How can I get the most HP out of my 3800?
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We use to have a saying at the dealership. “He is a corvette owner so he does not like to keep money.” I remember one customer came in with a busted mechanical tach. I am not sure if the tach or the cable failed first but the result was the need of a new tach, cable, gear and distibuter shaft. $1200 later he had is car back and that is $1200 in 1985 money. I remember thinking I could install a Base GM 350 crate motor and install a nice new top of the line Sun tach in my Camaro for what it cost him to fix a stock tach. Complete brake job? Another $1000.00
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Man, what a hose job that was, sold the poor sap on a new tach that it didn't need too? The tach drive failure is common, been there, fixed that on my resto's. Total cost for parts to rebuild the distributor (main shaft, driven gear and bushing, upper and lower shaft bushings) is $135 in today's dollars. Now how did this turn into a Vette hijack? Apparently the best way to get more out of a 3.8 is to get a Vette? Let's try to keep it a little more on topic.
2nd Gear member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 326
From: NYC
K&N does have a cai. I have it on mine:
I got mine from eBay for a good price but this is what you'd look for:
K&N 57-3041 K&N Fuel Injection Performance Kit II Firebird 1999-02 3.8L V6 - 573041 K&N Filter Cold-Air Kit
I also have the OBX stainless headers, only complaint I have is that I need to wrap them b/c I've melted through a few spark plug boots and I'm talking MSD w/ a insulation boot on each.
I got mine from eBay for a good price but this is what you'd look for:
K&N 57-3041 K&N Fuel Injection Performance Kit II Firebird 1999-02 3.8L V6 - 573041 K&N Filter Cold-Air Kit
I also have the OBX stainless headers, only complaint I have is that I need to wrap them b/c I've melted through a few spark plug boots and I'm talking MSD w/ a insulation boot on each.
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,614
From: under the hood
Man, what a hose job that was, sold the poor sap on a new tach that it didn't need too? The tach drive failure is common, been there, fixed that on my resto's. Total cost for parts to rebuild the distributor (main shaft, driven gear and bushing, upper and lower shaft bushings) is $135 in today's dollars. Now how did this turn into a Vette hijack? Apparently the best way to get more out of a 3.8 is to get a Vette? Let's try to keep it a little more on topic.
umm
that would be my fault; not that I've ever gone off topic before ;-)
I guess it's a lump of coal for me this XMAS
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Oh what a spot to be in!
I wont stray off the path
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Accel wires with 90 deg boots so you can route them away from the headers. I am so use to it anytime I buy header I just get the 90 deg wires knowing if I don't it will be an issue. The OBX had just about the same shape as the pacesetters so the wires would also be an issue with pacesetters.
Last edited by Gorn; Dec 15, 2011 at 02:45 PM.
Overdrive Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,042
From: IL
Sorry to say it, but for another $8k or so, you could have had a 5th Gen V6...
Nope your right, GM quit there warranty program on the cars with new motors and now only offer a rebuild with a 3 year/100K warranty. We bought this from a company that only does GM and starts with everything new and gives a 3 year unlimited mile warranty (not that it matters as I work from home so I do not put many miles on it). Honestly I never planned on sinking $12K into this car but when I saw the condition of the bushings and other components I just dropped the cash so I had a pretty much worry free car. Right now I think that I may have 3500 miles on it.