You could start with a 3800 SC with close to that as stock HP. I think they're about 240 hp stock. That would be the easiest way to get to 250 HP. As Patrick said, the other two options may not fit your needs. There is a lot of support for that power train. It's definitely a reliable engine.
The 3900 lz9 is another good option. 240 ish stock as well. With cheap mods 250 can easily be made. Just not a lot of support with those swaps but you are starting to see more and more.
You could start with a 3800 SC with close to that as stock HP. I think they're about 240 hp stock. That would be the easiest way to get to 250 HP. As Patrick said, the other two options may not fit your needs. There is a lot of support for that power train. It's definitely a reliable engine.
It sounds like the ECM needs to be reprogrammed if going with a manual transmission. Are there still people around here that do that?
It sounds like the ECM needs to be reprogrammed if going with a manual transmission. Are there still people around here that do that?
If you are tec savy you should look into Microsquirt. It’s a stand alone ecm. Not to expensive but it takes some work. I have it in mine and I know quite a few others who have it as well.
It sounds like the ECM needs to be reprogrammed if going with a manual transmission. Are there still people around here that do that?
Ryan Gick at Sinister Performance is the man to have reprogram your GM PCM or ECU. I have used his services for years on more projects than I can count.
Aftermarket management systems are ok if you have a good understanding of engine tuning, but DIY tunes can also destroy an engine or suffer driveability issues. Experience is key to a successful tune.
Originally posted by olejoedad: Aftermarket management systems are ok if you have a good understanding of engine tuning, but DIY tunes can also destroy an engine or suffer driveability issues. Experience is key to a successful tune.
I think it's a big of a chicken-or-egg thing.
At some point, if you want to gain experience, you need to take some risks.
I messed around with tuning the stock engine on my Fiero (that I didn't mind blowing up) to get some practice before tuning a rebuilt/modified engine.
You could look into doing an LQ1 swap, with an exhaust, intake, and timing adjustment I think it would probably make 230-250 hp (215 stock), it bolts right up to the stock mounts (as long as you have a v6 in the car stock), but you would have to fabricate a new dogbone. The stock getrag 282 transmission bolts right up to it. You would have to take an earlier year automatic ECU and do some modifications to it for it to work with manual.
