6th Gen ('00-'05): Turbo Mod Guide?
#11
10-01-2019, 12:27 AM
Only thing I'd pass on is the TB. There is a small gain NA, but the gains are basically zero once boosted (running boosted air through it). It wouldn't hurt anything to leave it on, it just wont help. Also keep in mind that you dont really need any of these mods to hit your power goals.
I'd give Triple Edge a look on transmissions. They're one of the main go to shops for 4t65s and have done a ton of high power builds.
No doubt any turbo cam will work and be drivable. The big question mark is power gains. Very few people follow the path you're talking, and I'd imagine the number of people who dyno it in that condition is near zero on the 3800 platform.
Part of the question is what cam you go with. Cams for NA power are pretty different from turbo cams. The bigger the cam you get, the more deviation between the two.
My only concern would be getting a giant cam as thatll be the least ideal for NA operation. Itll also push the power band higher in the rpm range and will make the car real soft down low.
Regardless, I wouldn't buy it at all for NA performance. Even the NA specific cams dont make squat for power on the 3800. Yours will certainly make even less while NA, so we're talking extremely small power gains while still NA. My point is that if you're set on a turbo cam, I'd totally ignore how poorly itll work now as itll really shine and add good power once you add the turbo.
I'd give Triple Edge a look on transmissions. They're one of the main go to shops for 4t65s and have done a ton of high power builds.
No doubt any turbo cam will work and be drivable. The big question mark is power gains. Very few people follow the path you're talking, and I'd imagine the number of people who dyno it in that condition is near zero on the 3800 platform.
Part of the question is what cam you go with. Cams for NA power are pretty different from turbo cams. The bigger the cam you get, the more deviation between the two.
My only concern would be getting a giant cam as thatll be the least ideal for NA operation. Itll also push the power band higher in the rpm range and will make the car real soft down low.
Regardless, I wouldn't buy it at all for NA performance. Even the NA specific cams dont make squat for power on the 3800. Yours will certainly make even less while NA, so we're talking extremely small power gains while still NA. My point is that if you're set on a turbo cam, I'd totally ignore how poorly itll work now as itll really shine and add good power once you add the turbo.
#12
10-01-2019, 08:45 AM
A couple other things about that trans:
-Its way overkill for the power you're looking at. A high end turbo 400 can handle well over 1000 hp.
-A stock turbo 400 doesnt have any overdrive (unless you add something like a gear vendors external unit), so gas mileage will suffer. Many of the high end drag race units further reduce them to 2 speed operation like a powerglide.
Last edited by bumpin96monte; 10-01-2019 at 09:11 AM.
#14
10-01-2019, 03:21 PM
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Southeast PA
Posts: 25,136
https://www.gmforum.com/1992-1999-91...80-pt1-300890/
But the pics are dead.
#15
10-01-2019, 04:46 PM
You might be thinking of the 4t80e posts.
https://www.gmforum.com/1992-1999-91...80-pt1-300890/
But the pics are dead.
https://www.gmforum.com/1992-1999-91...80-pt1-300890/
But the pics are dead.
Main reason I say the above is because you can buy a built 4t65 thatll hold up to your original goals without exotic stuff. Where the 4t80 becomes really attractive is for the turbo guys shooting for big power (500, 550, 600++) that would need the unobtanium and crazy expensive GMR parts to have any hope of it staying together.
The upside to the 4t80 is it's cheap and can theoretically hold pretty good power. The downside is that it doesnt bolt in, plug in, or run on the stock tune settings so it's not for the 'plug and play' kind of person. You've got to have some fab skills and not be afraid to tinker and make mistakes. It has several drawbacks and may take a few transmissions before you find one that holds up if you're just slapping junkyard specials in there.
Last edited by bumpin96monte; 10-01-2019 at 07:02 PM.
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