Upgrade the V6 or convert to 8?

[Derek]

I had a full boltons tuned supercharged v6.. it was my first car. I loved it and had a lot invested into it. I sold all the parts and the car and bought my current car, a full boltons ls1 TA.

I would have been one to argue for v6's back in the day, but as of now I can honestly say there is no comparison. The supercharged v6 was completely weak in power compared to this, not to mention it sounded like a ricemobile when I revved it. Yesterday I was at a park for some pictures after a wedding I attended. Opened up the cutout and revved at the bride and groom (walking to their 1980 TA) and let the ls1 sing through the longtubes and Off Road Y.. all the dads came out away from their kids in the play area with huge grins to come look what the sound was, that would never happen in a v6...

Just my .02, but for the price of V8 cars these days I think itd be crazy to try and invest in a v6. You can find V8 ls1 cars with as many miles as your v6 for like 4-5k... You could never do a good correct swap for that price unless you got some super deals.

[nascarnate326]

The reason my car is staying the way it is....LS1 cars are cheap.

Hell theres a LT1 Camaro on here for 2500 and its having trouble selling.


For the money, just get a LS1 or LT1 car and be done with it. If you want an automatic they are even cheaper.

[Fbomb]

Why does everyone seem to like the 5.3's for a swap?

No replacement for displacement. The 5.7 must feel so much stronger than even a supercharged 3.8 because it has low-end torque. Even though I think that mine's kinda weak, but that's just me.

[98blackbeauty]

Well having done the swap on Brians RED ALERT, I think the questions are: 1.What kind of shap is the rest of the car, top, interior, suspention.
2. How much money do you have to spend for this project. 3. How attached are you to your car.
If you car is in very good shape then swapping engines is an option, If the car is only average condion,top, body, and paint. then SELL it. Buy a z28, firebird formula or Trans Am. It will cost you at least $5,000 to swap out engine, trans. depending on your abilities to find and install it.
To rebuild your V6 is not cheap, with 163,000 miles on the clock you have to figure, having it bored out and new rings and pistons, new bearings, etc, etc. So that is ballpark $1,000. now you have upgrades, cam, roller rockers, lifters, headers, new injectors, supercharger, torque converter, tune. Very easily costing 4,000 to 6,000.
Selling your car adding 5,000 to your cash from sell = nice z28 convert.
sorry for the long answer but its a big discision for you. Good luck with either way you go.

[Joedashredder93]

Thanks for your opinions everyone. If I could sell my car for 4,000 i would do it in a heartbeat. The car is very clean the top had some repairs made, and I'm attached to it because it's my first car. But if I could get an almost even trade for a z28 or trans am I would.

[MP81]

Yep, just buy a V8 car.

[97rs4life]

well what kind of power numbers or track times are you after? Depending on that will help the decision between v6 and v8. Or is it just the sound you are after?

[Joedashredder93]

I'm not shooting for a drag car or high hp beast. It's a convertible that I want to wake up. i've heard all the v8 cars with cutouts at AE and I love it. i think it would be cool to go to milan once or twice a year.

[esoteric18]

Well if your fine with selling yours that's defintley the best decision. I will be going for a LT1 swap on my bird just cause I love it more than anything and couldn't see selling it. Hopefully two winters from now i will start that at the latest.

[JoeliusZ28]

Why does everyone seem to like the 5.3's for a swap?

No replacement for displacement. The 5.7 must feel so much stronger than even a supercharged 3.8 because it has low-end torque. Even though I think that mine's kinda weak, but that's just me.

have you experienced a 5.3? Its nearly a modern-day mouse motor, they scream. Also in reality its only 21 cubic inches difference (i think). The 5.3L is a dime a dozen, which makes them great for a budget swap - and really, it is the mid range V8 the later 4th gens should have had but never did. The unfornuate part is you cannot keep the truck intake which makes more torque.

To the OP - I would detail your car and at least TRY to sell it. V8 cars are going cheap right now, just pick one up.

I'll admit I would like to have a modded V6 for a daily driver, but its never going to be the weekend warrior you'd like it to be.

[97rs4life]

well waking up a v6 is easily done for alot cheaper then swapping engines or buying a car then.

intake
full exhaust
aluminum driveshaft
gears/lsd

that will wake it up. if you need a little more add a little giggle juice

[PACE]

i HAVE built 3800 engine short block for sale with all kinds of goodies, I also have ported heads, with the big valves All new.. I have turbos and such as well...

[Joedashredder93]

not enough money for that but thank you