Hello guys, I'm new to this discussion board so bear with me if I repeat old threads. Okay I admit I'm too lazy to go back and check the threads. :D
Okay what smog legal engine mods are available for the 3.8 V-6? Is there aftermarket cams, heads, carbs? I live in California so the smog laws are tight.
Welcome to the board! Check out the link I have posted in my profile. I did some work to my V-6 along with plenty of suspension upgrades.
There's no aftermarket performance parts for our engines that I've ever found. Performance intake manifolds were never made in the aftermarket or by the factory. Camshafts are re-grinds - that's what I'm using. Hot rod heads don't exist either in the aftermarket. You'll have to have your head put on a flowbench and worked. No such thing as opening Summit catalogs and ordering engine parts.
Feel free to drop me a line anytime.
Chris
what year is your 3.8l? that can help out for finding any info
as for smog legal in cali, not a single one of the 3.8L parts is carb legal
Nice very nice indeed. Did the mods give you alot more power? Can you feel the pull? Mine is an 83 3.8 which feels so weak.
i have a v6 in my 87 tbird go to places like www.moranav6racing.com (http://www.moranav6racing.com)
i suggest doing drive line work like gears and transmission. if you know how to put a blower on then do it the supercoupe got 230hp out of our engine. other than that the upgrades ar up to you. i suggest putting an electric fan in that will help with the pickup on a lower horsepower engine ;)
Fact is, you can't just put a blower on that engine... you'd need an engine swap (including the engine harness, computer, and more) to pull off the supercharger thing.
Or pick up a block out of a 94 up mustang because it is internally the same strengh wise. Computer and harness will have to be changed still.
no its not
the supercoupe has a forged crank, rods, dished pistons, and the block and heads have revised coolant jackets, and the heads are also heat treated, which i found out recently
the 94 mustang still have the 3.8 for performance, in 95, they started using the SC block, and SC style heads (reason i say that is because its unsure if they use the same heat treating), but not forged internals
trust me, ive done probably 4 years worth of research on the 3.8L, and seen the "can i put a blower on my 3.8L question" many times
but, as CougarSE suggested, do things outside of the engine, change the rear gears, put a traction lock in the rear (posi), install an electric fan, K&N filter, just do minor stuff, i know in cali, its hard to mod cars and be legal, and if you dont touch the engine, youll still be smog legal
Man really good input and discussion guys. Yes the smog laws out here are ridiculous, very tight. I'm used to doing mods like a mild cam, heads ported and polished, some exhaust.
I'm betting you can do each and every one of those with the 3.8 (as long as they're within smog specs). It's about all you CAN do, as Chris said, because of the scarce aftermarket for the engine.
Hey I noticed many of those specs are for 88-up 3.8's though, mine is an 83.
youd have to have your factory parts ported and worked over
I too have an 83 T'Bird with a 3.8L. As long as you live in Calif with the visual smog check, I'm affraid your hands are tied. A Cal V6 came with a non computer, Motorcraft 2150 carb, (1.08" venturi). Your smog equipment is not good enough to cover for a larger cam or carb. Higher compression means higher "NO" readings and would fail. A larger carb (1.12 or 1.14" Motrocraft) would do likewise to the "hydrocarbons" test. A mild cam might pass but I do not think it would help that much, by itself. My car has all the above, but still goes low 16's in the 1/4 mile. Mine would not pass a blind smog referee! Sorry to be negative but those are facts. One thing I've learned is that computer cars can be made to perform and pass smog. You might be suprized by a rebuilt "stock" 3.8L and some ignition mods that the smog check won't find. Also 3.73 gear, I have 4.1 gears, will make it feel like 25 extra horses are under the hood, but milage will go down the drain. Smog doesn't check gear ratios. Anyway, good luck, Fred
I have a friend in my car club with a 3.8L SN-95, he was it stroked to 4.2L and is running a supercharger. Made a whopping 276 rwhp. Not bad but for the same money a v8 would have gotten him more. Points for being different though.
Unfortunately his motor has developed a knock. :yuck:
My point being don't expect miracles what ever you decide. With your strict emmisions its going to hard to get good power it may be better to pick a different project car and just enjoy this car for what it is. Maybe take a different approach and focus on suspension and brakes to make the car more fun. Just my opinion. Kinda sucks Cali is so tough.....
:disappoin :disappoin
Thanks! The engine was woken up a bit by the mods, sure. Couple that with the exhaust and all of the new suspension goodies and it doesn't even feel or act like the car I bought in 1999. I've been told it sounds like a V-8, but I'm sure people are just being kind when they say that.
A great starting ground would be to pull your engine, get it all torn down, hottanked, and reassembled with a blue print and balance. I don't think crank work would effect the smog status - you could have the crank knife-edged, put in a crank ser, make that bottom end rock solid before moving up the block.
Headers off of a mid 90's Stang fit our motor. They're cheap too. Don't forget all of the engine sensors I installed. That made a difference during the inspection as well. Everything, and I mean everything was brand new out of the box.
I'm yanking my 3.8 out again for a fresh coat of paint on some parts along with installing the headers, torque converter, and anything else I can do. Feel free to drop me a line should you want more detailed info.
Chris
You'd need to swap in an 86-87 ECU if you did any mods. The 83-85 ECUs don't have adaptive strategy. So if you make modifications that give you 20% more VE at x RPM, you'll run 20% leaner. The ECU has the same open loop tables today as it had when it came from the factory.