$4k to spend
 

It's been along while since I last posted. Anyway, I have about $4k to put into my car. I'd like to know what's the best way or best setup to get maximum performance with my car. I have a 2000 v6, all stock besides flowmaster exhaust. I don't wanna be told to get a v8 or anything, I like my v6. So, tell me what you think would be best. Thanks.

There approximately (and correct me if I'm wrong fellas) 154,895,774,231,009.5 threads of similar nature. Please do a search. We even had a thread "stickied" at the top of the V6 section. https://camaroforums.com/forum/search.php

all that tells me is headers, exhaust, intake. I'm looking for more than the standard bolt ons.

Put it towards a 2010 V6 ;-)
It would make a good downpayment...

http://www.abbottracingheads.com/gm3800.htm
Don't forget to get it tuned...

There is no way to answer that. Best 1/4 mile time? Best Road and track? You want dyno queen? Or do you wany a NOS breathing aim it and go car? Or do you want something that can be driven everyday?

Are you just talking engine or are you going to address the whole car? 4K will build a nice motor but if you have to build a transmission and a rear figure you just cut your 4K in half.

Your rear and trans will not hold together very long with a Maxed out 3800. Infact the only reason the tranny would last at all is because the rear will not hook up enough to break it.

So what's a good rule of thumb as to where that breaking point is?

I guess I'm looking for most hp/torque. I don't mind dumping more money into this in the future. But with 4k to get me started, what would be my best route as of now.

So this is a all out Dyno queen, 8000 RPM, race fuel, non street legal beast?

You still need to define what you are looking for. You really need a goal in any engine build you may want to call it a spec. It is cheaper to build an all out race engine then it is to build a street car. You can put in 14:1 compression running racing fuel and a extream Cam and open the heads way up. The engine will rage on the dyno but it will have no power until 4000 RPMs so unless you are dumping the clutch or you have a 3500RPM stall converter a stock 3.8 will beat you stop light to stop light. As a general rule in low displacment engines High RPMs is how you make big numbers. The High RPM motor do not street very well at all.

You need to defind whats important to you. Like my car. It is a daily driver. I want it to react when I step on it. Even at 2200 RPMs. I want it to run strong up to 5K. I am not too worried about over 5K. I dont run my daily driver that hard. I am not willing to give up how well it runs at 2200 RPM to gain HP at 5000 or 6000 RPM.

The above abbot links looks like a nice place to start you can give them a call but the first thing he is going to ask you is "what do you want out of the motor" If you reply Max HP your going to get parts designed for max HP. Are you familar with the term "Dyno queen"?

I don't think I'd want an all out race car, but nice fast street car. Not sure about a goal really, that's why I'm asking if you had the money to put into this car where would you start. I'll get a better exhaust cause I think mine sucks right now, and intake and headers. But then what? What else can I do after that.