I'm going to be doing a motor build here pretty soon although i'm going to be going with a cam that has right at .600 lift for intake and exhaust. Pushing for 500+ WHP on the spray.Another thing is you will more than likley have to use modded retainers (there machined down) to run a cam that is too much lift over stock becuase you will wear the valve seals down REAL quick and you will also be burning some oil.


Just something to think about.


If you need any other help be sure to ask.

How are you planning on tuning?


You won't need to do anything for the cam really...nothing majior that is. The main thing with dropping pullies and a cam would be doing a MAF tune and to give you're self some extra fuel.


Hate to see that brand new rebuilt motor blow up.

That deck height on the heads is not going to give me much comfort when i push the button for the spray on my new build.Oh well.

Thanks those are good things to think about, ok lets say I went with that cam & here are the specs:
Lobe-Center Angle: 115
Intake Centerline: 113
Duration: Int. 264 exh. 274
Duration @ .050" Lift: Int. 210 Exh. 220
Valve Lift int. .531 exh. .531
Lobe Lift int. .32 exh. .32
Now if you were building around this cam what other mods would you do? & what rough idea of whp would i be looking at?
I am getting headers & exhaust system I am good there, Doing the cold air intake, Now will HP Tuners program do the case learn?
I hope to do this right the first time....lol

Well the cam that i'm running....is ...


intk .520 exh .538

Lsa is 116

Duration is 212/224


So very similar to the XP that i am running from comp


You would need retainers or better yet get the guides milled on the heads for the right clearance from the valve seals.


Yes HPTuners can do a Case learn



Basic mods? Ported heads...If you wanted to go all out bigger valves...Thats it for the engine

TDCRacing thanks for the info on HP tuners, That looks like the direction I will be going.
In your sig you are running an intercooler, how much did it help your setup?

Well i dont know exactly. I have always had one...but i'm sure it helped me get down to a 2.8....I was just looking at someone's scans that had pretty much the same setup as i have without the intercooler and he had a 3.2 pulley and was knocking pretty bad. so i'd say if i didnt have one i could only run around a 3.2 pulley


It cost me a 1000 dollars though...If you do go with the intercooler be sure to get the fullsize and not the short stack...wich is half the size of the fullsize...A lot of people say it's not worth going with the ss...


And no problem on the help...Thats what were here for.

I am going to do some more digging around on the forum for more options on what direction I am wanting to go with my build, because this will be a daily driver I do not need to go out in left field to far .

Hey man, that is crazy, I looked at your avatar and noticed you are from Ironton, I live in Flatwoods, right across the river. We will have to get together and talk cars sometime man.

Cool did not think I would run into anyone from around the tri-state on here, Just PM me on here some time.

My car is the only car that i have wich makes it my dd. I am about to go with a 600/601 lift cam and I think i named some of the other things above. It will still be my dd. Tuning is key.

My biggest problem is my wife with her HP = Tickets That why she drives the Z24 cav. & I sold the Camaro.lol
Which ever mod I go with will include HP Tuner so what is the web site with the best info on it, & which version do you have the regular or pro?

I found the web site for HP Tuners, it would not come up at home but did here at work. I see alot of information over load & this coming my way in the next few months..lol