ridesonkx125

Hey I want to find out how to get any where from 230 to 300 horsepower out of my 3.8 v6. I already have flowmaster exhaust. I don't want to get into the big bucks just to get the horsepower I want, if anything is possible can someone please let me know and if so what kind of parts would i need to get

ridesonkx125

also might be willing to turbocharge or supercharge but will that kill the life out of my motor I have 43K on it know and I want to keep the car until around 90K also is there alot of work to be done like with tuning the motor after turbocharging or supercharging

Shodown

Need more info on your car. Auto or M5? What year is the car? Is your exhaust just a muffler or is it full cat back?

If you want around 230 crank hp:

1. Intake system, (varies from year to year of the car)...$200
2. 3 inch cat-back exhaust...$275 installed
3. Hi flow catalytic converter...$55 (installed with the exhaust system)
4. Pacesetter headers...$235
5. Tune...~$100
All that plus install of the exhaust, cat, headers...$450

Grand total...~$1300, but I can almost guarantee another 25-30 hp. You could save yourself $450 if you can install the exhaust/cat/headers yourself though.

Other than that you will have to spend a lot more money, probably $2000-3000 for a turbo or sc. A Powerdyne sc with 6 psi of boost and a good tune wont affect your reliability all that much. There are a ton of guys with well over 100k with superchargers and have no problems at all. You will be able to reach 90k no sweat, but as I said before, it will cost a lot of money. Its expensive to go fast, horsepower isnt cheap...

paarman97maro

Given your question, and your position. Buying a V8.

Shodown

^^ I was thinking the same thing Paar.

Phate

I would agree. Sell the 6'r and by an 8 if you want that.

It takes ALOT to get a 3.8 to 250hp+, the most n/a around is typically around 270ish if im not wrong? But, you can also get a ton out of spray / fi, there is a 3.8 that post on these and camarov6 forums thats running 455hp with a s/c and probally 10k+ in motor work.

ridesonkx125

I have a 2002 5-speed. My exhaust starts from the cat so its not an actual catback exhaust but i'm going to be buying a new cat for it i'm thinking of magnaflow but i've heard that carsound sounds better and also i'm gonna be getting pacesetter headers other than that is there any other small things i'm missing besides intake or racing chips?

Phate

Here is my advice. If you want a fast car, sell the 6. I've dumped 10k into my car to make it faster than a stock v8... big deal. If you want speed, just do yourself a favor and buy another car.

If you do persist and keep the 3.8 the main mods list, in cheapest to most expensive order, and keep in mind, the more expensive, typically the more horsepower gain and gas mileage loss.

Intake
Exhaust
Headers
Cat Delete / High flow
Gears
Nitrous
Tune
Cam (If your going to put a cam in, wait to tune til after)
Heads
Supercharger / Turbo (A non installed kit is around $4,000ish)

ridesonkx125

well what i really want is the v8 sound I heard that the carsound cat is good but what about the high flow magnaflow cat

Shodown

If you already have the cat-back exhaust then thats one expensive mod already done. Hi flow cat, intake and Pacesetters and a tune then you'll have a well powered v6.

You asked about a chip...Hypertech has a programmer for 99+ models that you could get, but I'd suggest getting a professional tune instead. It will be a lot cheaper and much more effective.

Once you have the all the bolt ons done, all you need is TR6 spark plugs (less than $2 a plug) gapped .035 and you are ready for a small shot of 50-75 shot of nitrous! That'll probably run ya about $800-$1000 to run safely. When done right, nitrous can be just as reliable as a Powerdyne sc. Just thought I'd throw that out there as a option.

Viper04af is the guy with 456rwhp, but he is (well...was) running 18 psi on a MP-T70 turbo on a fully built motor.

Shodown

Your v6 cannot and will not ever sound like a v8 no matter what exhaust you get. It can sound similar at idle or maybe up to 1500 rpm, but thats about it.

archemedes

the hi flow cat only effects sound (90% of aftermarket ones don't flow any better and a few flow worse than stock) you will want to get a turbo or supercharger to hit your hp goal, not cheap, but cheap is in the eye of the beholder

paarman97maro

a carsound cat is a magnaflow cat. They are the same thing.

Phate

Well, thats the question 99% of v6 owners ask. And here is the simple answer. A v6 is never going to sound like a v8, its never going to sound anywhere close to a v8 in the throttle. All you can do is beef her up a little bit to where she sounds similar at idle. As per sound, Headers, Catback w/ highflow or cat delete and some type of exhaust package, what you want it to sound like is up to you, most typical is Flowmaster American Thunder.

archemedes

a v8 sounds different because of teh number of cylinders firing, a v10 sounds different than that too, and one can't sound like the other (it's like trying to make a kazoo sound like an orchestra not enough parts)