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How much horsepower can I pull from an N/A 3800?

Cause it's an Fbody and you can't "just" topswap it. Requires reworking the blower and firewall. Which is why 98% of the 3800 Fbody guys go turbo.
 


4THGENCAMAROFAN said:
Cause it's an Fbody and you can't "just" topswap it. Requires reworking the blower and firewall. Which is why 98% of the 3800 Fbody guys go turbo.
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Ah. That's right. I wasn't paying attention to what car he had. My friend actually has a V6 Firebird. There is SO MUCH ROOM in his engine bay lol.
 
keonmakesbeatz said:
I heard somewhere that it wasn't much. I just want to know if I NEED to top swap it to make it fast.

I'm a noob so 300 horsepower is my goal for MY first build. Is this achievable? Am I shooting for the stars?

Also, there was a guy that stated "The conrods on the series 2 3800 are weaker than the crank and over time, the conrods will have turned into a slight oval" or something like that. Is this true? If so, I might have a bad engine (Not to sure on the condition of the engine but the previous owner didn't take care of this car at all [70 mph average with a clogged cat, bad bearings, random misfire, slipping transmission, and dexcool in the system])
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I could see how the connecting rod bearings might become egg shaped, don't know about the rods changing shape though. Actually, the rod bearings could probably be changed quite easily, by just getting the oil pan off. The mains are a different story, though.
 
kmohr3 said:
I could see how the connecting rod bearings might become egg shaped, don't know about the rods changing shape though. Actually, the rod bearings could probably be changed quite easily, by just getting the oil pan off. The mains are a different story, though.
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Can I get my pistons off like that without taking out the engine ?
 
keonmakesbeatz said:
those mods would be better for if you want like 500whp but I only want like 220-260whp.
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A top swapped GT with some headers and a stock pulley will get you close to 220. Throw some 1.9 rockers on there to make sure you get there. Or intercool, drop 3-4 pulley sizes, and get more like 260.

It's probably cheaper to just do an L67 swap than a top swap once you factor in the head gaskets, bolts, etc. I've got the heads, fuel rails, blower, ignition bracket, and throttle body sitting on my shelf and it will still cost me another $400 easily to make it a ready to go set.
 


Your making this really complicated.... You have two paths to take.

You can do the more common path and Top Swap. This requires you to purchase Supercharged 3800 Heads, SC 3800 LIM, Gen X (3 or 5) blower, gasket, fluids, whatever else you end up breaking or needing to replace along the way. You get easy power and can hit the 330 WHP range with Heads, Cam, Exhaust, Intercooler etc.

You can do the least common, yet more fun path. Buy GMR Badass's kit. Its an amazing price. This kit includes everything you need IIRC. Bolt it all on, drive, wait for your transmission to go kaboom, buy a TEP Race trans and live happily ever after in the 200whp-800whp range depending on how crazy you go.

I am currently running a T67 turbo on an l32 motor with an XP cam. Fun as hell to drive. My trans is eating the dust and I can feel it, so I am also currently building my own up. 1in GMR chain, 1200hp GMR Turbine shaft, Precision TQ Converter, TEP Stage 2 rebuild kit... You'll want to do some trans upgrades if you plan on going into the 300whp range depending on the miles on your car and how well it was taken care of/beat on.

Then there is tuning: 3 Options in order of worst idea to best idea

Mail order tune: Need I say much? Someone who hasn't ever seen your car guesses at a close conservative tune and away you go. Wont be the best option but it will work.
Buy HPT and start reading: This is what frosty and I did. Lots of books, time and one engine later we now do all our own tuning...well might I add.
ZZP/Or other reputable speed shop local: Install mods, go to shop, pay man, he tunes car, leave happy.

So select power adder, select tune method, pay people, yay go faster.
 


Had a oqcgp.com member race me ànd was dead even with my hv3. overkill 91 octane tune. 2.5" downpipe and hai
Then I got headers and raced my buddies ssei bonne and put a car length on him from 60mph-110mph. Bonnies are Lil heavier with crappie gear ratio though
But ya if modded gtp that's different.
 
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Aaron if you read the thread... He has a 4th gen like me... Not so simple to "bolt on" a SC or "buy" a turbo kit LOL. I had to do a bit more work than that.
 
No, its still easy, you just gotta have the balls...oh and make sure he shuts his hood :)

EDIT: You did it with hand tools, in a weekend and minimal/no welding... its easy.
 


But 4th gen.... My 'maro is Gen V supercharged and it really was not all that hard at all. Just took some stones and a hammer ;-) pm me if you have any questions on it.
 
Just because I want this guy to do something interesting, the top swap didn't kill the motor, water did. Total accident.
 
adecker said:
No, its still easy, you just gotta have the balls...oh and make sure he shuts his hood :)

EDIT: You did it with hand tools, in a weekend and minimal/no welding... its easy.
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yeah yeah yeah the hood thing :-P

yes its fairly easy. just takes a big hammer a hacksaw and some serious stones. lol
 
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