The question is just what it sounds like. What would be the best method of going from a stock 160 RWHP v6 Camaro to a N/A 250 HP to the wheels? So about 310 HP to the crank. Cost effective as well as just fastest or most reliable route there. No Nos, No F/I.

Everyone will have different opinions and thats what I'm hoping for. Have Fun

 

Sell you V6 for for $2500 buy a V8 for $4000. Add about 500 for bolt ons for a total cost $2000, you will have an upgraded transmission, rear end with some small tweaking you should be able to beat the 310 HP reliably.

That is with a little work. If you are willing to work you can sell your V6 for $2500 and buy a V8 car with a blown head gasket for $1200 and you did the work yourself you might even come out a little ahead in the end.

I'll bet no one can beat that for cost

At that HP in a V6 you will need to upgrade both the trans and the rear.

 

LOL GORN GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! No v8 talk C'mon! I don't want to sell this one and get a v8. If I get a v8, I want it to be in addition to this car.
Also, would you really need to upgrade an Automatic trans at only 250 RWHP?

 

Transmission needs to deal with the Crank HP. I would guess your going to start to have problems around 280 HP. But that is a average we see people all the time that fry their transmissions with the stock 200 HP. The 4L60e is a very good transmission and in its V8 form it can handle the 310 HP. GM always configures it trans for the motor they are installed with. I use the 30% rule across the board with trannys and HP increasing. So the 280 Number that I put on the V6 4L60e is taking into account how well it has done(40%).

That is all based on 3800. I have no idea if the 3.4 4L60e is the same as the 3800 4L60e. 300 HP 3.4 are very uncommon because the stock bottom end can not handle that kind of power. Yes I know they are the same tranny but when GM builts them they may have 7 clutchs in the clutch pack for a V8 and 6 in for a V6. maybe less in the 3.4 or maybe the same? If they can save a dollar they will.

V8s will always be the cheapest way to go fast in these cars. There is nothing wrong with going fast in a v6. Heck I follow a thread for a v6 I am not likely to follow one for a V8. Just so you know that after spending 3-4K and 100s of hours of work you might get out run by some dude in a $1800 Lt1 with CAI and Cat back. So the question is "what is your real goal?" Is it to go fast? or is it to go fast in a V6?

When you can buy a LT1 6 speed with 18" rim and a 2000 SS convertion done on it for $1500 and all you have to do is rebuild the motor why would you mess with a V6

 

Nitrous...

 

wait, are you talking about a 3.4 or 3.8? I would've guessed a 3.8 from your screen name, but that had 200 hp stock at the crank, while the 3.4 had 160 crank hp stock (which you referenced in the OP). I know a fair amount about modding 3.4s, so I could help you out with that.

 

He said the 3.8 has 160 WHEEL horsepower not crank horsepower. Try headers, exhaust, cam, heads(if available), aluminum driveshaft, underdrive pulley, air filter, throttle body, tune. Some of these may make little gains, but many little gains add up

 

For ~230 NA RWHP, these guys worked quite a bit, so choose wisely:
http://www.camarohomepage.com/project/index.htm

Looks like you want your car to be more like a 2011 Camaro 3.6L -- 312 HP at the crank...

 

My car started off with 168 RWHP and now makes 208 RWHP with full bolt ons and one hell of a tune... The only thing left that I can possibly do is further port my heads and do a cam. After that, it gets nasty. With a cam and the right set of heads, you can make 250 RWHP. But that's being optimistic because most people leave out a lot of stuff.

So if you don't wanna do nitrous or FI, start throwing pennies.

 

Leave out the throttle body. No need to upgrade it until you're making north of 400 HP.

Do you wanna go fast as hell, or just have big numbers to brag about?

I can keep up with a bone stock LT1 even though I have about 30 HP less.

Not to mention that if you have a 5 speed, you'll need to upgrade the transmission heh. Auto and you'll be just fine however.