Ummmm, Que?

[Wolfblitz]

So i went out for a little drive yesterday and on my way home the car just cut out. Forced it over into a parking lot and checked everything. Nothing out of the ordinary. Went to go start it up, turns over then dies again. After about 45 min of sitting i decided to try once more before i call a tow company. Bam, starts right up no problems. Start to make my way out of the parking lot and get about a mile down the road and it dies again. At this point, i had enough. Called a tow company and had it brought home. Today i decided to try and turn it over for the hell of it. Started right up and i let it idle for about 30 min. Then i got scared. Black smoke from my air filter and white smoke out the exhaust and the the car died again. All the guages are working, and the oil level is fine. 3800 series II motor. Any ideas b/c i am out of them? :cry::cry:

[Tru2Chevy]

No codes?

White smoke is generally burning coolant....how's your coolant level? How does it look? How much black smoke out of the intake are we talking? Just a little puff? Or big clouds of it?

- Justin

[Slow-V6]

Any knocking or ticking more then normal? Like said above coolant burning from Head gasket. The black smoke out the intake might be something not firing in the right order and causing a backfire through the intake maybe? That is my guess on that!

[Wolfblitz]

I had a code for a bad Mass Airflow Sensor, but i dont think that would cause a problem like this. Coolant levels are fine and color is normal. As for the smoke, it was a few puffs and i shut the car off out of fear. And no knocking or ticking other then that little bit of lifter noise.

[Slow-V6]

If you have a bad Mass air that could cause it. The mass air meter controls your Air Fuel mixture. If you are running super rich I could see some of the gasses escaping back through the intake. Go to the junk yard and swipe a TB from a 3.8 car! Doesnt matter if its a firebird or a GP. The mass air is incorperated in the TB.

[Wolfblitz]

Well, checked my coolant today. Looks like 2 girls, 1 cup inside my rad lol

[B4C]

First off LOLZ at the thread title
Second LOLZ at the above comment :lol:
Poopie in the rad.....bad head gasket????

[Tru2Chevy]

Yup, sounds like you heaved a head gasket. Don't run it anymore.....get that swapped out, then get some fresh oil in there - I would flush out your cooling system as well to get the oil out.

- Justin

[Wolfblitz]

Yea, oil is full of coolant halfway up the stick. Going to put together some money and do a cam swap while i'm in there.

[greenformula92]

Well, checked my coolant today. Looks like 2 girls, 1 cup inside my rad lol

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

best comment ever!! most likely a head gasket....sounds like an upgrade oppurtunity..... :cough cough LS1 cough cough: lol

[Wolfblitz]

If it wasnt so much of a pain and i had the time and money for a full swap i would, but a **** ton of cam never hurt anyone. :) :) Something like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMdRV9ZHH3M

[Tru2Chevy]

http://www.abbottracingheads.com/gm3800.htm

Do it!

- Justin

[greenformula92]

do that, and then a small turbo :nod:

[Slow-V6]

do that, and then a small turbo :nod:

I have seen the stock 3.8 V6 camaro with just bolt ons and a 60 trim turbo make 400 + at the wheels! The Series 2 motors are more effiecent the the GN 3.8's. They love Boost!!

[greenformula92]

the only reason i said small was to not break the bank.....you can go big too :nod:

[Wolfblitz]

If i had a bank to break lol. I'm going to just get it running first. Ordered some parts today.

[smoke_em94]

better get them heads checked!!!

[BonzoHansen]

LS9

[LTb1ow]

http://www.abbottracingheads.com/gm3800.htm

Do it!

- Justin

Sweet yo, 13s.

HP/$$$ ratio spot on. :moon:

[Slow-V6]

1200.00 for 13's or at least 1500.00 for a stock high miles LS1 with pcm and harness and another 500 for a tranny for 13's?

[LTb1ow]

1200.00 for 13's or at least 1500.00 for a stock high miles LS1 with pcm and harness and another 500 for a tranny for 13's?

1200 for a high strung no balls V6 is all but useless to me.

I would just get a new car rather than swap in a V8, but its not my car so this is all nonsense.

[Slow-V6]

1200 for a high strung no balls V6 is all but useless to me.

I would just get a new car rather than swap in a V8, but its not my car so this is all nonsense.


You have to work with what budget you have. I know because I was pretty much in Justins situation 6 yrs ago. Back then the LS1 motors were 5000.00 for a used one. I decided to build my V6 and was very happy with the power it made on a stock tune. Car made 430rwtq so it had some balls to it!

[LTb1ow]

You have to work with what budget you have. I know because I was pretty much in Justins situation 6 yrs ago. Back then the LS1 motors were 5000.00 for a used one. I decided to build my V6 and was very happy with the power it made on a stock tune. Car made 430rwtq so it had some balls to it!

Not arguing that its impossible to do, just seems illogical to do IMO, but hell, I drive an LT1, so what do I know bout logic.

[Slow-V6]

Not arguing that its impossible to do, just seems illogical to do IMO, but hell, I drive an LT1, so what do I know bout logic.

What everybody doesnt realize that the 3800 series 2 is basically a better version of the old GN motor. The 3.8's in the firebirds have better flowing heads and a better flowing intake then the old 3800 series 1 LD5 motors.

[Wolfblitz]

I just kinda want it for the shock factor. U dont see many worked 3.8's anymore, especially down here.

[Tru2Chevy]

Sweet yo, 13s.

HP/$$$ ratio spot on. :moon:

The car has currently run a best of 13.30 at 102.44 MPH in 4500’ density altitude.

That car running at Atco in October is a solid 12.7 - 12.8 ride. It's also full weight with a 12 bolt.

Sure, in the long run you can go faster for less money with a v8.....but some people prefer to hot rod the v6, and it's actually fun. I can recall dozens of fun nights at Atco watching people react to Little G's '02 v6 in the lanes when they found out he was running mid-high 13s NA / SI.

- Justin

[Blacdout96]

I Have a block that needs assembly required, but I'm looking to part ways with it. Bored .030 over, ARP studs for main/heads, powdered forged connecting rods, and speed pro pistons, double roller timing chain and a couple other goodies. Like I said it's needs assembly and I have no time for it if your interested.

[Slow-V6]

That car running at Atco in October is a solid 12.7 - 12.8 ride. It's also full weight with a 12 bolt.

Sure, in the long run you can go faster for less money with a v8.....but some people prefer to hot rod the v6, and it's actually fun. I can recall dozens of fun nights at Atco watching people react to Little G's '02 v6 in the lanes when they found out he was running mid-high 13s NA / SI.

- Justin

Or James old 12secondV6.

[Wolfblitz]

Might be interested in that block if this one is toast.

[Blacdout96]

Head gaskets are a pita to do in the engine bay, but doable. take your time, it could be had in about 5-7 hours, and it's a good time to clean up the heads, and the casting material inside our intakes. Id say the hardest part will be takign the exhaust manifolds off. just take a sawzall and buy pacesetter headers to replace them with lol.

Don't get MLS head gaskets, alot of our guys run Felpro head gaskets, and people throw some serious shots of nitros or some PSI of boost and seem to be fine.