Improve v6 or go v8

[Shah]

Im at a stand still. I have a v6 firebird that is slow as hell. Although I would like to keep the orginal engine in the car, I am pressed for speed. I was thinking of a ls1 swap, or just adding a supercharger, exhaust, intake... to the v6. The problem with the ls1 swap is that I know that I will have to do "A LOT" of mods along with the engine. The problem with upgrading the v6 is that a supercharger costs like $3500, so why not just go v8. I dont know? Can some please give me some useful advice?

[SS4Matt]

an ls1 swap will cost way more then a $3500 SC kit...i would stick with modding the V6. Sean said if best today, if you want an LS1, buy a car with an ls1, it will not be cheaper in the end to do a swap unless you can do the entire swap yourself, but paying someone else to do it will make it much more expensive

[pHEnomIC]

What are your overall goals for the car? Fast means different things to different people. It would help to know exactly what time you would like to run in the 1/4 and/or how much hp you want to make.

[Shah]

What are your overall goals for the car? Fast means different things to different people. It would help to know exactly what time you would like to run in the 1/4 and/or how much hp you want to make.

I just want to go faster. I dont need corvette speed(it would be nice though). 300 hp is about the minimun. Ive seen a few v6s that say they've gained over 300 hp with a supercharger, and other mods, but how realistic is it?

[pHEnomIC]

if 300 hp is good for you, might as well keep the v6 and boost it. Should be realistic.

[Shah]

if 300 hp is good for you, might as well keep the v6 and boost it. Should be realistic.

One more thing. If I get the supercharger I want to rebuild my engine and put upgraded replacement parts in. Good idea or no prob? The car has about 75k miles(ok mileage), but I want it to be like new when I upgrade.

[97rs4life]

I say you get the new billet stroker kit for our 3.8l cars. Makes it into a 4.2l engine and puts out some awesome power. Put some p&p heads and intakes on it, then slap some nitrous on it and wave bye-bye to the v8s in the mirror. www.3800stroked.com and they are right in Ohio.

By the way, used powerdyne sc go for around 2000. You can get an awesome mach procharger intercooled kit for 4500 new. They are right here in michigan and offer a kit that is 9psi intercooled.

Nitrous is another cheap alternative. I use nitrous on my 3.8l and it works really nice and I have a stock engine. Although when it blows I will be going for the stroker engine and 200 shot of nitrous.

[Shah]

I say you get the new billet stroker kit for our 3.8l cars. Makes it into a 4.2l engine and puts out some awesome power. Put some p&p heads and intakes on it, then slap some nitrous on it and wave bye-bye to the v8s in the mirror. www.3800stroked.com and they are right in Ohio....

I just looked into it and that sounds like a damn good idea. So v6 it is. Watch out all you v8s, its on now. I have a new game plan

[96mikez28]

V8 in the long run, but if a F\I 6 makes ya happy go with it

[Derek]

get that puppy blown, putting together a kit for my v6 right now, already got almost everything

[ROUDA]

V8 you know what a V6 sounds like.

[93formulalt1]

Sound doesn't matter, anything that can blow the dorrs off of a V8 F-Body is respectable. Let's try to stay on topic, this is not a thread that can be turned into a V6-bash-fest. Remember, without the V6 F-Body, there would be no V8 F-Body.

[badinfluence]

I want to supercharge my car as well...but looks like I might just buy a LS1 car in a few years and leave the 6er stock...

I priced everything I need for the setup at $8,000...which included a new 3.8 (I have 120K on mine), full bolt ons (already have LSD and 3.42's, CAI), P&P Heads and Intake, Cam & Valvetrain, Fuel Upgrades, SC Kit...

My case I can get a newer LS1 car for as much as I'll spend that will last longer...

[ezysk]

You should see if pacefabrications will sell you theirs when they are done with it.

Just kidding.
I have done a V6 to V8 swap before and it is not too bad if you have a donor car to get the Engine, Rad, Transmission, computer, driveshaft, etc from.

Otherwise it can get to be a bit expensive to buy all the separate parts separate.

I personally still go with the V8 only because I am power hungry.

But if you don’t mind sticking with a V6, add turbo, or supercharger or something, plus, how is your compression, is you engine still performing optimally in the first place?

[kammi10]

i'd probobly go with a v8

there is no replacement for displacement, but remember different strokes for different folks