I'm looking for information on the 3.8L V6. My ride is an 87 GMC S15 pickup with the 2.8L, and the damned thing is a boat anchor. On a good day I can hit 80, going downhill, floored. Been considering sticking an LS1 under the hood but my dad is pushing me to do a 3.8L due to weight and mileage, so I thought I'd go ahead and see what can be done with one. Every place I've checked has recommended visiting a Camaro forum for 3.8L information, so here I iz!!!

Should I select the 3.8L I'll be building it from the ground up and running a late model Camaro sequential fuel injection setup on it, and possibly a turbo mounted under the bed like the STS system to make up for the missing 2 cylinders. I've figured that this style turbo combined with an intercooler that takes air from the bottom and feeds it out the top will make a helluva stealth mount system, since all you'd really see under the hood is a pipe coming from the raidator support to the engine intake. I've not really been able to find out much with general searches on the 3.8L. I've gotta say that while I like the idea of a lighter V6 under the hood, I really, really like the idea of 400-450HP more.

What I'd like to know is, what sort of upgraded parts are available for this engine? Are there aftermarket stroker cranks available? If so, how many more cubes can you get out of a 3.8L and still be reliable? What power levels are you folks seeing on these engines, and how much of the RPM band is over the 90 percent torque line? Has anyone put together a long-rod version of this engine? What performance heads are available?

This will be a RWD engine I use, so any FWD-only parts or performance numbers won't be of much use. Crossover parts between the FWD and RWD engines would be of interest though. I know the Grand National engine is an outstanding performer, but those blocks are rare as hen's teeth and cost about as much so I'd rather stay with a more common 3.8L. Thanks in advance for any help that can be provided.

 

Look at the Buick GN. It had a factory turbo set up on the 3.8. The car was rear drive and really quick.

 

K thanks, but that doesn't really answer the question I asked, and does rehash what I said about having looked at the Buick engine. Not only are they hideously expensive, they are hard to come by, while the Camaro 3.8Ls are laying around all over the place. What is available to upgrade the Camaro 3.8L?

 

http://store.summitracing.com/egnsea...rchType=Engine

 

Hate to disappoint you but the only turbo in works for the 3.8 camaro/firebird series II motor is not available for purchase yet. The only forced induction aside from nitrous is a supercharger, and it just so happens that the only supercharger (I've ever heard of) made for these engines is produced by Powerdyne. These engines come stock with 200hp and 236 ft-lbs torque. The supercharger available adds 90 hp. Here are some helpful links:

http://www.3800performance.com/

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/V...1+2002/c-10114

http://www.lmperformance.com/c/11/13.html

http://www.thunderracing.com/catalog...=vehicle&vid=5

http://www.superchargersonline.com/p...its_VehMake=GM

Good luck.

 

If that's the only biggie considerations, from what I researched, the 3.8L weighs 375 LB's while the LS1 weighs 407...

Plus, with the v8, you're already most of the way to 400 HP's right out of the box.

Wow...the 2.hate weighs 365 LBs....

For all that work, like swapping mounts, electronics, radiator, tranny, etc, etc, etc....go with the v8.

http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/yj_87_95_swap.htm

•2.8L V6, 365 lbs.
•2.5L I4, 340 lbs.
•4.0L I6, 515 lbs.

Engines you may replace these with may include:
•Chevy 4.3L V6, 425 lbs.
•Chevy Small Block V8 (Gen. I & II), 550 lbs.
•Chevy Small Block V8 (Gen.III), 470 lbs.
•Chevy Small Block V8 (LS1), 407 lbs.
•Buick 90 degree V6, 375 lbs.
•Buick 60 degree V6, 350 lbs.

 

Cool thanks folks, that answered what I needed to know. V8 it is. If I were going to do a 3.8 I'd be wanting to stroke/bore to make at least a 4 liter out of it, then turbo, but it doesn't look like that's going to be possible. Would have been pretty cool to be able to pop the hood and show a small V6 under there with no apparent power adders, would have put the turbo under the bed STS style, run the air intake into the intercooler from the underside, all that would have been seen from the engine bay would have been a black pipe from the radiator support to the intake. Oh well, I'm soooo disappointed. I can always turbo the V8, if I can plant the power it makes on its own! Thanks again.