I just said I'm having it done by American muscle shop, I'm not doing any of the work! I just want to know about performance parts.

 

If doing an engine swap yourself it can maybe be worthwhile. If PAYING someone to do the swap then you would be further ahead to sell your car and buy something with a V8 to start with.

 

Okay so say i have an ls1 trans am, where do i start to get it faster.

 

If your stuck on having it done:

Headers, full exhaust, ported heads, ported intake, larger TB, cam, 1.6 rockers, cold air intake.

My advice, Sell your v6, buy and 8. Also everyone knows older Trans Ams look better.

 

Thanks for the advice, also what are rockers? i don't know much about cars which is why i got on here. and haha i have a few people who would disagree with that, maybe like the old school but not the early 90s

 

First, since you have a V6, let's move this to the V6 forum.

Hopefully you understand that you can't make your V6 into a "383", so to do what you want to do, you will have to plan on a V8 engine swap. You could choose a Gen 1 small block Chevy (SBC), a Gen 2 SBC (LT1) or on of the Gen 3/Gen 4 engines (LS1, LS2, LS3..... etc.)

There is a "sticky" in the topic listing on the V6 forum covering engine swaps from a V6 to the engines described above. That is where you need to start.

So far, your description of what you want is very generic - "a bad *** car". Very hard to help you if that is the only information we have regarding what you want. So... first you have to define your performance requirements, then you have to define your budget. Then people can tell you what the best combination of engine swap and parts selection/modifications will achieve your goals, and whether your budget for accomplishing that is realistic.

Then you have to define your emissions limits - will your car be subject to tailpipe or visual emissions checks? An engine that differs substantially from what was originally in your car may present problems if you have strict requirements. Or maybe this is a car you only plan to run at the track, and you have no emissions requirements - although you may have class rules that will govern what modifications are acceptable for the class you are racing in.

You also have to remember that modifying the engine to make high HP is only the tip of the iceberg. For every dollar you put into your engine, you will have to put maybe 50-cents into your drivetrain and suspension. If you happen to have $8,000 for the engine, you better have another $4,000 for the rest of the car.

You may also want to consider modifying your 3.8L V6, based on your budget.

People weren't putting you down... they were trying to extract a clearer idea of what you want to accomplish.

 

Thing is for much in the way of power upgrades you then need to consider things like a 12-bolt or 9" axle upgrade. $2500 easily without driveshaft or installation, and this is probably reusing stock brakes.
If you have an A4 a good tranny build and decent converter both necessary BEFORE you get into engine mods is another $2500 minimum WITHOUT the R&R work that is just the tranny rebuild and a converter not installed.

There went $5k in a blink and you haven't added any power.

Those of us who are telling you you are "all wrong" were right where you are at one point, we did stuff wrong, thought we could figure it all out. I am just really glad I did not have $8k to spend when I was 20yo because I would have ended up with a pile of mistakes to show for it.

You need to choose to accept the help you came here asking for OR you can ignore us open up the Summit catalog and go at it.

 

Buy some big cams and some big exhaust headers then. That's a good place to start. Along with some big tires.

Seriously - do some research. We won't spoon-feed it to you.

 

First thing I would say is slow down and listen to these guys because they have knowledge and understanding that you are asking for. Second if you dont have a real direction of your build you could waste alot of parts and or money as somethings dont work well together and some do. Plus if you want boosted you have things that na wont like and vice versa. See these guys could perhaps steer you to parts that would work well with n2o or boosted or NA but when it gets past probably exhaust each one will like things better. With your existing car chances are your better off with getting rid of it and getting one with existing ls1. Im not sure how much just getting a stock ls1 would require but probably wiring harness,cooling system,exhaust,computer or engine management system, whatever conversion in drivetrain such as tranny ,rearend,driveline,mounts,sensors,wheels. Gears for the build. With labor that alone potentially just ate your budget. If you want boosted and are buying new parts you have alot of expense right there then needed mods in the motor to handle the power you wish to push as certain levels require different things and if your building the motor for it things like ring gap and compression ratio are a big deal. Keep in mind the heat you may build too so whats needed to keep it cool. Truly try and find out everything just to convert urs to ls1 and see if your better off selling yours and trying to find an existing ls1 with good mods already done. You could be way ahead in the end.