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Old 10-24-2006, 11:38 PM
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I am on several forums and I need some info. This guy on the other forum posted the following about doing work on my L36.

From a guy who'* done a lot to a similar engine, here'* some advice:
CAI'* are worthless, only good for shinyness.
Headers are useless unless you'll be running 10'*.
Skip roller rockers. Only do those with a full valvetrain rebuild.
A properly tuned SCT chip can probably net you 10hp.
Then from there I'd look at underdrives, TB and so on.

The thing is that he has the SC thunderbird 3800 plz tell me if I am off or is he off base
Old 10-24-2006, 11:42 PM
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I would say this guy hasnt a clue
Old 10-24-2006, 11:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Peterg22000
I would say this guy hasnt a clue
Of course not,he'* got a Ford ;roll:
Old 10-24-2006, 11:48 PM
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Yeah I would agree that he doesnt know what he'* talking about.

Did you notice a difference when you put your intake on? Im sure you did, in throttle response if nothing else, and even though throttle response alone doesnt increase power, it will make you faster...so I think this guy is straight up dumb.
Old 10-24-2006, 11:49 PM
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The Ford 3.8 is not nearly the same engine as ours. Plus his is not a '3800.' The biggest similarity I can think of between the Ford 3.8 and our 3.8 are the numbers 3 and 8.

Also, a short ram intake that sucks in hot engine bay air is not even completely worthless. It'* not as beneficial as a true CAI though. Therefore a CAI is FAR from worthless.

He didn't even give you advice...he listed a bunch of things he thought were "useless" and said "from there, look into underdrives, TB, and so on..." From WHERE are you supposed to look into underdrives, TB...he didn't even list a starting point!

In other words, for advice on what to do with your GM (not Ford) 3.8, leave it to the people who have experience with it, and not just a "similar" engine.
Old 10-25-2006, 01:45 AM
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well i tjust thought it was funny that I said that my plans are to do headers and the full 2.5 exhaust with high flow cat and resonator delete and new mufflers. then When I get that done I am looking at a pcm and a set of rockers and I think that I would be to the point where it is more peppy for the mountain passes and the passing. I am also looking to when I put my 17 inchers back on going from a 65 tire to a 50 tire because the 65 are pretty worn
Old 10-25-2006, 08:33 AM
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Originally Posted by gojo83
well i tjust thought it was funny that I said that my plans are to do headers and the full 2.5 exhaust with high flow cat and resonator delete and new mufflers. then When I get that done I am looking at a pcm and a set of rockers and I think that I would be to the point where it is more peppy for the mountain passes and the passing. I am also looking to when I put my 17 inchers back on going from a 65 tire to a 50 tire because the 65 are pretty worn
You already have roller rockers. (referencing your comment above).

Keep in mind on an L36, you CAN open the exhaust too much. You might want to consider PEM'* instead of headers. What ratio of rockers are you considering?

(btw, underdrive pulleys net you about 2 horsepower each, but don't tell your Ford friend )
Old 10-25-2006, 12:09 PM
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Originally Posted by willwren
Originally Posted by gojo83
well i tjust thought it was funny that I said that my plans are to do headers and the full 2.5 exhaust with high flow cat and resonator delete and new mufflers. then When I get that done I am looking at a pcm and a set of rockers and I think that I would be to the point where it is more peppy for the mountain passes and the passing. I am also looking to when I put my 17 inchers back on going from a 65 tire to a 50 tire because the 65 are pretty worn
You already have roller rockers. (referencing your comment above).

Keep in mind on an L36, you CAN open the exhaust too much. You might want to consider PEM'* instead of headers. What ratio of rockers are you considering?

(btw, underdrive pulleys net you about 2 horsepower each, but don't tell your Ford friend )
welll I am thinking that since I am up here in the mountains that the headers would even help pull the air in and back out then getting better gas mileage and power at least i think I could be wrong. I was thinking going with the 1.9 rockers and well I was going to do the headers because I have heard bad things about the power log and the ported manis from zzp and I was thinking that the headers would be cleaner and maybe better even if I wasn't modded to the hilt. I am also kicking the L67 swap Idea around so I am thinking if I had them on the L36 and swapped it out I would be set up already. not really sure yet just kicking Ideas around till she is mine free and clear and i can use the money I am using for carpayments now for mods
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