03+ series 2 3.8 power curve?

[l67ss]

ive read that they started installing heads with better ports and larger valves in 03+ 3.8s (that were still series 2) yet they still have the same 200hp rating. did the head swap affect the power curve w/o raising power peak? curious as im getting an l36 from an 04 impala thanks

[RobertISaar]

 

this is what i have for an 05. not sure if an earlier chart will be easy to find from GM.

[RobertISaar]

well, i have something, but it doesn't look very good.... pulled from a 96 camaro VIK.

 

http://www.gmheritagecenter.com/gm-heritage-archive/vehicle-information-kits.html

 

you may find something better there?

 

 

i find it hilarious how the F-body rates lower than all of the FWD applications....

 

as for early vs late, they look similar, but not identical. early shows much better output at lower RPMs, but peaks are the same. knowing GM, i expect there to be some manipulation of reality going on in the earlier chart.

[l67ss]

well, i have something, but it doesn't look very good.... pulled from a 96 camaro VIK.

 

http://www.gmheritagecenter.com/gm-heritage-archive/vehicle-information-kits.html

 

you may find something better there?

 

 

i find it hilarious how the F-body rates lower than all of the FWD applications....

 

as for early vs late, they look similar, but not identical. early shows much better output at lower RPMs, but peaks are the same. knowing GM, i expect there to be some manipulation of reality going on in the earlier chart.

 

answered my question

[RobertISaar]

97 has a clearer looking chart on page 25.

98 is better still.

no charts in 99/up from the looks of it.

[tornado_735]

That torque curve is flat as shit.

[RobertISaar]

That torque curve is flat as shit.

 

at first glance, yes,but it starts dropping off badly after ~4200 or so.

 

now compare it to an engine that was generally put in the same vehicles.

 

 

it doesn't suffer anywhere near as badly.

[RobertISaar]

more analysis: looks like they both end their plots around 180 lb-ft. the 3400 is at ~5600RPM, while the 3800 is around ~5800RPM.

 

so, a 3400 at 5600 = a 3800 at 5800. bring the revs higher and then the lowly little 3400 actually overtakes the 3800.

 

oddly enough, i don't have a L67 chart in my archive.....

[l67ss]

that second chart is actually pretty useful too as my car has had a 3.4 la1 swap done to it

[RobertISaar]

i figured it might be.

[l67ss]

still gonna swap it for the 3.8, get it ready to top swap it

[19Cutlass94]

All I can add to this, is that the 3400 sounds good shifting at 6800rpm

[l67ss]

All I can add to this, is that the 3400 sounds good shifting at 6800rpm

 

Yeah I am gonna miss the sound of my 3.4, punched it to pass someone touched 105 MPH the sound was almost sex lol

[RobertISaar]

All I can add to this, is that the 3400 sounds good shifting at 6800rpm

 

you have enough cam to make that worthwhile though..... most of us don't.

[l67ss]

you have enough cam to make that worthwhile though..... most of us don't.

 

I has stock can, when I go past 6k, it bitches at me lol

[l67ss]

Bumping this because I've needed it a couple times lol