got me a 3.8

[Derek3.4]

So I've had my camaro for about 5 years now. I love it. But the 3.4L just wasn't enough, so I decided to go out and buy me a 2000 firebird. Any ideas on where to start with it?

[flamingchicken]

Re: got me a 3.8

intake headers exhaust

[Derek3.4]

Re: got me a 3.8

u see a lot of gains with those modsfor the 3800? I never got the headers for the 3.4 but i didn't notice much from intake and exhaust on it.

[jeffyp32]

Re: got me a 3.8

i love my headers. you can tell a little gain from the exhaust and intake but def get headers.

[venom3300]

Re: got me a 3.8

cat back exhaust~7hp
intake~2-6hp
headers~10-15hp

gears are another good place to start if u dont have 3.42s with posi

[flamingchicken]

Re: got me a 3.8

headers, full exhaust and intake are worth together about 8-10 hp, but if you are going to mod elsewhere, they are necesary.

the 3.4 is just a weak engine, the intake plenum is the weak spot, so a cold air intake isnt going to help it much. the 3.8 however sees good gains from intake and exhaust side of things

[whitdog54]

Re: got me a 3.8

a4 or t5? I would do some gearing 3.73s maybe and a posi if your car isnt already equipped.

[Derek3.4]

Re: got me a 3.8

its an a4, I'm actually going to the junk yard pretty soon to find a 5spd for it and swap them out. I'm not sure what the bird has equipped with it.

[Leonard 3.8L]

Re: got me a 3.8

Check out my Fquick. I got some cool mods. Might help you out.

[LETZRIDE]

Re: got me a 3.8

its an a4, I'm actually going to the junk yard pretty soon to find a 5spd for it and swap them out. I'm not sure what the bird has equipped with it.

count your blessings that you have an A4..dont swap it out...if its not enough for you stall it and throw a vette servo in there and be done...you'll be faster then a 5 spd...

[youngsc]

Re: got me a 3.8

count your blessings that you have an A4..dont swap it out...if its not enough for you stall it and throw a vette servo in there and be done...you'll be faster then a 5 spd...

I second this. After I blew up my tranny I had them throw a vette servo in and even now a year later I can say it's one of the best seat of the pants differences you can make. The shift time is noticeably faster and harder. If your cruising and want to take off you don't need to depress the acceleartor nearly as much as with a stock servo, meaning you got more room to put the pedal down.

[Derek3.4]

Re: got me a 3.8

awesome. I'm going to have to check into that. how much would it run me for a vette servo? Also, what would be a good stall for our 3.8's?

[ssms5411]

Re: got me a 3.8

Vette servo is $20 on ebay, I would recommend a Transgo Shift kit also with about 1-2 spacers/wahers and hptuners would be a great start. Then exhaust /intake/headers and a wideband then start on suspension, and weight reduction. That would be a good place to start.

[inheritthefire]

Re: got me a 3.8

I've heard/read that the stock exhaust manifold was changed for 00-02 year models on the firebird, and flowed much better. I think it was in the technical database on the homepage. Either way, the conjecture I made was that it wasn't beneficiary to do headers on the 00-02 3.8's unless you planned on doing some heavy modification later on?

From: http://tech.firebirdv6.com/general.html ,
2000

The most significant change for year 2000 models was new tubular exhaust manifolds.

[flamingchicken]

Re: got me a 3.8

i have a 2000 and i replaced my tubulars with headers and full 2.5 inch exhaust with no cat and a flowmaster, i also have a whisper lid, and my 1/8 mile time went from a 9.95 (stock) to a 9.45 with bolt ons. it helps alot.