• The site migration is complete! Hopefully everything transferred properly from the multiple decades old software we were using before. If you notice any issues please let me know, thanks! Also, I'm still working on things like chatbox, etc so hopefully those will be working in the next week or two.

For the ones with top swapped engines.



So there are parents more insane than mine... I see...

Well, tell her it'd be just as reliable as if you had to have the head gasket changed.

Better yet, tell her you have to change the head gasket and tell her it'll be just as reliable and increases fuel economy when cruising.

Step one was being deceptive, step two is small lies then step three is outright lies.

Eventually they won't trust you and you'll just have to buy your own car and mod that.
 
Tell her you will learn alot and plan on doing it right. Also tell her that good mechanics make six figures . Just dont screw it up or you will end up like me on the front hood
 


I'm curious how many miles are on Gaffords car.

I'm also curious how well putting a blower on an engine with higher compression works out. 8.5 vs 9.4. Seems like asking for trouble IMO.
 
I'm curious how many miles are on Gaffords car.

I'm also curious how well putting a blower on an engine with higher compression works out. 8.5 vs 9.4. Seems like asking for trouble IMO.

I have 101k miles.. Engine has been well taken care of since I have owned the car. I bought it with 77k miles conditon of car before was great it was used to travel long distance trips most its life.
 
So with better flowing exhaust, I would assume a slightly cooler t-stat and a proper tune the higher compression engine typically does ok on 93 octane?

Do these engines have a reverse flow water pump like the LT1's to keep the heads cooler? I'm going to assume no based on the 9.4:1 N\A compression.
 
L26 block here, with IS3 heads and a GenV/3.2 combo.

No problems here so far....*knock on wood*
My build only has 1100 miles on it so far.
 


So with better flowing exhaust, I would assume a slightly cooler t-stat and a proper tune the higher compression engine typically does ok on 93 octane?

Do these engines have a reverse flow water pump like the LT1's to keep the heads cooler? I'm going to assume no based on the 9.4:1 N\A compression.

Yup, its sorta like running more boost.

Cept you make more power from the boost you have instead of increasing the boost.

9.4:1 is decent considering its all iron when aluminum heads can net you a point of compression and using say 91+ instead of 87 can probably net some points there as well.
 
Are the pistons dished on the L36, or are the combustion chambers larger on the cylinder heads?

I would have to imagine as with any mods you do to your car, if you do them right, don't drive the car like you stole it all the time and maintain it properly you should have zero issues.
 
Not sure on the shape of the piston but I can tell you the pistons are where you make your compression. The compression ring is at a different height between the two pistons.
 
Not sure on the shape of the piston but I can tell you the pistons are where you make your compression. The compression ring is at a different height between the two pistons.

Gotcha. I was just reading over the Top Swap Info sticky. Pardon me if I tend to ask dumb questions. I'm from the LSx world, so the 3.8 is a totally different animal to me.
 
Gotcha. I was just reading over the Top Swap Info sticky. Pardon me if I tend to ask dumb questions. I'm from the LSx world, so the 3.8 is a totally different animal to me.

what we have here is somebody who actually reads old posts...

holy sh!t. they do exist. if you can't find something, go ahead and ask bud. chances are you'll find the answer.
 


The supercharged 3.8 has deeper dished pistons to lower the compression. Heads are the same I believe as far as the chambers go.
 
The supercharged 3.8 has deeper dished pistons to lower the compression. Heads are the same I believe as far as the chambers go.

the difference are the pistons and the rods.

Okay, so here is another dumb question; why switch the heads if they are the same? Are the intake bolts in different places (I've not seen the heads side-by-side)? I mean, it's clear they bolt up to the block and the accessories bolt up the same.
 
the heads on the n/a motors dont have injector bosses, they are in the LIM. the heads on the s/c motor has injector bosses and the LIM doesn't have them.
 
Back
Top