I thought a top swap kit requires you to get improved fuel rails, new pulleys, and other new things, so it would amount to more like $1,500 to $3,000 for all equipment and labor.

 

assuming you can do the labor yourself, and you buy the parts used off of places like clubgp.com/forums

easily ~$1000

 

No way- $3000 would buy you a complete 97 or 98 GTP with an L67 already!

I've personally seen a top swap pulled off for ~$500; I would budget $1k at the upper end.

The only people that end up spending $1500+ are those who can't wait to find bargains on the forums and ebay, and just want to buy it all in one shot from a major vendor. If you have time to source your own parts, about 1/2 of the parts from the top swap sell for practically nothing.

 

lol. turbo FTW. I dont race the monte but if i wanted to i wouldnt drop alot of cash into a FWD 3700 pound car. OK but if you do want to make the most power go with a turbo it has its disadvantages. Like turbo lag for instance, superchargers dont have that. but remember dont get get hungry for power if you cant do it right. Always build reliable.


ps. nitrous is like a hooker- you want to hit it but your scared of the consequences

 

LOL! I like that analogy. Although I though I read the Monte Carlo was 3,400 lbs? And I think I'll pass on the turbo idea, and probably nitrous too. I just want my Monte to be a hair quicker than the other N/A 3800's, and quick enough to keep up with an S/C 3800, anything more than that and I might as well turn it into a drag car.

 

I'm doing that mild NA build you speak of. It's not cheaper than a top swap if you are buying all new (it's hard to find NA parts for cheap anymore)

CAI
Downpipe
Plog
180° Thermostat
ER Ratio Rockers
HV3
High Velocity Throttle Body
Custom Tuned.

(should keep up with a stock L67)

 

I heard a 180 thermostat is bad for the car in a way. Because it never lets the engine oil get hot enough to move freely, at lower temperatures it becomes sluggish, and it's most effective at 200. Also, someone said a 180 thermostat can reduce your gas mileage, you have those problems?

 

You get your car tuned for the 180 thermo.

And stock the cars have a 195, so if it affected the oil that much before 200, stock wouldn't be 195, and you couldn't run your car EVER in the winter.

 

I don't really see why you need a turbo to make 'the most power'; as long as you have a capable enough fuel system, and supporting mods, I don't see why you couldn't build a spray engine with a big shot like many V8 drag racers do.

Turbo lag is not a problem with a properly sized turbo either; if you don't know how to size a turbo, you're better off buying a kit from one of the vendors.

 

Sometimes you want turbo lag. No one wants all 500 hp from a turbo kicking in right at the start, youll spin forever. You want it later once you have some tracion going. And a spray system would probably require internals with lower compression.