Can a 3.8L V6 Camaro compete with newer V6s

[TOMS1SS]

Originally Posted by Stew

Wrong company, it was Ford's 3.8s that had that issue and the recall. I drove my parents Regal today, 3800 NA, the motor is great. reliable, TORQUEY, smooth enough, unfortunatly everything around it is crap. The transmission shudders, the interior is falling apart, you have to occasionally use a screwdriver to get the key out of the ignition, power door locks and keyless entry are ded, front end vibrates horribly, cv joints, etc, etc. Basically the same issues I had with my GTP, loved the 3800 supercharged engine and hitting 13s in the 1/4 mile with 400 in mods, but had all the same issue plus had to have the transmission rebuilt (lost overdrive and I am sure this is going to end up being the regals fate) and the AC died. Realistically the 3.8 can still be competitive, 200 HP is more than most people need or even care about. It gets grat mileage when backed by an ancient 4 speed auto (I could see it matching Camry and Accord 4 bangers with a 6 speed auto), and amazing reliability. it would just have to be wrapped in something way better than what it was......

Actually there was a recall in April O9 for gasket issues..... Still I much better engine than the Ford though.

[Stew]

Originally Posted by Fearer2010SS

Actually there was a recall in April O9 for gasket issues..... Still I much better engine than the Ford though.

Ah, i know my parents got a recall about a possible fire issue, but hat had to do with fuel rails I think?

[dragon2368]

Do not know about the 3.4 but for certain the 3.1 had head gasket issues in relation to the Dexcool problems. I had a 95 Monte and a 98 Malibu and they both had issues. Received a letter after a settlement telling me to send in my repair receipts for refund a couple of years ago or so.

[Stew]

Originally Posted by dragon2368

Do not know about the 3.4 but for certain the 3.1 had head gasket issues in relation to the Dexcool problems. I had a 95 Monte and a 98 Malibu and they both had issues. Received a letter after a settlement telling me to send in my repair receipts for refund a couple of years ago or so.

I think you are correct, I still never recall a recall for headgaskets on the GM 3.8.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by dragon2368

Do not know about the 3.4 but for certain the 3.1 had head gasket issues in relation to the Dexcool problems. I had a 95 Monte and a 98 Malibu and they both had issues. Received a letter after a settlement telling me to send in my repair receipts for refund a couple of years ago or so.

Yup, definately 3.4L, I heard quite a bit about head gasket problems when I researched Grand Am's. GM didn't get around to doing a factory fix until the mid 2000's, after they had built a few million engines and an unknown number of failures. Everybody probably knows at least one person who had a head gasket go on a 3100 or 3400 engine. I know at least 3.

[KMPrenger]

I know someone that had a head gasket go on a 3.1.....me! Had a 96 grand prix 2 door (nice lookin car I thought) and in good shape and the gasket actually lasted until around 150,000 miles which from what the mechanic who replaced it said, is longer than most. He said GM had a better replacement for it, and that once the head gasket was repaired the engines tend to last a good while longer.

[BigDan]

I totally forgot that my GF parents gave me a 98 grand am with a blown head gasket for free which I drove around for a month until it finally let go and eventually gave it to a family friend who ended up fixing it because I lost interest due to injuries from a bad car accident. Does GM now replace them for free or what is the deal?

I now regret giving it away since I liked it but it wasn't as nice as my dad's 95 Buick Regal gran sport 3.8L NA that I bought off him because he babied the heck out of it and had for a few years until my ex got it in the breakup. It was in perfect shape and white with blue interior and I tinted the windows and it was a certified cruiser and got 27mpg and pulled hard to 110mph. Sorry for blabbing I just miss all my old car's one way or another.

[Allan Hernandez]

a 5th gen will murder you sorry

[kiteman]

the 5th gen ss is comparable to the 4th gen ss, albeit a little faster maybe. and they are both about 100hp above their v6 counterpart. same hp:weight ratio so i don't see why the 3.8 would not compete about the same? are you guys just thinking hp and not ratios?

[IMJ]

Originally Posted by BigDan

Not unless its a supercharged 3.8L from everything but a Camaro.

I just came out of an '04 GTP with some decent mods and track time at both Byron and Great Lakes. My '11 RS would pull on it with no problems at all.

[KMPrenger]

Originally Posted by kiteman

the 5th gen ss is comparable to the 4th gen ss, albeit a little faster maybe. and they are both about 100hp above their v6 counterpart. same hp:weight ratio so i don't see why the 3.8 would not compete about the same? are you guys just thinking hp and not ratios?

Found this quote online:

"0-60 mph 7.3 seconds, Quarter mile ET 15.5 @ 86 mph.
Listed on motor trend and edumds"

So if that is true, then yes, newer V6 is much faster.

[GretchenGotGrowl]

Give this a try, you'll probably more than keep up then.

http://media.firebird*******/vectorsupercharger.html

EDIT: Oh well, looks like the ban is on for any V6 forum. Sorry, just do a search in Google for vectorsupercharger and you'll find a link.

[kiteman]

Originally Posted by KMPrenger

Found this quote online:

"0-60 mph 7.3 seconds, Quarter mile ET 15.5 @ 86 mph.
Listed on motor trend and edumds"

So if that is true, then yes, newer V6 is much faster.

i dunno, just saying weight:power ratio is spot on. 0-60 online quotes are always bogus. 4th gen shows 5.0 seconds (ls1) vs 5th gen (ls3) at 4.6 seconds? and they're pretty much dead even in reality. marketing hype IMO. i'd be shocked if a 3.8 was much further behind in terms of acceleration, if any.

[Allan Hernandez]

Originally Posted by kiteman

i dunno, just saying weight:power ratio is spot on. 0-60 online quotes are always bogus. 4th gen shows 5.0 seconds (ls1) vs 5th gen (ls3) at 4.6 seconds? and they're pretty much dead even in reality. marketing hype IMO. i'd be shocked if a 3.8 was much further behind in terms of acceleration, if any.

Ive owned a 2001 v6 camaro and trust me its slow! Thats the reason the 5th gen camaro has a bad reputation to some people because they think its similar to the 4th gen v6 but trust me its not 5th gen will eat it up!!!!!