Uhh....yes, it can handle that type of power. The fastest FWD Grand Prix to date (with a 3800 S/C Engine) has turned a 10 sec 1/4 mile. That's enough to put a few of you LT1's and LS1's to shame.

Brandon

 

So what internals are in the motor? The point is what will it take to produce and handle that king of HP with some kind of reliability. Noone is saying that there aren't a couple out there turning times, but they have completely forged internals hogged out heads and couldn't pass emissions to save their lives. My GN passed emissions when it ran 11.2 with no cat, of course i didn't have C-16 in it then.

 

In a previous post, someone mentioned Intense-racing.com

Here's a Turbo'd 3800 that's run as quick as 10.998.

http://www.intense-racing.com/GTP/TurboGP.html

 

Looks like the trailing arms are partly supporting the car.....more weight on the front wheels?

 

There's no doubt that that GP is fast.

But it's like GN1270 said. That engine has no stock parts.

My friends GN has the stock block,rods,crank,heads,lower intake, and exhaust manifolds.
His best time was a 10.96 at 125 mph.

Obviously he has done other stuff to the car, but the fact remains that he is going this fast with pretty much just bolt-ons.

Is a 3800 going this fast with just a few bolt ons?

 

Not true. The GNX was turned up to 15 lbs of boost with an added adjustable wastegate by McLaren with a recalibrated ECM to handle the added boost.

 

OK 1 less # of boost which equates to 10hp but why still, doesnt the TTA beat it????

You don't need an adjustable wastegate to get more boost and the computer automatically calibrates for more boost on all TR's, but the GNX did have a more aggressive program than both the TTA and the GN that accounted for the main reason why the GNX is faster and as fast as the lighter, more boost, more aerodynamic TTA.

 

You guys are right. The block is a racing block by Intense.

It'd be more akin to the Stage 2 blocks for the 3.8's.

 

Now that makes sense. I was confused on how a 3800 could make that kind of power and live.

Maybe the 3900 will be a stouter block. But will there be any RWD applications for it?

A boosted version of the new V6 in the CTS would make a nice GN too... again if the block is heavy duty for handling massive hp increases.

GM really needs to RACE these engines to show their full out capability. The Buick turbo V6 was racing in Indy many moons ago. The Ecotech is a prime example of a production GM motor capable of handling high hp in racing apps.

 

I think we need to establish that the 3900 is NOT related to the 3800 or the older 3.8 liter.

It looks like the 3900 is related to the 2.8, 3.1, and 3.4 liter 60 degree V-6s.

 

We all remember what a pos those were!!

 

The key word is related. If your uncle is an idiot, that doesn't necessarily make you one too .

 

You may be right, but the new 3.9 won't foot the bill for a future GN.

If you ask me Buick should just buy the aluminum block molds from TA Performance and not have to worry about it anymore!!! J/K

 

Let me see here...

1. The TB 3.8L block was a simple 2-bolt Iron block. The 3800 S2 or S3 should be a STRONGER block because it's a 2-bolt + 2-crossbolt (4-bolt) block. Not even the Stage motors are cross bolted.

2. The reason nobody in with a 3.8L Camaro has taken the engine to it's limits is because if they had the money they could have started with an LT1 or LS1. Who buys a 3.8 Camaro over their other choices with the actual plan on taking it to the 10s?

3. The 3800SC in a RWD sedan could be an easy 13 or even 12 sec car. The FWD version already can hit 13s with basicly a pulley.

 

GNX faster ??? Top end was limited to 124 mph just like all the GN's. No contest

Quicker ? Fastest quarter mile time I have heard or seen was 13.4 for a GNX which is about the same for most run of the mill TTA's. Quite a few TTA's have seen bottom 13's and a handfull have run 12.9's bone stock.

Still kudos to the GNX as until the BMW M5 came out, it was the
quickest luxury sedan made.