supercharge v6 or swap ls1

[Magnus]

Setup is critical.

A setup thats is powered by the LS1 is unreal. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[MTMike]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by SkAchilles:
Honestly, who gives a **** if a V6 is fast. I think its actually kind of stupid to polish a turd that much. Look at the 12 second V6s. The cars are gutted to hell, hardly streetable, nowhere near stock, or eles they are running dual power adders like shirl. Then look at the 12 second V8s with just bolt ons, 100% streetable, full street trim.

And like Magnus always brings up, THE SOUND. I wouldn't give up that throaty growl only 8 cylinders can make for anything.

If your idea of a good time is to pour tons of money into a tiny engine, run lightly modded V8 times, and lose a lot of streetability, than thats your perogative. I hear all the ricers saying the exact same things. They are very impressed with what they do with thier 4 cylinders. As fas as I am concerned its the same thing here.

I've read posts from Pathogen and Stefan saying they were afraid to go full throttle or something would break. Having 300 at the wheels avaialable anytime without forced induction and a fear of grenading the engine going WOT is something I enjoy.

I guess I just don't have my heart in it though. I had the L36 because it is what I could afford. I got money, blew my V6, and jumped ship the instant I could. But hey, thats just me.

But think of it, stressing the engine craming air into it, or just sucking it in with no great stress? To me, the choice is obvious.<hr></blockquote>

I completely agree!!!

Though I just decided to take the easy way out. My payments went up $4/mo and my insurance went up $15/mo. $19/month more for 300hp and 350ftlbs of very comfortable, daily-drivable torque, and exhaust note that gives me a boner (sidenote - I've never found the sound of ANY 6 cyl gasoline engine appealing), and the only thing I have to worry about breaking when I mash the gas is the speed limit.

It's everything I've ever wanted in a car.

I could have cammed, or blown, or juiced the V6, but I would have spent more time under the hood & tuning and worrying about breaking something than actually driving and enjoying the car. And to gain similar power of a V8, at a cost of drivibility and comfort. I could have done the swap myself and put a LOT of time into it for the results I was looking for, but at an expense of time I didn't have and an expense of pain-in-the-assedness I didn't want to deal with when I have no garage or shelter, and just hand tools. I could have paid Keith to do it for me, which I almost did, but then realized I'd only be saving $19/month, and the actual market value for the vehicle would still be based off the VIN#; only an enthusiast would be interested in the fact it was a V6 and now had a V8. Plus I wouldn't be defrauding the insurance company by having a V8 power in V6 premiums, and if, god forbid, something did happen, I woulnd't have to worry: "Is the adjuster gonna count spark plugs... please don't look under the hood" and run the risk of having my claim denied because of it. It was easy and convenient for me to get a loan, go down to the dealership, write a check, and drive home. The hardest part was haggling the price down an extra $500.

[T-Punk]

ok so all you care about is your end product. i dont think there is anything wrong with that but hey some of us like tuning and enjoy working on our cars. now i have to agree the ls1 is a better engine, who wouldnt? but its not like the l36 is crap. its actually a very tunable and dependable engine. it may not be for you and if not you chose the correct path. as for resale value... ehh i dont plan on selling it any time soon. i plan on implanting an ls1 after this engine has between 120000 and 150000mi on it and its time to put it out to pasture but thats just me.

[Camaro Bob]

HOLY SH!T!.....it isn't high school anymore.....if you want to go reallllly fast, buy an 8, if you don't....keep the 6.

[Shirl]

One thing is for sure.. you won't get any recognition with an 8 that runs 12's or even 11's for that matter. Look at the GTP's and even our site here. There are positives and negatives to both sides, but I'll tell you right now.. I ain't ever selling my car. It's been in 4 magazines and has gotten me sponsorships and a ton of 1st place awards...not to mention an unbelievable learning experience. My car has been nothing but good to me. And I'll bet if anyone were to put nitrous and a supercharger on an LT1 or LS1, you could kiss it goodbye! I don't see too many V8's going sideways halfway down the track cuz they can't hook on the ET Streets. But, I ALMOST always see them in the rearview mirror about 10-20 carlengths back. Oh, but that's just me [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img] I think the people in here are old enough to make their own decisions based on what they hear and see. But I'd like to add that: just because you have an 8 cylinder motor doesn't mean your b*lls are any bigger or better than anyone else's. Look at the built 4 cylinders running 10's and better. If it's sound you're after... get the LT1. It sounds awesome. The LS1 sounds cheap in my opinion...No better than a V6. The first time I heard a stock Vette, I thought.. that's pathetic. My car sounds better. I've only heard 1 LS1 sound good.. Misterjuice's. He had a great sounding exhaust. Don't remember what brand it was, but that was the ONLY LS1 I have ever heard that sounded real good. Anyway, everyone's got opinions and these are some of mine. If you want an 8 get it. If you want to modify your 6 and learn something, do it! [img]graemlins/burnout.gif[/img]

[Magnus]

The moral of the story is.. To each their own. We all want what we want, but not necessarily what everyone else wants.. What may be right for one may not be right for another.

Chose the decision that best suits you.

[StegsRide]

im surprised no one mentioned gas mileage.....

[nino]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by StegsRide:
im surprised no one mentioned gas mileage.....<hr></blockquote>

my gas mileage with my modded to hell 6 is comparable to the LS1. no difference at all except my 6 might have used just a little more.

[MTMike]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by T-Punk:
ok so all you care about is your end product. i dont think there is anything wrong with that but hey some of us like tuning and enjoy working on our cars. <hr></blockquote>

This is true. This is why I have a project truck too :D

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by StegsRide:
im surprised no one mentioned gas mileage.....<hr></blockquote>

Thats because it's not an issue. My stock-with-exhaust LS1 gets 15mpg in town whereas my stock-with-exhaust 3.8 got 17. On the highway my stock-with-exhaust 3.8 got 28-30, and though I havn't had it long enough to really get a good highway trip in, LS1 6 speeds get 26-28mpg on the highway if I'm not mistaken.

[StegsRide]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by nino:


my gas mileage with my modded to hell 6 is comparable to the LS1. no difference at all except my 6 might have used just a little more.<hr></blockquote>

modded to hell was cam and heads right? (sorry if im wrong i havent followed what you have done)

what about a turbo 6 without a cam? what would the gas mileage be like? i thought i remeber tiago said he still got good gas mileage....

[StegsRide]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by MTMike:


Thats because it's not an issue. My stock-with-exhaust LS1 gets 15mpg in town whereas my stock-with-exhaust 3.8 got 17. On the highway my stock-with-exhaust 3.8 got 28-30, and though I havn't had it long enough to really get a good highway trip in, LS1 6 speeds get 26-28mpg on the highway if I'm not mistaken.<hr></blockquote>

hmmm not saying your wrong but my gf has a 2002 trans am and i could swear i get better gas mileage than she does. i have never really tried to figure what either one of them gets just we are always getting gas for her car and we usually drive mine

[ October 16, 2003: Message edited by: StegsRide ]</p>

[Speedin96]

V8 sounds better but think of it this way... the new mitsubishi evo comes stock 275 i think i saw somewhere... our cars 200 stock v6's are starting to be out of date... more and more cars are catching up... but like my dad said horsepower is for bragging rights but torque gets you there... so anyway if you want to have a good fun race stick with a v6 and race these ricers... its not FUN when you go out and blow away every one of them, its boring... but if you want power (like me) and sound (like me again) and your a garage junkie that loves do-it-yourself (like me and my dad) then, well really it doesn't matter, i would cover my eyes and go enny menny minny moe, wait no i wont, i want a engine swap... nevermind this post i made is screwed up.. lol... i just realized it doesn't matter what you do as long as you enjoy it, but i might consider doing TURBO instead of SC and then later if you want to do a swap you can swap and keep the turbo for the V8

[snatch]

wow is that true you can use the same turbo for the V8. That makes things a little more complicated, I figured save the money from modding the v6 and buy a used ls1 engine and over time rebuild it, but if you can use the same turbo I think I will do that and way later down the line buy an LS1.
Please tell me if the turbo is transferable?
Shane

[lord_gufi]

you may be able to re-use the turbo.. but highly doubtfull. the LS1 has more displacement hence needing a Bigger turbo ( unless the one on your 6 is insanely laggy then you may have a quick spooler for the 8 ).

Piping will be different, All of it. Nothing here can be reused except to chop up and use in the new "kit."

Go with the v8 Screw the v6, Its not a "mod" your going to regret, like you will when you meet the extent of the v6's abilities as far as being reliable, streetable, and controlable.

[96_fbody_sixpack]

ive been wanting to reply to this topic for a while now. and i see a lot of people saying swap. as far as a sleeper car is concerned, a camaro whether v6 or v8 is not a sleeper, the very mention of the word camaro or firebird says its at least kinda fast.
if your gonna race it, i say for sure swap. if its gonna be a daily driver and you wanna keep it for a long time, i say swap as well, a modded v6 will not be as durable because it has to work harder to produce the extra power causeing more wear. so i guess my opinion is swap for better power and durability with a similar price.

on a side note, i see a lot of peeps saying why mod a v6 and not just sell the v6 and buy a Z. well if they are at all like me, i like to make my own stuff better. whatever i have to work with just because when its finished i have a feeling or accomplishment. its so cool to say to someone, i did it myself ! good luck with whatever you decide.
oh yeah, why not a LS1 with a supercharger ? hehe, thats just my opinion .