How can I beef up a 1997 pontiac firebird?

Question

I know its a 6 cyl, but is there anyway I could make it close to as powerful to its counterpart, the v8 trans am. If so what would I do and how much would it cost or would it be cheaper to just drop a v8 engine into it. If so how much would that cost?

I want people to seriously answer please not any of this bring it to the gym crap!

Answer 1

Not a whole lot you can do. I used to own a '96 camaro RS (v6). An engine derives it's power from how quickly you can get air in and how fast you can let it out. I think it would be cheaper to sell your car and just buy a used trans am with a V8. Otherwise all you can do is is install a cold air intake or find a supercharger for it. You can add headers and a new exhaust. They might make a computer chip to change the cpu settings. That could cost $2-3000K+ depending on what you used.

Buy a V8.

Answer 2

It would depend on how much money you're willing to spend. If you want to go 10K, then it would be cheaper to just swap out the engines, or ditch the V6 and get a different car all together [because you'd have to overhaul most of the expensive parts if you drop a V8 into a V6].

If you're asking what would be the most bang for your buck [on a V6], then you should go with an intake, upgrade your exhaust, upgrade your gears, and upgrade your headers.

Intake - $300 or so
Exhaust - $600-$1100
Gears - $350
Headers - $500 and under

For about $2000, you can get close to a 50+hp boost, plus a beefier sound. Also, if you want to go over the top with your exhaust, you can add an electonic cutout to it. They cost about $250 installed, but at the flip of a switch, you bypass your muffler and the exhaust flows straight out of your cat converter. The only real advantage to the elec cutout is the ballsier sound that you get when your exhaust bypasses the muffler...be careful though, because it's illegal to bypass your muffler, which is why you should run an electronic cutout instead of a manual cutout, if you're in trouble you can flip the switch and change the flow back through your muffler.

Answer 3

The 3.8 that is in the car only makes 200 hp at the flywheel. You can put a supercharger on that motor, the stock motor will only hold up to 9 psi safely. It would cost you about $3500 for the kit and it would take you around 18 hours to install it. Or you can pay someone around $2000 to put it in for you and set it up properly. With 9 psi on that 3.8 you would have between 285 and 315 hp at the wheels, I know that is a big gap but it very's from motor to motor.
Or you can put any 350 in it. The esiest way to do it is to convert it over to carborator and put a 350 turbo trany behind it. that set up depending on how much power you want could run you as little as $900 for around 300 hp.
I put that set up in a 70' nova when I was 16. The car cost me $500, I got an ls1 out of a 99' Camero SS for $850, and put a 5 speed out of a 93' TA behind that which ran me another $600. The carb. convertion, cooling system, and all the electrics cost me another $1100 bucks. It had 307 hp at the wheels, which was just fine for 16. I've got another 8 grand in the motor now and I've got 527 hp and 548 ft/ lbs of tourque.
Unless you get into the bottom end of that 3.8 it's really not worth it to keep it around. Even if you have 300 hp the first time a ricer out runs you, you are going to want and need that V8.
E-mail me if you need to know anything else.
Have a good you buddy, and good luck...

Answer 4

Actually the V-6 with 200 hp is a good motor. You will never get 365 HP the LS-1 gets. Your brakes springs and rear end are not up to engine transmission weight or 400 lb foot torque. WS-6 Trans Am Fire Bird is the way to go. It would much easier to sell your Formula Fire bird and buy a V-8 powered car, but don't stop there any thing less than the Anniversary Edition or WS-6 would not be worth as much.

Answer 5

I dont know a lot about the V-6 if you are THAT serious about this project. however the V-6 trans ams are reliable if you want to be different. ANYONE CAN THROW A V-8 INTO ANYTHING AND SAY THEY HAVE A BEAST. Be differnet from the inbred rednecks and put your knowhow to work. And the joy of smoking a camaro with a V-6 is sweet. better with a 4 cylinder fiero, but to stay on the subjet, go for hoppin up the V-6

Answer 6

just put a V8 in it, it will be a lot cheaper in the long run and will run better than anything you can do to the 6 cyl., check your local junkyards for a motor out of a trans am or camaro or you can buy a brand new crate motor from GM for it pretty reasonable.

Answer 7

Q: What aftermarket performance items are available for the V6?

A: As with the LT1s, available modifications include K&N free flow filters, air induction kits from API (800-426-8967), Lingenfelter (219-724-2552), and RK Sport (800-214-8030). Dynomax and Borla exhaust systems are available from RK Sport. You can also get JBA headers, Nitrous Oxide systems, shorter rear gears, low temperature thermostats, computer reprogrammers, underdrive pulleys, and subframe connectors. Motorsports Technologies Inc. (MTI) (404-509-3494) carry most of these mods.

Answer 8

lol, its 3500 basically for the rapid equipment, no longer stating the time spent, artwork, and all the different aspects you ought to purchase to place out that kinda capability.. specific you may out carry out a trans am with a rapid, yet your finding at spending greater desirable than what a trans am is properly worth plus a pair grand... there is not any substitute FOR DISPLACEMENT...i could pass with the v8. because of the fact in case you do choose for to pass with capability adders interior the destiny you will get greater horsepower interior the top..there is basically plenty you're able to do to a 6 cyl...

Answer 9

You will spend all kind of money to make the v6 faster but you will never be satisfied ,so to me your are better of dropping a lt1 or ls1 in it. Then you can compete with the big boys

Answer 10

Stick a rocket in the exhaust! vrrooommmmm