Hello gang. My 2001 SS is running good but I am considering some engine mods for more power and want to understand some of the terms yall use. First when you refer to the L67 is that strictly a supercharged version of the 3800? Second what do you consider a top-swap? just adding the supercharger or adding the supercharger, throttle-body, heads...the works?

My ultimate goal would be to get to the 300hp range. My next question may come down to opinion but which is better, supercharged or turbocharged?

Thanks in advance!

 

Ok ill give this my best shot. L36 is a series 2 na 3800. L67 is a series 2 sc 3800. L26 is a series 3 na 3800. L32 is a series 3 sc 3800

A top swap is taking all the components to supercharge a na engine off a sc engine and swapping the parts onto a na 3800.

Turbo vs sc..... I love my turbo setup and having over 500whp on high boost but at this level things break ALOT. Basically it comes down to what you like more a turbo or sc. A turbo setup will make more power than a sc build. It costs more to turbo up front but then adding other things like a cam etc net more gains than off a sc setup. A sc setup don't make as much power and will cost more than a turbo build would if you try making a sc build 400whp+

Basically under 300whp sc would probably be cheaper by a little but used turbo kits are getting cheap now also. Under 400whp turbo or sc build about the same cost. Over 400whp turbo build would be cheaper than trying to get a sc build to make that power.

Again these are my opinions on turbo vs sc everyone has there own opinion

Also the sound of a turbo spooling up to waste gate and then the BOV letting loose beats the sound of a sc whine all day in my eyes!

 

Thanks Turbo Monte! Great explanation. Did the 2001 SS come with L36 series 2 na? if so what year did the L26 series 3 na come out?

Thanks for your opinion also. Learning from other guys is one thing that makes hot rodding so much fun.

 

Hey what things does a person break a lot by having a turbo?

 

Make sure that you check out the stickys in the top of this section (Engine/Trans/Performance Adders). Those things are gold mines of information, especially the questions that you're asking (term definitions, top swap, hp goals).

As far as the Series II 3800's are concerned, they were offered in our Montes from 1998 (5th gen)-2005. The Series III 3800 was never offered in any Monte and doesn't offer much except an aluminum upper intake manifold.

gasman, turbos can break just about anything from chipping pistons, snapping rods, throwing rods through the block, bending valves, turn your tranny into mush, snap axels, and more. That's why it's important to know what you're doing before you get started and I'm glad that we are here and can help

 

The Monte never had the L26. That did not come out until '04 in select GMs (I think only the Grand Prixs). '05 was the last of the L36 engines. For those wanting an L26 engine (as it's near identical to the L36), '05+ is the desirable way to go as it's supposed to have forged connecting rods and not cast ones (like the L36 has).

I just completed an L26 upper intake swap earlier this summer because I wanted the looks and the assurance aluminum fails less then plastic/nylon.

During that swap, I learned there are two different L26 upper intakes. Other then part number stampings on the outside, I don't know a way to tell the difference other then seeing the inside of it. I have a thread with pics and info on that.

Here are a couple good threads from our FWD Tech Info section to help get you started:
https://montecarloforum.com/forum/fw...n-3800s-10942/
and
https://montecarloforum.com/forum/fw...67-swap-14610/

 

Forgot to mention that along with the 04+ Grand Prix, the Series III 3800 came in some Buick LaCrosse's and Lucernes.

 

If you want 300 crank HP, do a top swap, headers, the basic mods and a 3.8 pulley IMO. 300 at the wheels takes a lot more. I'm probably close to that with a full L67 ported top end and an intercooler.

Things 300+ HP will break: pistons if you're knocking, and the transmission.

 

As already stated the l26 was never put on a monte.

You can have a turbo build and the engine will last if you know how to tune. The trans on the other hand it's a ticking time bomb. I've done everything known to strengthen a trans and still no luck. This time I sent it to dave at tep for him to build and do a few other things I could not do so we shall see how that works (fingers crossed)

The l26 rods are a powdered metal and i heard have a very high failure rate and it's better to just use l67 rods. I also heard the l32 rods were better than the l67 but not sure on that.

 

Thanks guys. Yall answered my questions. I am going to studythe sticky's atthe top and decide which way to go.