Your throttle body is angled so it will be a little more difficult to put on the slp lid. Here me out i am not saying it is impossible just a little harder.

Also i have heard and read that a fuel injection vehicle has no real gains from a throttle body spacer. Someone will chime in and correct me if im wrong.

What kind of gains are you looking to get? Just more excitement from a little bit more power? Are you planning to take it to the track and race it, and improve your times.

We can help you plan mods if we know what you want the car to do.

 

Essentially, after I get the paint refinished & clear coated on a couple scratch/chipped spots, I'd like to not only make it my personal Show Car, but to also make it along the lines of a Pro-Street Car. Once I can make it to a Drag Strip, I'd race it; the only thing is though...it would also be my Daily.

So, as far as mod's go, I want to increase the horsepower (especially at the Flywheel), as well as replace the Suspension with the SLP Bilstein/Eibach Suspension Kit they have online. My Master Mechanic (the only guy in my area to build Weight-matched Engines & did an impressive Overhaul of an '85 Firebird @ 1,250 hp (at Flywheel)) said if I want true power, swap the 3.8L for an LS3 Block w/ 5 Speed Tranny out of a junkyard Z28 SS (good condition of course). But, I've never driven a Manny, and I would like to make my 3.8L a V6 Sleeper so-to-say...now as far as what you or others recommend, I am all open ears and open-minded to either re-thinking my Upgrades or buying the Performance Parts that could potentially bring the most power out of a 3800 Series II 3.8L...it's just difficult b/c I'm missing those two extra Cylinders. :/

 

Ok im glad you have a decent idea of what you want from the car. It helps to have an idea of what you want.

I have to ask, why did say power especially at the flywheel? That number means nothing if it doesnt hit the pavement.

Do you have emissions test where you are? Also are you wanting to keep it a full weight car?

If you want consistant drag times keep the automatic. It has often been said, you cant out shift the computer.

 

Time to raise the flag:
:bsflag:

 

Why are we calling the bs flag navy?

 

I will guess:
A Pro-Street car.
Daily driver.
Talking 1250hp (especially at the flywheel<)--------- Huh? There's only 2 places to measure it, flywheel or rear wheel, we all know rear wheel is what matters.
Built LS3 block with a "5 speed" <----out -of -a -z/28/SS?-..... ------does not exist!!! Either way, a 5 speed would get blown to pieces.
Then he talks about modding the 3.8..
OP is all over the place with this. I can see why Navy raised the bs flag

 

The 1250hp was from a 3rd gen the mechanic built. I do see where you guys are coming from, but they may not know much and go by what they hear. I went to school with guys like that.

Regardless I was just trying to offer some basic advice.

 

I don't understand why you would try and make a 3.8 camaro a sleeper. A v-8 is just a far most cost effective way of getting power. 3.8 is garbage anyways.

 

Let's keep the criticism constructive. The 3.8 has been praised as a very reliable motor in it's stock form. It's definitely NOT garbage.

 

Ercmann: I meant to say LS1 Block. And my Master Mechanic was taught at the age of 17 (now in his early 40's) by a true Master of building the fastest Weight-Matched Engines known to exist. My Mechanic has never told me his teacher's name, but what I do know is that my Master Mechanic has built some of the fastest cars I've had the opprotunity to both see, as well as ride Shotgun in. So, I can see where you doubt that he was able to put 1250 hp at the Flywheel, because a lot do, but I've seen the car...Texas Speed & Performance refused to work on it because there was nothing more they could add to it performance-wise. But, to further doubt my Master Mechanic was an insult I have taken personally and did not appreciate it.

 

94z28: Thank you for your helpful responses. You give a lot of helpful critique, as well as thoughtful, provoking idea's and concerns. I'll friend request you as soon as I can get on my laptop at home.

I chose to buy a 3.8L b/c the 3800 Series II was (and still is) the most reliable V6 EVER produced. I'd like to keep the 3.8L because of it's very reliable history and because it was a historic feat for GM when they built the 3800 Blocks and then released them into other Models over time. I don't, nor will I anytime soon have the money to do an LS1/ 5 Speed Tranny Swap, so I'd like to see what I can do to a 3800 Series II V6. My Master Mechanic recommended starting out with an Alcohol Fuel Injection system, which would cost me a little over $200, then drive her around for about 4-6 months with a Chip in her, so he can start analyzing the current Power & Fuel Economy I'm getting, as well as Temps averaged over-time. He's really good at what he does, and I appreciate your responses. I hope to go more in-depth with you soon and keep you updated on my Camaro's progress.

 

My Master Mechanic recommended starting out with an Alcohol Fuel Injection system, which would cost me a little over $200, then drive her around for about 4-6 months with a Chip in her, so he can start analyzing the current Power & Fuel Economy I'm getting, as well as Temps averaged over-time.

What part of the alcohol injection is wanting you to run, the computer, the rails, or the fuel pump?

I can understand his thought process on running an alcohol system, but most complete systems are usually 10x's what you quoted, so I'm thinking he is only having you run some small part of it...just wondering why...

 

The ls1 came with a t56 manual Trans, which is a six speed. Just letting you know. There have been a few serious v6s here. Its possible to build a fast v6 but it isnt cheap. If you stick to it and carefully plan your build, I think you can have a quick car.

 

Jeffp1167: My mom has driven Buick's all her life. She got her 1997 Buick Le Sabre Custom Edition with a 3.8L 3800 Series II Block over 275,000 miles with only having Gasket's replaced. Not a single performance issue was ever found with it over the 9 years she owned it; not even a broken Piston Ring or a Cylinder Misfire.

My 3.8L 3800 Series II has 179,108 miles on it with me being the second owner at 173,028 miles. All Service Records on my Camaro before I owned it had zero parts replaced in the Block other than Header Gasket's.

So, you for example, may have had a bad experience with your 3800 Series II, which is unfortunate, but for me personally, I like the stock Power it comes with, and I can't complain with 16 City/30 Highway.

 

Superman: I appreciate your responses, as well as your appreciation for the 3800 Series II.

 

raytyj: I appreciate your response!

With the help of my Master Mechanic (info about him in the beginning of the Thread if you haven't read it yet), together, we'll be able to plan this build one step at a time. I can't wait until the build/restoration is finally complete! I have plenty of time to wait for it to be complete...because once it's done, it will be driven, maintained, and hopefully somewhere down along the line in my life either make the Cover of Camaro Performer's/Chevy High Performance, get put in a museum or on display somewhere, and/or my future son will get to enjoy what will then be considered a Classic Car.

 

94z28: Per your an earlier response, I live in Missouri, where there are no Emissions Tests, only State Inspections.

 

No problem. Were here to help out other f body owners. This is a fun and addicting place to be. I have learned alot from these guys and will keep learning from them. I knew a decent bit coming in but these guys are truely great.

 

Alright Jshack keep us updated, would like to see the alcohol injection when you get it.

 

Thanks guys; I'll post some pictures as soon as I can get the A.F.I. System installed.

In the mean-time, I plan to order the SLP V6 C.A.I. System, as-well-as a set of Pacesetter 2.5" Armour Coat Headers; but, if I get a nice Tax Return, I'm gonna try to order a Flowmaster High-Flow Cat, an SLP Camaro Bowtie Replacement Grille, & an SLP Air-Box Lid w/SLP Smooth Bellow.

Thoughts on this pre-order so far, anyone?

 

Ditch the flow crappers and go with magnaflows or something a little higher grade than flow masters.

 

SLP Air lid will not attach to the 3800 intake with the smooth bellow, especially since you have the "bastard" year of 1998.

You can debaffle and do a silencer delete on the stock lid setup.

Others do a hack job of using dryer duct and an LS1 lid to make it work.

Cheap e-bay intake from chrome intakes is what a lot of guys do with the 98 and earlier models.

Either that or find somebody selling a 98 specific Whisper lid or one of the SLP tube style intakes, they're hard to come by and can be pricey:

Looks like this uninstalled:

 

You could possibly do the slp lid and the tubing from zzperformance. Thats what i did on my 02. I would think even with the 98 throttle body angle you could still do it.

 

Thanks guys! I'll make a note of that on my parts list!