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*96 Camaro 3800 Rebuild*

Austin2000SE

New member
I have a 96 3800 manual camaro rs i bought it about 6 months ago the guy that owned it swapped everything from a firebird everything was done pretty much correct that ive seen which is alot and there is oil on the spark plug and misses on the 6 cylinder so its either valve worn (leaking) or piston rings.... AND I HAVE TIME AND MONEY TO DO THIS! I want to make it N/A Cam it valve springs rockers clean everything up get everything ported or do it my self.. I want to make about 275-290 at the wheels has a borg-warner t5 tranny (Should take 275 with no problems) it can do it also wanna change gearing. ANY SUGGESTIONS ARE WELCOME! just looking for anwsers opinions and various options without supercharging it because to fix it i am going in to the motor anyways.
 


Problems...your not going to be making that much power with an N/A 3800.

I'd say more along the lines of 200-225. Maybe with...

Some sort of intake
Ported/Polished UIM
Ported/Polished LIM & Runners
Ported/Polished Heads (I'd mill the heads/block and get custom length pushrods to bump up compression even more)w/ Crow 105's/Titanium Retainers
GT2 Cam (From ZZP)
Long Tube headers/exhaust of your choice
Larger Throttle body of sorts...not sure what FBody guys use...
GTP Injectors? If need be.
HP Tuners...that thing will need some lovin' after a build like that.

Gear wise? I'd rock a 3.73 Rear...keep in you in the powerband and not be a killer on gas. If you don't care about that...then how about a Ford 9" with a 4.10? I think that is what my buddy has on his '02 SS.
 
I have a 96 3800 manual camaro rs i bought it about 6 months ago the guy that owned it swapped everything from a firebird everything was done pretty much correct that ive seen which is alot and there is oil on the spark plug and misses on the 6 cylinder so its either valve worn (leaking) or piston rings.... AND I HAVE TIME AND MONEY TO DO THIS! I want to make it N/A Cam it valve springs rockers clean everything up get everything ported or do it my self.. I want to make about 275-290 at the wheels has a borg-warner t5 tranny (Should take 275 with no problems) it can do it also wanna change gearing. ANY SUGGESTIONS ARE WELCOME! just looking for anwsers opinions and various options without supercharging it because to fix it i am going in to the motor anyways.



Nitrous cam and forged internals, shave the heads, score a M6 V8 rear and rock the 3.42s and the torsen. The T5 will last about 15 minutes, believe what you will. Oh, and Racetronics Drop in pump, and lay a wet coat of sauce on it- a 200 Hit should handle business.

Hunt unsuspecting GTP guys who think because it doesn't have a baby whinebox on it, it's harmless. ;)
 
4.11 is way to low for a dd, and you will never drive on the high way again. well not with out running at 3500 to 4000 rpm or more, at 65 mph.

i had 3.73 in my 70 bird, and they work real good as a all around gear, the 4.11 my brother had in his chevelle would scream at over 3500 rpm at 45 mph, it had a 454 in it built to balls, so running like that really sucked, but thats how we got it to the track, 45 mph, hazard lights on, slow lane lol

i think a 3800 would run out gear with 4.11 way to fast, it would launch off the line, like a rocket and fall flat on its face i bet.
 
meh not so much with the T5 being 5 speed, 5th is overdrive so your rpms wouldnt be crazy high, a 6M would be the best way with a double overdrive. i think a 3.73ish gear would be ideal for the street and be a 5mpg hog out on the highway


scotty: yea the wagon with the built 455 running 3.73s witha 3speed is still ***** out on the freeway doing 70 :)
 


what was nice about the 3.73's was on the highway doing say 60, cruising, at like 2500 rpm, that's where most older engines start to wake up and get going, all you had to do was floor it and you are already in the power band, and it was go time.:D

got my 1970 formula 400 firebird up to 150 and still had pedal left in it,i was able to hold it at 145 at 1/4 throttle, and hop the front end and put you back in the seat. i miss that car.

and if you just floored it off the line the wheels spun to 90 mph, and when it stopped spinning i would doing 70 mph, i left my mark all over town in that car, teenagers lol

great car for any 18 year old with a size 15 shoe lol lost my licence 6 months after i got this car, for a year. good times lol
 
remember having to go to the library? i found a gm book with engine codes and it told you what all the engines were and the hp, i had the YS block it was rated at 350 @ the crank, i still think it had more than that. it was the 3 rd highest rated engine in hp. the top was the 455 HO i don't remember their codes or hp, i just remember the one i had.
 


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Well were def swapping the rearend out for a ss one and all other suspension gt2 cam port and polish everything what about rockers, springs, valves? 3.73 gears will be in it thats wats in my 01 stang gt
 


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