Interesting point.

For those that claim that the turbo 3.8 had a stronger bottom end than the current S/C 3800.....I'm still not clear on what specifically made them stronger.

 

I loved the license plate holders that said,"I brake for Corvettes." Of course the Vette owners replaced the brake with "break."

 

They are commonly referred to crank, rods and pistons. The Turbo Buicks had specific pistons developed through their diesel motor program (as I mentioned before) and had a specific crank with rolled fillets that were in the 4.1 NA motors and only in the Turbo 3.8's, both of which are no longer made. They would have to redesighn both parts for warranty reasons because GM knows that people don't leave performance cars stock, they know that numb nuts sometimes will put 87 octane in their boosted motors, etc..

I'm not up to date on 3800 motors because like most people, I know they are limited. Not sure the exact reasons, but unlike the TR's, there are not alot of 11 sec unopened 3800's out there and they made a ton more of the boosted 3800's than they did of the TR's. There are a ton of 3800 RWD Camaros out there, along with a ton of junkyard boosted 3800 motors. You would think that if it could be done, it would have been done. Look at what the guys have to do to get to the mid 13's in a boosted 3800. I had a friend with a GTX (pontiac) that did intake, cam ,heads, headers exhaust etc and still couldn't get into the 12's. In a RWD application it may have yeilded a mid to high 12, but with those mods in a GN you can be deep in the 11's.

Look at the Cobra motor. Bolt on a KB supercharger and some are in the 9's. GM should get off their asses and start making some bullet proof motors for their performance cars, especially if your going to boost them.

 

I guess you are not clearly seeing the meaning of this post and the reason for the GN at all. The LS1 bottom shortblock , stock can handle a max of about 600hp. The GN shortblock can handle a max of about 600hp , so where is the better starting point??? The point is you would have to make the motor (3800) at least as strong as the original GN motor which is just as strong as the LS!/LT1 motors. You have proven my point why the 3800 is a bad choice of motor for the new GN.