Need some help with a decision

[97BlackBird]

Ok well I need help deciding on what to do with my car. After I thought about it for a while I've narrowed it down. I'm either gunna turbo my 3.8 or I'm just gunna swap an lt1 in it. All in all I would prolly spend around the same amount of money on each. I'm not swapping an ls1 in it cus those damn motors are expensive. I can't sell my car cus then I wouldn't be able 2 get the new car I plan on getting next yr. I would still get good gas mileage with my 3.8 turboed but there is nothing like the sound of a v8. So I need help. Thanks in advance.

[phoenix_rising]

You could sell it to me! If I were you I would build up the motor. intake/exhaust, Cam, Heads, Bore it to a 3.9 then Turbo! Thats a great combo. At least low 11's.

[quick86]

You could sell it to me! If I were you I would build up the motor. intake/exhaust, Cam, Heads, Bore it to a 3.9 then Turbo! Thats a great combo. At least low 11's.

*maybe*

So far the record 3.8 F-Body, aside from Harry Doolittle, is high 11s... like 11.8s, supercharged and nitrous..

[JoeliusZ28]

for the record LT1s are capable of good mpg. I got 30 on the highway once.

[Orange Terror]

for the record LT1s are capable of good mpg. I got 30 on the highway once.

Downhill with the wind at your back??? lol.

On topic, if you are gonna get another car why mess with it at all and save your money?

[SS4Matt]

my vote is for turbo. Turbo's are sweet

[quick86]

my vote is for turbo. Turbo's are sweet

If you go this route, also, forgot to mention.. Theres QUITE a few people that have had problem with the FFF Turbo kits. Careful if you go with that. If I were you, I'd either build my own kit, or do an STS kit.

[phoenix_rising]

I was thinking about GTP's they are the same motor as the 3.8.

quote=quick86]*maybe*

So far the record 3.8 F-Body, aside from Harry Doolittle, is high 11s... like 11.8s, supercharged and nitrous..[/quote]

[Carz28]

for the record LT1s are capable of good mpg. I got 30 on the highway once.

Its possible in an LS1 too as long as you have a M6, A4's aren't so lucky,
How extensive are you planning on going in modding you car, if you are going to go all out race an lt1 is a good start, if you want a good power adder to you v6 go for a turbo. what do you have as an idea on what you want out of your car?

[Insomnya3AM]

I was thinking about GTP's they are the same motor as the 3.8

No.
The Firebird/Camaro motor is most similar to the L36, the unsupercharged motor. The L67, the supercharged motor, is very different. You can't put an L67 in an F-body because of the cowl clearance. You'd be better off starting from the ground up with a turbo RWD 3.8 build.

Or you could save yourself tons of money and go much much faster with an LT1/LS1..

[quick86]

The L67 longblock will clear, but you'd have to put on N/A intake manifold and go from there with a turbo setup. Theres one guy runnin like 400rwhp with a fully custom built turbo 3.8, not track #s yet tho.

[97rs4life]

The FFF turbo kits are now made with forward sweeping headers (first kits mated up to tubular stock manifolds) and sell for $4500. Not sure what problems you heard about them, I have heard good things except some people needing to extend one pipe past the front sway bar.

I would build your motor up with forged internals and then throw on some abbotts racing stage 3 heads/intake and turbo cam. Then get that FFF turbo kit on there and you will be flying. There are some sweet turbo fbody guys right now knocking on that 11.8 record. The 11.8 record was done on a completely stock motor using a powerdyne and nitrous. Imagine that thing with a built engine and some top end work, mmmm.

[JoeliusZ28]

Downhill with the wind at your back??? lol.

nope. 180 mile trip with ONE quick wide open throttle session on an on ramp, and using the AC for 30 minutes. therefore i probably couldve gotten 31.

[Insomnya3AM]

The L67 longblock will clear, but you'd have to put on N/A intake manifold and go from there with a turbo setup. Theres one guy runnin like 400rwhp with a fully custom built turbo 3.8, not track #s yet tho.

How much did that all cost though?

You have to be honest with yourself.

You are not going to be able to afford race parts.

Even if you did, you'd still have a slow car for the money.

A 400hp LT1 is a dime a dozen.

[quick86]

How much did that all cost though?

You have to be honest with yourself.

You are not going to be able to afford race parts.

Even if you did, you'd still have a slow car for the money.

A 400hp LT1 is a dime a dozen.

Exactly. I sprayed the piss out of my 3.4... It took a HELL of a beating, and surprised a LOT of V8 cars out there... But at what cost? A cracked cylinder head, lol.

My advice, go with what time over has proven itself, small-block power. Best bang for your buck you can't beat a small block.