So my birthday is coming up pretty soon and i have a choice to either keep my car which is a 2001 Monte carlo LS with a engine swap to a 3800 SC with a cold air intake and Throttle body spacers. I found more things to add more HP to the engine. But i Want to know would I be better off getting more power and speed with a 06 5.3 I really cant find as many upgrades for the engine like I did for my 3800SC.

 

Now that's a tough question.... I've never worked on one, pure speculation, but that 5.3 is tight... it seems to me like ti would be a bit harder to work on than the 3.8. The 5.3 doesn't have as wide of a field of options available as the 3.8.... so the 3.8 has more potential, or at least it would be cheaper to buy the mods because you've got companies like 3800 performance or ZZ Performance available to you, and ZZP knows that engine inside and out!

 

i actually have raced a friend of mine that has a 07 5.3 and its like my car takes off alot faster than his but in about 6 secs his catches back up to mine and barely beats me. Like i stated earlier I have found about $2000 worth of mods for my engine such as a bigger S/C with different size pullies, programers and ect.... oh and also my car has a High output 220 amp alternator just to put that in.....

 

 

id get the v8 if i were you, being a newer motor there arent very many mods but thats sure to change ive actually been looking into one myself

 

The V8... member Craig used to have one and claimed about 12-13-14 mpgs most of the time in teh city.. about 18 highway... and eh was an older, more mature member, so I'd think he drives reasonably. You're V6 is more economical in that sense. It may not put the smile on your face a V8 does...

Just way the marginal costs v. the marginal benefits (the Economics class is getting to me) Check what the insurance difference may be.

 

As far as fuel mileage, the old 3800 is going to be better. As far as stock power, the 5.3. Though if you want to get serious with the 3800, 400-600WHP is not unheard of. Especially if you go the turbo route on a 3800.

The biggest PITA with pushing the 3800 to higher power levels is the transaxle. Once the power starts to climb the reliability and capability of the transaxle to cope drops. It's a good trans, it just needs some aftermarket help if you expect it to withstand anything above 300WHP, even less if you have a heavy foot.

 

ive heard a lot of ppl say there is more mods on the L67 then the Ls4. i just dont think that your looking in the right place. the Ls4 is, im pretty sure, is a FWD version of a vette motor. so there should be a few mods out there for the whole LS family of engines. good luck with whatever you decide on. id personally go for the 7th gen monte though. now i wish i would have waited 1 year, the prices are pretty resonable now. ive seen them for 13,000 and just a year ago you couldnt steal one for 20.

 

you can get a good one, red with racing stripes for right around 13k

 

wow just found this site...

3.8 parts and 5.3 parts

http://www.drcustomparts.com/HomePage.htm