Thread: How far can I go?

Just wondering, since for a few reasons I've been disheartened from going to some type of FI... Well, I'll list.

Cost: Probably $1500 installed for the SS M90 kit depending on how much I can get cores for... And a turbo... Wow.
Ease: The SS M90 kit wouldn't be hard to install, except for splicing my own injector connectors. Stock L36 injectors won't do.
Purpose: How much do I really want out of this car? I have some subconscious fear that by the time I make up my mind ZZP, WBS, and 3800Performance won't be doing their thing anymore and I believe that drives me to do as much as soon as possible. I mean, the 3800 is all but dead...
Trans: Somewhat part of the cost part. I know I'll probably need a new trans if I start going to the track some, so Trannyman is on my to do list. But, that, coupled with a M90 kit setup is expensive.

So, what can I expect out of my L36 as is? I'd have a ceramic Plog, ceramic x-over, ER rockers, ZZP Stage 1 TB, HV3, and probably a Meziere pump. Just how fast will she be? I think ZZP's fastest N/A L36 is ~300 crank HP. Respectable, but that's probably with a lot of head porting, cam work, etc.

I'm also afraid of cracking the heads and harmonic balancer off. Sure, I could do a top swap, but I'm not that experienced with engine work. I'm slowly working in to it, but I'm only 23 and teaching myself along the way.

Any insight is helpful. A lot of the 3800 owners over at NAIOA either are L67 owners already or aren't that in to modding.

dont do a top swap without help if you dont know what youre doing. dont do the SS kit before you think about doing a top swap. its cheaper and probably better.

turbo: all out fast car; expensive

m90: can be made fast as hell, but usually just moderately fast; depends where you get your parts

n/a: can get them to usually run low 14s, high 13s with the right amount of parts; cheapest route

Originally Posted by Bio248

n/a: can get them to usually run low 14s, high 13s with the right amount of parts; cheapest route

Then what's the right amount of parts?

As for the top swap, I wouldn't mind paying someone to do it if I could trust them. All I'm really nervous about is pulling my heads. I'm an aircraft maintainer in the Air Force and can follow tech data as long as its laid out in front of me. Getting the balancer off seems tricky if I don't have an impact wrench.

yeah, the balancer is on there pretty good. but the heads are easy, just messy.

for an l36 to be in the mid to low 13s you need a gt2/gt3 cam and a higher stall converter, maybe some headers too. for you to run low 14s you need rockers and ported manifolds/downpipe. any other combinations on top of that will only help. ive heard the hv3 works well, but i did a top swap before i ever considered buying one for my gt.

I did some thinking. My current train of thought is to beef up my L36 as it is now (no cam, though). I've got a Trannyman tranny on my list of things to get. Once that's done, funds permitting, I'll get a Stattama turbo kit. That way all my mods will still be useful.

Thanks for the help.