Hey y'all - GM Performance Tuning

Necosi · #1 (**permalink**) 04-22-2008, 06:35 PM

I don't currently have a GM (well, except for my wife's Tahoe LT) but that's why I'm here. I've always been a GM guy by nature and have been itching to get another. I especially love the 3800. I've had a couple that served me well but that was 10 years ago and they were Series I (a 90 Olds Delta 88 Royale and a '92 Buick LeSabre). I miss the fine balance of comfort, response, acceptable fuel economy, and decent power at my disposal when needed.

I was wanting to try out a supercharged 3800 but the Regal GS is hard to find and the GTPs seem to have a lot of miles on them. I worry about buying one with a lot of miles because I fear that they were put on roughly.

I'd like to have something like another LeSabre, partly because the previous owners are more likely to have been responsible drivers, but also because I like the thought of building one up as a bit of a sleeper. My question is, how much can the 3800 Series II be tweaked/tuned and kept naturally aspirated. What about the opposite route? Does something like the ZZPerformance turbo kit bolt up to a LeSabre (for example)?

I don't know much about the other V6 platforms (3.1 & 3.4). How do these compare to the 3800?

Necosi · #2 (**permalink**) 04-22-2008, 06:37 PM

Oops, and I should also note, that since I commute 50 miles one way I've considered looking into the Vibe GT. Any thoughts? I'm 6'0 250lbs and built like a linebacker. Am I going to fit in one? They don't appear to be any smaller than what I'm already driving (97 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport)

ROKTMAN · #3 (**permalink**) 04-22-2008, 07:50 PM

Welcome to the place to be!

jamz · #4 (**permalink**) 04-23-2008, 01:12 PM

Welcome to GMPT, glad to have you here!

SL04P0PR · #5 (**permalink**) 04-24-2008, 12:13 AM

Welcome to the site. I'm not too knowledgeable on the 3800 series, or the differences between the revisions. But I do know that the 3800 in general is built like a friggin brick house; they are capable of making lots of power without sacrificing a lot of reliability. the main factors for this (as opposed to the 3100/3400/etc) are 1) they consist of a 90* bottom end configuration which is better for balance and smoothness of the rotating assembly, and 2) I believe all 3800s are built at the factory with forged aluminum internals (pistons, rods, etc.). But like I previously stated, I am not an expert on these engines. I don't really know how much power people have made with these things n/a, or with boost for that matter. But they are a (relatively) popular engine to build on due to their solid architecture. I believe the zzperformance turbo kit you are referring to is compatible with all GM makes/models with the 3800 (or at least the series II and III), so it should work without a hitch in a regal or lesabre.

good luck finding your next GM!

foolioGrimz · #6 (**permalink**) 11-02-2008, 12:39 AM

3800 series... hmmm Im on my third motor but only one was actually the motors fault. I can't say that they pump out any real power but they do have some nice torque for a car. If you can get ahold a supercharged regal go for it. theyre fun to drive but i think the premium would get old after a while