A bit impressed with the 3.8
NOOO they be stealin' my bucket
Joined: May 2007
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From: Fort Brag NC (no longer in iraq)
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The 3.8 is not a bad engine to start with. No its a torque monster like the LT1 or a massive power house like the LS1 but its still a solid motor. Keep in mind that when the 3.8 came out the mustangs where still using there single plane injection 3.8 that made something like 160 horse power followed buy a better but still crappy 180 horse power version.
Also the 3.8 was a big improvement over the 2.8 and 3.1 engines that had come before them. They where never made to be a major power house but gave the owners decent fuel mileage and at that time 200hp and 225tq was not bad at all. Also they do respond decent to mods and bolted can give a stock 5.0 stang a run for its money. Also keep in mind that the V6 3.8L was as fast as the 305 TBI and carb cars that had just come before it. Not too bad at all.
Also the 3.8 was a big improvement over the 2.8 and 3.1 engines that had come before them. They where never made to be a major power house but gave the owners decent fuel mileage and at that time 200hp and 225tq was not bad at all. Also they do respond decent to mods and bolted can give a stock 5.0 stang a run for its money. Also keep in mind that the V6 3.8L was as fast as the 305 TBI and carb cars that had just come before it. Not too bad at all.
Overdrive Member
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: IL
230 RWHP -- so you dyno'd it? What are all the power adding mods you have done? (Just OBX Stainless Steel headers, Flowmaster exhaust?) Also, what is the reason for issues with 3800 high revs?
My 3800 puts down about 230 hp and gets 30+ MPG doing it with one of GM most bullet proof drive lines (3800/T5) and it sounds good doing it, well as long as I don't go over 3500 RPMs that when she gets a little raspy. The 3800 has got to me one of the cheapest per mile car to own. As long as you maintain the car and don't over rev it these 3800 just keep going.
Last edited by libertyforall1776; Jun 12, 2011 at 10:16 PM.
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Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Spanaway, WA
The 3.8L engine has been around for quite a while. It actually started life as a Buick V8 back in the early 60's Chop off 2 cylinders and there ya go a V6. Many things have changed on the engine since then but this engine has a 40 year history with a short period of life with Jeep. Ford needed a V6 engine back in the late 70's-early 80's and didn't have the time to develop one. So... They took a 231 and modeled their 232 after it. Ford was never able to produce the power or reliability that GM did with thier 3.8L engine. GM simply did it right once again.
Massey
Massey
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I worded it wrong, it is a estimate and it would be 230 at the crank. Hearders, exhaust, CAI and Gasket matched intake. Over Reving tends to strech out the stock Rod bolts on these motors. With the exception of headgasket/intake gasket it is the biggest killer of these motors. It is also true on most GM motors, rod and main bolts have issues with stress over time.
Overdrive Member
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: IL
^ Gotcha, and thanks for the insight. I assume you have a high-flow cat too?
I'm not willing to put a ton of $ into my RS, but would love to squeeze a few more ponies out of it. More fun for my year-round DD. At some point soon, I may be switching to a 5th Gen V6 for year-round DD -- no rush, though.
I'm not willing to put a ton of $ into my RS, but would love to squeeze a few more ponies out of it. More fun for my year-round DD. At some point soon, I may be switching to a 5th Gen V6 for year-round DD -- no rush, though.
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I think a hollowed out Cat counts as a "Hi flow" I did buy a Magna flow High flow but I was in a hurry and when I saw how much fab work it was going to be I just emptied the original cat. Car sounds a lot meaner with the cat gutted 
