3800 making more power

[489bigblock]

i am looking to get a smaller pulley and headers with 3 inch down pipe and im going to completely get rid of the cat. i wanna know what you guys would recommend for pulley size if i am going to keep stock valve train. i can run 91 octain but would like to keep running 87. also my first time modding a car with fuel injection so i am new to reprogramming the pcm. any help on modding this car would be great thanks again.

 

[Scottydoggs]

3.4 tops if a gen 3 blower. 3.6 if on a gen 5.

you have no mods really, headers and 3.4 is pretty standard for your intro to modding a 3800.

if you dont want to run 93 octane dont mod it. you should not be running it on 87 now.

 

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

The owners manual already states that you need to run 91+.

87 octane isn't good for it.

 

[489bigblock]

What gen supercharger do i have? Its a 2002 can i tell off of the vin? With smaller pully and headers can i get away with 91? When i run 87 i dont get any pinging.

 

[Scottydoggs]

you got a gen 3 blower. you cant hear it ping as its not ping, its KR. will chip your pistons and blow yer engine up. not the same thing as ping.

you might get away with 91 if thats all you got, but 93 should be used.

some reading for ya. What is octane? KR? Explained here.

 

[Scottydoggs]

Safely Modding Your 3800 Powered Car!! more reading for ya.

 

[SgtMarshal]

your car will get better gas mileage if you use the right fuel aka 93. I don't have 93 available so I use 91.

 

[Mitch R]

What gen supercharger do i have? Its a 2002 can i tell off of the vin? With smaller pully and headers can i get away with 91? When i run 87 i dont get any pinging.

You would see it if you were scanning it. 87 doesn't take boost well at all. You would have to pull so much timing at wot it wouldn't even make real power anymore.