cam for the v6

[red-bandit]

I have a question what is a good size cam to put in my 3.8L 2000 firebird ? And what size stall should i do with it ? If any body has any ideas let me know thanks

[andrew rs]

if you want to build that engine(which i would just sell it then go ls1) you will have to FI if you want to get any sort of power out of it. So get a turbo kit first, then call comp cams or another manufacturer and tell them about your set up and they will grind a custom cam for you. Best part is a custom grind isnt all that much more expencive(sp?) than an off the shelf item.

[FreakV6]

Man who would have figured, another "get and ls1 comment". to anwser the OP question though. ZZP sells a few cams that are great for NA setups. Just depends on how radical you wanna go. They have the GT series that runs stage 1, 2, and 3. I would recommend a stage 1 or 2, becuase 3 needs some real good tunning and head work, while 1 and 2 can be done on stock heads and still see good gains. Abbot racing heads also has a cam aviable for the 3.8. I belive it is just called the abbott N/A cam, and is compareable to the GT2. All of these make good power and take very well to some spray if you have that option. Dont forget valve spring upgrades when you do a cam as well.

[Forced_Firebird]

if you want to build that engine(which i would just sell it then go ls1) you will have to FI if you want to get any sort of power out of it. So get a turbo kit first, then call comp cams or another manufacturer and tell them about your set up and they will grind a custom cam for you. Best part is a custom grind isnt all that much more expencive(sp?) than an off the shelf item.

Why not build a 3800? Tim King is in the 8's with his TT Firebird.

MY new 3.4 with 3500 heads should be making close to 300bhp when finished (N/A). Dave just made over 270whp/290wtq with his N/A 3500 (315bhp).

Delta Camshafts is a good resource as well. I just bought a big cam from them and it was $147 with lifters for a new stick.

[andrew rs]

I wasnt discouraging him. I was saying what I would do. But I gave him my insight to building the 3800 also. I used to have a 3800, and Im not knocking it.

[Ryanandybob]

MASTER CAM LIST
In order from lowest to highest intake duration.
Generally, in order by higher powerband, less streetability as you go up.
Legend to NA Cams...
(M) - Relatively mild. Decent power gains, good streetability.
(SS) - Street/Strip, good power gains, fairly lopey, less streetable, may throw codes.
(R) - Racing or stroker use. Great peaky power, poor streetability.

Normally Aspirated Camshafts

Description Duration @ .050" Lobe Lift L.S.A. Centerline
Stock L36/L26: 182/192 .258/.258 N/A N/A *(M)
CompCams 76-800-9: 192/200 .300/.310 110 N/A *(M)
CompCams 76-801-9: 200/206 .310/.300 112 N/A *(M)
Grand Prix Store L36: 206/212 .320/.325 113 110 *(SS)
ZZP GT1: 210/210 .317/.317 113 N/A *(SS)
Super Six L36: 210/214 .281/.281 112 N/A *(SS)
Abbott Racing NA Cam: 210/220 .320/.320 112 (SS)
INTENSE Stage 1 N/A: 212/204 .322/.298 113 109 *(SS)
INTENSE Stage 1X N/A: 212/216 .327/.321 113 109 *(SS)
ZZP GT2: 216/216 .317/.317 111 N/A *(SS)
INTENSE Stage 2 N/A: 222/224 .337/.327 112 108 *(R)
INTENSE Stage 3 N/A: 222/230 .339/.331 110 106 *(R)
ZZP GT3: 224/224 .335/.335 113 N/A *(R)
Power Adder Camshafts

Description Duration @ .050" Lobe Lift L.S.A. Centerline
Stock L67/L32: 182/192 .258/.258 115 N/A
GPS L67 Cam 1: 200/212 .315/.325 115 N/A
Stattama ST1: 206/206 .320/.320 111 N/A
ZZP VS: 206/216 .315/.315 115 N/A
ZZP HL/GPS L67 Cam 2: 206/218 .320/.330 115 N/A
INTENSE Stage 1 Blower: 209/204 .305/.298 113 108
CompCams 76-802-9: 210/220 .320/.320 115 N/A
INTENSE Stage 1X Turbo: 211/204 .323/.320 116 110
INTENSE Stage 1X Blower: 210/221 .321/.329 115 111
Stattama ST2: 212/212 .325/.325 112 N/A
ZZP XP: 212/224 .325/.335 116 N/A
INTENSE Stage 2 Turbo: 214/206 .331/.320 116 110
INTENSE Stage 2 Blower: 214/222 .332/.338 115 111
ZZP XPZ: 217/225 .352/.333 116 N/A
Stattama ST3: 218/212 .330/.325 113 N/A
Stattama SS4: 218/230 .330/.340 116 N/A
Abbott Racing FI cam: 220/220 .320/.320 114
IPS Stage 5/ZZP NIC: 220/230 .317/.317 112 N/A
INTENSE Stage 3 Nitrous/Blower: 220/232 .337/.351 116 112
Thrasher Race: 222/222 .354/.354 114 N/A
INTENSE Stage 3 Blower: 222/228 .338/.344 115 111
INTENSE Stage 3 Turbo: 223/214 .338/.332 116 110
Stattama ST4: 224/218 .335/.330 116 N/A
Stattama SS6: 224/242 .335/.360 118 N/A
INTENSE Stage 4 Turbo: 226/218 .343/.346 116 110
INTENSE Stage 4 Blower: 235/238 .375/.376 116 112
Taken from http://www.3800pro.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4562

[Getzen_Guy]

if you want to build that engine(which i would just sell it then go ls1) you will have to FI if you want to get any sort of power out of it. So get a turbo kit first, then call comp cams or another manufacturer and tell them about your set up and they will grind a custom cam for you. Best part is a custom grind isnt all that much more expencive(sp?) than an off the shelf item.

He didn't ask if he should FI or boost the car.

he asked what was a good size cam

[Ryanandybob]

And I gave an entire list of what to choose from. But if you don’t know what size cam to go with don’t really bother with it. On most cams you need to upgrade a lot of other parts to run effectively and safely.

[Getzen_Guy]

And I gave an entire list of what to choose from. But if you don’t know what size cam to go with don’t really bother with it. On most cams you need to upgrade a lot of other parts to run effectively and safely.

I didn't quote u

[red-bandit]

Thanks for yalls help

[Ryanandybob]

I didn't quote u

Now you did I was just saying there was no need to correct him after i had already posted up all available information. If he had another question about cam size or what springs to get then it would have been appropriate to post up, but that’s just IMO. Not wanting to offend anyone.

[2-bowties&abird]

i know this is a little off topic but you could put a supercharger from a bonneville on it. i know that would wake that 3.8 up. i had a 2000 ssei bonneville and when the supercharger belt broke on me it was a big difference not having it. i was just throwing that in there because it seems like it would be more cost effective and would probably make more power than the cam will.

[Ryanandybob]

Actully, It wouldn't the motor has a diffrent setup than the F-bosy engine. to fab up a M-90 to fit on a F-body would cost in the thousands

[Forced_Firebird]

Actully, It wouldn't the motor has a diffrent setup than the F-bosy engine. to fab up a M-90 to fit on a F-body would cost in the thousands

More like in the hundreds (not including the L67 parts and M90). It's already been done and the car runs mid 14's.


Biggest expense is getting the M90 case modified to make the 180* bend back around towards the front of the car.

I am working with the pioneer of the project and he may just be offering kits soon.

[Ryanandybob]

Not too shabby, I've seen it done but its not something I'd want to do. I hear you have to cut out part of the fire wall n things such as that. If you can find a good way do you think it would be more effective (HP:$ ratio) than something such as powerdyne or vortech?

[Getzen_Guy]

i know this is a little off topic but you could put a supercharger from a bonneville on it. i know that would wake that 3.8 up. i had a 2000 ssei bonneville and when the supercharger belt broke on me it was a big difference not having it. i was just throwing that in there because it seems like it would be more cost effective and would probably make more power than the cam will.

pretty sure it's a diff series 3.8 bud.

but the gtp supercharger setup works nice, just change out the top end.

[Forced_Firebird]

Not too shabby, I've seen it done but its not something I'd want to do. I hear you have to cut out part of the fire wall n things such as that. If you can find a good way do you think it would be more effective (HP:$ ratio) than something such as powerdyne or vortech?

He didn't modify the firewall, he modified the S/C case to mimick the Holden RWD S/C.

[Ryanandybob]

So. . would be more effective HorsePower to Cost ratio, than something such as powerdyne or vortech? (Sorry for the thread hijack)

[Forced_Firebird]

So. . would be more effective HorsePower to Cost ratio, than something such as powerdyne or vortech? (Sorry for the thread hijack)

Depends on the resources

If you pay $5k for a bolt-on kit and have no experience, would that be any different than spending $1k on materials and spending time making it?

You can have on or the other, but I haven't found a way for both, if you do, let me in on it ,lol.

I have access to practically unlimited resources, but never have any time to back it up

Others may have unlmited time/funds with no resources to back it up.

[BlwnCamaro]

I have a question what is a good size cam to put in my 3.8L 2000 firebird ? And what size stall should i do with it ? If any body has any ideas let me know thanks

I work mostly with ls1's and sbc but a couple of my fbody customers have series II 3.8's and i've done one with headers and bolt ons and am now working with a 97 camaro and putting an intense racing stage 1x roller cam in with ls6 valvesprings, hand porting and polishing the intake and tb, full computer tune, built 3.73 lsd rear end, pacesetter mid length headers and y pipe with 3inch back, cold air intake and maybe a 75 shot shortly thereafter. The 3.8 is a viable platform to build from if you cant afford a V8 as was the case with my customer. However, as they say there is no replacement for displacement but who knows you may be able to surprise a couple v8's especially with some well placed juice!