3800 Bottom End strength?

[Darkness]

Ok, so I have a 98 SE with the 3800 Series II engine in it. Nice engine, pretty decent torque, etc. Problem is, I am used to my old TGP and am thinking about some upgrades.

 

The key here is to do upgrades without spending a fortune or consuming lots of time.

 

Naturally, I thought of adding a dry nitrous system and a 75hp shot.

 

My question is; are the N/A 3800 motors basically the same, bottome end wise, and the supercharged? Should it be able to handle 75 hps of nitrous now and then without falling apart?

 

Thinking about that as well as some new rocker arms with a bit more aggressive ratio.

 

This is my daily driver, so I am looking for reliability above all else.

 

I already did the Primary W-Body High Performance Mod, and added a K&N filter (drop in)!

Any thoughts or other suggestions?

[19Cutlass94]

Well a stock 3100 will handle that 75 shot, but the tranny wont (Well not for very long anyway). The 3800 should be able to handle it with no problem.

[manitcor]

stock L36 blocks and bottom ends are plenty strong, the cartuning kit puts close to 10psi on a stock bottom end with no ill effects. A 75 shot should be fine. A stock t65 trans however will have a shortened life spanif done to often.

 

I reccomend getting a big trans cooler.

[slick]

Yep, plenty of turbo'd L36's, with worked over heads and blown tranny, on the stock bottom ends.

[jeremy]

you shouldn't have a problem adding the 75 shot, but like mentioned, if used to much the tranny will probably take a shit sooner then later

[Miko K]

stock L36 blocks and bottom ends are plenty strong, the cartuning kit puts close to 10psi on a stock bottom end with no ill effects. A 75 shot should be fine. A stock t65 trans however will have a shortened life spanif done to often.

 

I reccomend getting a big trans cooler.

 

All, except the trans cooler- it won't help you any. These transmissions break hard parts-primary drive chain, flexplates, input & output shafts, differentials(from one wheel burnouts). Nobody has ever complained from burning the TC or any of the gear's clutches.

Now is the moment to decide if you want to stay NA or go boosted. No matter what you do to it in NA trim, you will hardly keep up with the newer imports. Boosted, you will easily take on quite a few V8's.

[Darkness]

I'd love to slap a turbo on this thing, but the expense is pretty damn scary. I have seen some kits on the web that are very straight forward.

 

I guess I should try to relax a bit and really get into learning the ins and outs of turbo'ing so I don't have to rely on the pre-fab kits so much. Then, maybe I can start assembling my own system and save a little cash.

 

But no instant gratification in that!

[Darkness]

Here's what one guy did with his L36 in a Firebird. Makes me want to pick up an extra engine and start messing with it for a transplant later.

 

http://media.firebirdv6.com/12secondV6/deepsix.html

[manitcor]

i reccomend Maximum Boost by Corky Bell

 

it is the bible of boost