W-car 5.3 vs SC 3800.

What do you guys think? Which one will end up more hotroddable?

3800 S/C has a great aftermarket, and it is a bulletproof engine. I would go with the "outdated" S/C3800 :)

IMHO, since the 3800 is already using a supercharger, and the 5.3 V8 is N/A, the 5.3 has a lot more potential to work with, and it's already considerably ahead of the 3800sc in power.


So.... I'd say the 5.3...............

It occurs to me that alot of the SC 3800 guys with the typical mods....pulley, airbox, ECM, cat back......are at the power level of a stock LS4.

I'm seriously considering the Grand Prix at the moment.. Personally I'd take the 5.3L. The sound alone I'd get it for.... but I'd rather start with 300hp, and have a certified tranny for that use, rather than take the chance upgrading. Once you hit the boost limits of the 3800, things get expensive. I personally look at it as a cheap first, expensive later thing for the 3800SC, while the 5.3L is more expensive now, but cheaper going down the road.

The 5.3 will definately be easier and more reliable to hotrod . The 5.3 already has the full LS aftermarket on its side . Lets not forget how modular the LS engines are . The only fork to stop bolting up a set of LS6 heads is the accessory mounting hole locations , and the bolt pattern of the new FWD intake . I really dont know what changes were made there . The exhaust system on the W cars is probably leaving ALOT more on the table than say a stock F-body exhaust . DO some exhaust work , free up the induction , get the fans on sooner and cooler t-stat , a good fuel pump and 100 shot .....and sorry , its over for the 3800 s/c . To get to that power level with RELIABLY in a SC motor , your gonna spend alot more cash and your PCM tune will need to be spot on . High boost and mistakes arent very forgiving . At that point on the LS4 your still running a stock pcm , with stock driveabilty.

No discredit to the SC motor at all , the 5.3 is just a better alternative anyway you decide to look at it .

So who else wants to see a turboed LS4 (with DOD turned off) bolted up to a 4L80E and stuffed into a Fiero?!

It occurs to me that alot of the SC 3800 guys with the typical mods....pulley, airbox, ECM, cat back......are at the power level of a stock LS4.


same hp or less with about 380 ft/lbs of torque. :D

Isn't the real question how much more power can the transaxle handle?

Short run the 3800 is better. I mean short run in two ways. First, those first "easy" mods are a lot more satisfying with the 3800. The pulley swap, CAI, and U-bend delete are all simple mods that yeild a big difference. The other way I mean short run is that there already is an established aftermarket.

Long run, the LS4 is going to blow it away. First, as Z284ever noted, the V8 starts at the same power level as the 3800 is after the above mentioned mods. Getting more power out of the engine will just be a lot easier with 2 more cylinders and more displacement. Secondly, we are evenutally going to see two enthusiast communities converge on this engine to create a massive aftermarket. What I mean by this is that both the GP aftermarket and the venerable smallblock aftermarket will both be marketing stuff for this engine.

Long term, the 5.3L is a far superior engine for hot rodding.

Considering fuel economy AFTER modds, price of Hot Rodding each>>>SC3800 would win to me...
But in Maximum potential, if you can keep half-shafts in it, the >>>5.3L.

I believe Boosted cars are the way of the furture, NA can only get so efficient.

3800...

There is no room to work in the engine bay of the V8, and it has displacement on demand. Anything beyond bolt on's (are there any?) will be a PITA. Imagine doing a cam swap-

Step 1- Remove engine.

Also, many of the RWD bolt on's like intakes don't work.

The V8's main advantage is it's gas milages and that it only needs regular.

Also, both engines can easly reach the power levels needed to nuke the trans, so does it matter?

If I wanted a fun car I was not going to drive, I would take the V8. If I wanted a car that for a thousand or two could run with a GTO, I would take the V6;)

i'd say 5.3 only because a 427 would fit.

5.3

Um... the blown and modded V6 might equal up to the power... but... who cares?

Heads and cam will be plenty enought to shear the axles right off the car.

Step 1- Remove engine.

Its much easier to remove the passenger side wheel and inner fender liner :D

Defenetly the 5.3

The V8 growl and the great TQ that's all over the RPM band is what would lure me in.

I wouldn't want to risk my waranty so Id want the most power and exitement of V8 right now... and not waite for the waranty to expire to mod the SC V6.

I think I really love the GXP..is it going to cost close to what the hemi cars are on the LX platform or cheeper? And is the GXP upgraded to take the extra power or no? We have all read how the GTP's arent made to handle much more power then stock... and I havent got a clear cut answer as to if the GXP is going to be stronger to handle more power?

5.3 for sure. A 3800 uncorked sounds like an angry sewing machine. Where's the fun in that?

Also, modding cars is time consuming and costs $$. Give me 300hp stock instead of 260hp that I need to add to. Also, the stock 3800 exhaust is NOT that restrictive at all! There's guys running 12s with '97-'03 GTPs with the stock cat back!!

Just remove the U bend as someone mentioned, and go. 5.3 all the way...

Ls4 > S/c'd 3.8. It's more modern, has more cubes, and more potential.

But in the end, fwd will be the biggest limiting factor as far as "hotroddability". I don't know if i'd want to go much beyond the stock 303hp and 323lb-ft tq. Pretty much pushing the fwd setup as is.

Ls4 > S/c'd 3.8. It's more modern, has more cubes, and more potential.

But in the end, fwd will be the biggest limiting factor as far as "hotroddability". I don't know if i'd want to go much beyond the stock 303hp and 323lb-ft tq. Pretty much pushing the fwd setup as is.

I don't think 303hp and 323lb-ft of torque is pushing the limit. They do have 7 second FWD Civics, with massive wheelie bars that push the car down onto its front wheels. :rolleyes:

I don't think 303hp and 323lb-ft of torque is pushing the limit. They do have 7 second FWD Civics, with massive wheelie bars that push the car down onto its front wheels. :rolleyes:
Stock, the GP's cant take much power I am sorry to report :p