Just got your V6 Camaro, and you're ready for some bolt-on modifications? Well, you have a lot of routes you can take, I'll just cover the basics.

Exhaust

Headers: You have a couple options here. As far as I know, there are 3 companies that produce headers for our V6 cars. Keep in mind that you get what you pay for, the cheapest route isn't always the best one.

Clear Image- http://www.clearimageautomotive.com/.../V6Headers.htm
RK Sport- http://www.rksport.com/main/part_det...=1&catid=3
Pacesetter- http://store.summitracing.com/partde...p;autoview=sku
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...p;autoview=sku


Catback systems: There are many exhaust systems on the market for the f-body. However, there are only a few that are specifically built for the V6 Camaro. However, a catback for a v8 can be modified to fit the V6. I will only post v6 specific systems here.

Magnaflow- http://store.summitracing.com/partde...p;autoview=sku

Flowmaster- http://store.summitracing.com/partde...p;autoview=sku

Edelbrock- http://store.summitracing.com/partde...p;autoview=sku

Pacesetter- http://store.summitracing.com/partde...p;autoview=sku


Cold Air Intake

There are a many options here. What you do will depend on what year V6 you have. If you have a 98+, you can remove the baffles in you intake for better flow. If you have a 97-, the best route is a new intake. I will cover those. I will post the name brand CAI's here, but I am running a CAI that was purchased off ebay. Search ebay for "Chrome Intakes".

SLP- http://store.summitracing.com/partde...p;autoview=sku

K&N- http://www.rksport.com/main/part_det...=1&catid=3


Chassis/Suspension

Suspension:

What you do here greatly depends on your goals for the car, and your driving style. But that isn't for use to decide. It's nearly impossible to list out all the aftermarket suspension options because of the number of brands, and also the intended use of the suspension. For example, you would use different components for drag racing than you would auto-x. Some people just want to lower their car for looks, some want performance. Do your own research, and set guidelines for yourself.

Rear End:

This is widely up to you. It is very popular to pull the complete rear end from a V8 FBody, and bolt it into the V6. This is often done to gain disk brakes on the rear. It is also popular because some V8 rear ends have LSD. But beware when buying a used rear end because it has LSD. The Auborn differential has clutches in it that are known to wear out. Try to find something out of a low miles car. An LSD disk brake rear will bolt right in. As far as I know, you do not need to change master cylinders or proportioning valves.

The rear swap is also popular because some of the V8 rears came with 3.42 gears, vs some of the V6's had 3.08's (automatics usually). The change in gears can help with acceleration.

Gears and related internals for the rear end can be had at places such as summit racing, or jegs.

Driveshaft:

An aluminum or steel 1 piece drive shaft from a V8 FBody will bolt directly into our cars in replacement of the steel 1 piece drive shaft. This swap is most commonly done when the bushing in the center of the 2-piece shaft wears out. A used shaft can be had for a very reasonable price on ebay.


Turbos and Superchargers

A very common question is "Will the supercharger of another 3.8 engine, such as one from an SSEI Bonneville bolt onto my engine?" The answer is both yes, and no. The reason for the no is because it is a task that is generally too complicated for the average joe to do. You also need a very deep wallet. I have seen it done, but it took the person a long time to get everything to fit. The difficulty is in the way the supercharger is setup. If you think about it, when you take the supercharger off a FWD car, and put it on a RWD car, the intake will be facing the fire wall. In our case, there isn't even room back there for the intake. You have to machine the back of the supercharger off, and fabricate a tight radius bend to bring things facing forward. Then there's heads and lower intakes that play another difficulty.

There is one company that I know of that does produce a complete turbo kit. Their product is generally very good quality, and a good route to take if this is something you really want to do. But be ready to spend $$$. http://www.force-fed-fabrications.com

This is a list of stuff your going to need if you decide to do a centrifugal supercharger system- http://www.pathogenproductions.com/p...%20Install.pdf


Tuning

To start, you cannot "chip" the 3.8 v6. That is the most commonly asked question. But there are tuning options out there.

1996: You cannot tune your pcm. You have to get a pcm from a 97. Or, you can go to http://www.pcmforless.com/ and order a custom tuned pcm. They will tune a 97 pcm, and send it to you. Once you get a 97 pcm, you can use hptuners to make changes yourself. (http://www.hptuners.com/)


1997+: You can tune the PCM with HPTuners, or use a mail order tune like pcmforless.

 

lol, this was sticky intended. If there's something I left out, post up and I'll take care of it.

 

Hmm... I remember reading about a GM project where they used the supercharged V6, but re-routed the intake back to the front using a Holden elbow.

Haven't found a pic yet of the CV6 Monaro to be sure, though.

Edit:
Here's a pic from a Commodore SV6:

 

That's interesting. I should pm merlin at ftv6 and see what he knows about it. If I remember correctly, there just isn't room to do that due to the firewall. But I'll try to find some more information.

 

That doesnt work, just look under your hood, then look at that picture, and then tell me what you think. It still wont fit against the firewall, and alot of things get displaced by going that route.

 

Which is odd, as I specifically remember an article talking about a supercharged V6 in a black Firebird. That's how I heard about GM using the Holden elbow.

Edit: Found it - High Performance Pontiac, August 2006 edition, Department X - page 34. I'll post scans when I can get them.

 

Here are the scanned pages (linked pics)

 

It wasn't bolt in. That article is extremely vague. Merlin on FTV6 replicated their build. Here is one of the many build threads. You can see the machine work he had to do to the back of the supercharger. http://www.fullthrottlev6.com/forums...ad.php?t=24377

edit: oh, and when he got everything in, it was very tight. Like I said, it can be done, you just have to have some serious skills. It isn't for the average joe.

 

Not disagreeing with you about needing the skills to fab stuff. It was an OEM test car, anyway - and since crushed, so I bet people won't be able to look for help there anyway. Just posted it to say it is possible, though.

 

I found out a little bit more about that car. Merlin on FTV6 apparently contacted the people who made that car, mainly to aid in his replica build. They did some pretty serious work to get that thing in there. As the famous saying goes: If you can afford it, do it. I never said it was impossible, I've seen it done. But you'd be amazed at how many people come running in here with no mechanical knowledge whatsoever, and ask if they can bolt an m90 into their camaro. I should probably remove the F/I stuff anyways, not really an "Initial Mod"