Upgrades for 3.5l V6

[hrcslam]

Yeah you need a programer or a custom tune to remove it. This company offers custom tuning and a TQM Delete only option too. I know they have it for many vehicles, including my Suburban and Ion, but they don't list your Monte Carlo. You should shoot them an e-mail if you are interested in doing the tune. It should cost less than $400.

[NewMonte]

Now how will I get the tranny to slip less so I don't have the problem that TM was installed to fix? Is that done electronically or mechanically? I like to accelerate fast and I don't want to see metal shavings in my oil.

[hrcslam]

Both actually. You can increase your line pressure via reprogramming. But that is a lot like putting a computer program on your laptop to make it "faster." It works, but not nearly as good as an actual physical upgrade. I would recommend a shift kit. Here is a link to a few options from ebay. Unfortunately, because your tranny is FWD and large you will have to remove the tranny to do it. So, it will be expensive if you took it to a tranny shop because the frame is in the way and would have to be removed to access the transmission. I learned this recently on a Buick Regal GSE I am replacing the tranny on in my garage (much harder than it sounds, especially doing it alone; which I am). But, if you don't want to do the physical mod, you can reprogram your computer to mimmick a shift kit for a little while with little to no adverse effects. But, I still say, as soon as you can put in a real mechanical shift kit, do it.

This will really wake up your car.

You can also look at a throttle body bore ( a dremmel and some bits will knock this out for relitivaly cheap). Also a Cold Air Intake (CAI) would help a litlle too, this will take some personal modification to make work. Also, K&N sells CAI kits peice by piece for people who want to build their own. Along with a cat back exhaust ( link to ebay). These are all basic, and univeral, mods you can do on any vehicle.

[NewMonte]

Does my engine even produce enough exhaust to make any of those mods useful? And yea, not gonna fiddle with the tranny. Don't have a shop or mechanical knowledge of it. + bye bye warranty on important piece :P

[hrcslam]

Originally Posted by NewMonte

Does my engine even produce enough exhaust to make any of those mods useful? And yea, not gonna fiddle with the tranny. Don't have a shop or mechanical knowledge of it. + bye bye warranty on important piece :P

Yes. Your stock exhaust is very restrictive. Every enigne is a ginormous air pump. And any restriction in the flow will result in less power. Cat back exhaust will free up some hp. A full exhaust (headers, High flow cat(s) and mufflers) will free up even more. Unfortunately the only headers you can get is from an exhaust shop that are custom made. The throttle body bore will make a big difference with throttle response (my Suburban was like day a night when I did this). A cold air intake will help with overall power throughout the entire power band. But, due to the nature of the 3.5L GM and the demographics that purchase that engine option, there are no real bolt on applications for performance with the exception of the cat back exhaust. Almost everything else done to the vehicle will be fully custom.

[NewMonte]

Should I just save my money and get a vette then? Found some older ok-ish condition ones for under 10 grand over here, non dealer. prob could get em to lower price more. tons of mods for those and id need a second drive-around car anyway

[hrcslam]

Originally Posted by NewMonte

Should I just save my money and get a vette then? Found some older ok-ish condition ones for under 10 grand over here, non dealer. prob could get em to lower price more. tons of mods for those and id need a second drive-around car anyway

I'd have to say yes to that.

[NewMonte]

Only thing is a lot are in **** shape. Personally, I wouldn't pay $5 grand for one with 130k miles on it, plus some have 4 speeds and **** like that. Did they make a manual vette ever?

[hrcslam]

Yep, 6 speeds galore, in the C4's. You'll have to go older though for a nice Corvette for 10K. I'd go C3, body style.

[Corr69]

Originally Posted by NewMonte

I like the 5.3 liter swap. There are more mods for it, too. my tranny is built to hold it as well so all id need is a new engine mount, the 5.3l chip and the engine right? the thing is I d need a new exhaust system, the 5.3l SS model has twin exhaust, my rear end is only designed for one anyway. The 3.8 supercharged would be cheaper up front but still has less mods in future. In the end im debating..do I even want to modify a front wheel drive vehicle?

WRONG.

You could do a swap for a 3.8L with less than a $1000, and the 3.8L S/C is wayyyy more modable than an LS4 5.3L. Leaps and bounds.

Go buy an wrecked GTP/Monte/Regal for $1000, pull the motor, do the swap.

Spend $500 on some headers/intake/pulley/tune and your runnin mid 13s......

[NewMonte]

Originally Posted by Corr69

WRONG.

You could do a swap for a 3.8L with less than a $1000, and the 3.8L S/C is wayyyy more modable than an LS4 5.3L. Leaps and bounds.

Go buy an wrecked GTP/Monte/Regal for $1000, pull the motor, do the swap.

Spend $500 on some headers/intake/pulley/tune and your runnin mid 13s......

That's all well and cool if you live in an area that sells junk cars. For cheap. That don't have blown motors. If I somehow found one, to put a supercharger on it would require engine modification (lower compression pistons, ect.), and I do not have the engine lift and knowledge to do an engine swap, I would have too pay someone. Paying for an engine swap is going to be more expensive than paying for different pistons because of the sheer time it would take.

I don't really see any mods for the 3.8l, anyway. Feel free to link me, but those guys have same issues I do. From general reading I have noticed aftermakret parts manufacturers lean to the larger engine sizes anyway.

[454]

Originally Posted by NewMonte

I don't really see any mods for the 3.8l, anyway. Feel free to link me, but those guys have same issues I do. From general reading I have noticed aftermakret parts manufacturers lean to the larger engine sizes anyway.

There are literally thousands of parts you can buy for the Supercharged 3.8's.
Just skim http://www.intense-racing.com/ , http://www.zzperformance.com/ , and http://www.3800performance.com/ to name a few. You can easily increase your horsepower and torque with simple mods like SC pulleys, intakes, and exhaust. The only thing i might be missing is that you're talking about the N/A 3.8?

[Corr69]

Originally Posted by NewMonte

That's all well and cool if you live in an area that sells junk cars. For cheap. That don't have blown motors. If I somehow found one, to put a supercharger on it would require engine modification (lower compression pistons, ect.), and I do not have the engine lift and knowledge to do an engine swap, I would have too pay someone. Paying for an engine swap is going to be more expensive than paying for different pistons because of the sheer time it would take.

I don't really see any mods for the 3.8l, anyway. Feel free to link me, but those guys have same issues I do. From general reading I have noticed aftermakret parts manufacturers lean to the larger engine sizes anyway.

Clearly your not looking very hard.

And finding a 3.8L in a scrap yard is a pretty easy task. Then all you need is the top swap from a S/C'd car. heads/intake mani/blower. All of this can be found on any 3800 performance forum....RegalGS.org, ClubGP.com, Grandprixforums.net, 3800pro, etc.

Lower compression pistons? Um think again. Its actually better to build a non-s/c 3.8l with the higher compression and do the top swap....this way you can run less boost with most more....= faster with less parasitic loss from the blower.

The 3.8L S/C can be built into the 10s on stock internals, and into the 8s fully built.


No aftermarket support? Google, Intense racing, ZZP, Overkill Performance, W-body store, 3800 performance, the list goes on and on....

I have less than 1000 in mods in my car and it runs 13s consistently....

[hrcslam]

Originally Posted by Corr69

Clearly your not looking very hard.

And finding a 3.8L in a scrap yard is a pretty easy task. Then all you need is the top swap from a S/C'd car. heads/intake mani/blower. All of this can be found on any 3800 performance forum....RegalGS.org, ClubGP.com, Grandprixforums.net, 3800pro, etc.

Lower compression pistons? Um think again. Its actually better to build a non-s/c 3.8l with the higher compression and do the top swap....this way you can run less boost with most more....= faster with less parasitic loss from the blower.

The 3.8L S/C can be built into the 10s on stock internals, and into the 8s fully built.


No aftermarket support? Google, Intense racing, ZZP, Overkill Performance, W-body store, 3800 performance, the list goes on and on....

I have less than 1000 in mods in my car and it runs 13s consistently....

If your timing is right it's easy. I found 2 Regal GS's in the local yard, but engines were gone same day. That 3.8SC is an awesome motor. I do disagree with your assesment of 3.8L being more modable than the 5.3L the Vortec 5.3L has many many more parts available for it than the 3.8SC. Not to mention the power output between the two the V-8 will win everytime, mod for mod. There's no replacement for displacement. And the cost difference between the two are about the same. Except for the intial investment where the 3.8L wins hands down.

But the mods will cost the same. Overall I must agree, the 3.8L will be a better choice financially. The only mod the tranny would need is the HD differential. The Monte has a 4T65E, but the 3.8L SC should have a 4T65E-HD, which the HD stands for the differential.

Also, to install a shift kit on these trannys you don't need to remove the transmission. It's an easy install. The HD Diff would be really easy to find, and you can install it with the trans still installed too.

Here you go. A 3.8L S/C for $850 on Ebay. No yanking at yard either. All you need is basic hand tools and a cherry picker ($200 at a local parts store, well, Advanced Auto Parts). You'd need the ECU and harness to, but for about $1500 total (including shipping) you'll have a very modable performance engine. And a rare 3.8L S/C Monte.

Hey Corr69, I just bought a 2000 Regal GSE, very nice car. Good performance, but 2nd gear is shifting funny. 1st, 3rd, and 4th work perfect and 2nd works great at less than 1/4 throttle, but over 1/4 throttle it just feels like neutral. Annoying I tell you. But I put in some seafoam and the last two days it has improved a lot. It used to do this in every gear, but first gear. Now it's only second and today it allowed solid shifts up to 1/3-1/2 throttle in all gears. I think it's a valve body issue, what do you think?

[NewMonte]

OK I was thinking of the 3.9l engine the later models are using, my bad.