3800 Vs 3400/3500

[gpse3400]

The 3800 is done and so is the 4300. Small trucks are getting the Atlas engines and cars will get the 660's. The W bodies are suposed to goto RWD by 2006 from what I have been hearing. In 2 years the 3800 and 4300 will most likely be extinct.

I swear if I had to chose a 90 deg it would be the 4.3. At least it's a tough truck engine. Way, way better crankshaft design that 3800 as well as far as 90 degs go. And if you wanted more power all you'd have to do is steal parts from your neighbors worked IROC 350.

[Cliff8928]

The 3800 is done and so is the 4300. Small trucks are getting the Atlas engines and cars will get the 660's. The W bodies are suposed to goto RWD by 2006 from what I have been hearing. In 2 years the 3800 and 4300 will most likely be extinct.

I've only been counting the days for the 4.3 to be buried! every time i drive mine, I end up curising at it (how the heck can something with so little power get such BAD fuel economy)... not to meniton that it's usually a pain to work on...

I knew the 3800 being axed was inevitable... (aswell as the 2.4 before it went!)

Cliff Scott
89 BerettaGT
89 Volvo740
96 JimmySLT

[gpse3400]

I've only been counting the days for the 4.3 to be buried! every time i drive mine, I end up curising at it (how the heck can something with so little power get such BAD fuel economy)... not to meniton that it's usually a pain to work on...

I knew the 3800 being axed was inevitable... (aswell as the 2.4 before it went!)

Cliff Scott
89 BerettaGT
89 Volvo740
96 JimmySLT

Well I'd say any engine mated to a +or- 2 ton range chassis, is not going to get any good economy...As far as maintenance...nothing has been super straight foward without some intricasies to work on for the past 2 decades....Only a few cars I can think of that are straight foward...I know that doing a tune up on my Camaro took a couple of days...broke 2 exhaust manifold studs...had to pull the passenger side manifold to fix.

[nocutt]

I don't see GM replacing the 3800 any time soon...besides it still doesn't matter...the LC2 was cancelled what? Almost 15 years ago?!?!...and the aftermarket blew out off proportion when that happened. The 3100, 3400, 3500 and 3900 are nice platforms but I still cannot envision the community been bigger than the 3.8/3800...
As far as which is better...no point, whatever they were meant to do;they do well...the point to me is when we are talking aftermarket...hands down 3.8/3800...

wtf is an LC2?

Why is the 3800 community so large? ClubGP. Most people there dont give a flying poo about any of these engines, they just want to buy stupid shit for $100 to be a part of a community. If the GP engine changes, it will instantly get aftermarket... so you cannot judge the popularity just because its a 3800.

LC2 is the RPO for the GN/TA engine...
Clubgp.com? No club fiero.com...lol! The fiero guys have been using and modding the engines even before the first xhaust or intake mod arrived on the market for the w-body...unfortunately or maybe it is fortunate, clubgp created the biggest aftermarket for the 3800...
Alas my point is moot...
The beretta engine changed...I don't see or maybe better...I didn't see the aftermarket? There is more to it than that...Ultimately it is either a vendor, or manufacturer that will agree to create the aftermarket for a recepient engine or the community itself...but money has to change hands one way or the other...Now that trend or ideology can grow depends; either forward or backwards...a good example *cough*coughclubgp*cough*...it grew exponentially however I digress...the same thing that created its aftermaket will be it own unraveling...$$$ creates snobs...yes I said it!!
I care less if GM keeps the 3800 in its stable...I was at sema '00 this was where I first saw the 3500-turbo. There were mumbles and talks about the 3800 demise, while a 60* was going to take over...it is 2004 right about anywayz...those egocentric *%))^& created the 3800S3! It is obvious GM is looking for a niche with the younger crowd...believe me they won't find it...well not yet at least and despite what a lot might think the 3800 or 3x00 is a large community however not those modding it!
I have my popcorn...I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for the "holy grail" this antiquated 'suits' running GM, what do they care...we are here "ASSUMING" when most of America's youth are buying the hype Hp/L rules!! Variable Valve timing etc. etc...at the end of the day, we are still left with the same choices..."do you rob peter to pay paul or is it the other way round
Happy halloween guys...

[Anonymous]

hehe nice way of putting it. To be honest, I don't have a problem with the 3800SC and if I could afford a GTP and the insurance that goes along with the newer cars- I'd probably go for it. But as you said, the niche with the younger croud doesn't work. They can only afford old Hondas, j-bodies and such.. stuff under $10G (Canadian $$ anyways). I don't know how many of those import obsessed freaks even know a damn thing about what GM has to offer, and many with their fancy paintjob/ cold air intake Honda would probably take a GTP for being a slow granny car..
I guess I'm going off topic here, cause I'm not really talking abut the 60*s but GM's newer bigger cars... its late, I'm tired so don't bother flaming at me.

[Rhedalert]

Even though Corporate GM is only looking at the bottom line ($$$$$) at least they're letting GM powertrain engineers have their fun. For ex I dont think most car buyers care if their V6 has roller rockers or not, but it's done! I'm glad that they're concentrating on refining the 60v6 rather than find a bigger blower for the existing 3.8

[brian89gp]

The 3.8/3800 is popular because it was blown from the factory. Go back in time and take the turbo off the GN, and the M62 and M90 off the 3800 family, where would it be now? If you think about it it is the factory boosted cars that get the aftermarket, then the respective NA engines of the same family follow.

Anyway, just thought I'd chime in about reliability for a sec. My dad recently inherited a 90 Lumina APV van, 3.1L TBI iron head. At 220k miles it started to miss horribly which is when I changed out the ORIGINAL spark plugs. Thats right, 220k with nothing but oil. Its still running strong with 240k right now.

[jweir22]

The only 3.8 i liked was in the 86 Grand National it was 13.9 Quater mile right off the line.

[nocutt]

The 3.8/3800 is popular because it was blown from the factory. Go back in time and take the turbo off the GN, and the M62 and M90 off the 3800 family, where would it be now? If you think about it it is the factory boosted cars that get the aftermarket, then the respective NA engines of the same family follow.

Brian that is very subjective...that is like saying remove the V-tec technology from honda's fleets where would honda be? As a matter of fact where would Toyota be etc, etc? Sorry I don't buy that!! Removing this power adders aforementioned is like removing a limb from one's body...they came like that from the show floor and therefore are no different than the accessories...I do however agree that the counterpart NA cars within that given family tends to suffer...however not from an individual's perspective!?!
231ci of displacement and then couple this with FI? You are definately right!! Recipe for some serious potential...This is the perfect adage for the "thing you hate to love"...Despite ppls feelings, 90% will take this engine, if it were to be offered free of charge they wouldn't say though

[Anonymous]

...Despite ppls feelings, 90% will take this engine, if it were to be offered free of charge they wouldn't say though

Admit it everybody.. if it was free you'd take it with a smile.

I'd take it over my 2.8 anyday.. cause I'd like more power (isn't that what its all about in the end?)

[robby1870]

Id take it and see how much damage a maul could do to it.

[ikessky]

I would have taken it until I heard about the new engines that GM is putting out.

Oh who am I kidding. I would take one and urinate on it!

[Guest]

I am a proud owner of a 3800 series 2 engine

All of you who seem to hate the 3800, well 3800 owners have a different mindset than owners of the inferior 3400, and 3100 have..

The thing is, you guys think that horsepower is the biggest most important thing, and since the 3800 only puts out 205hp N/A, it must be garbage!

Well in the real world, the bigger concern is TORQUE, of which the 3800 FAR surpasses the 3100, and even the ever so precious 3400. It is known to almost every auto mechanic that the 3800 is also one of the most reliable engines in the world. We also have better power curve than the 3400, and we get most of our torque at lower rpms, which means there is not much need for red lining the engine which then equals LONGER ENGINE LIFE. The 3800 is also much more durable than the 3400, because we used to own a 96 GTP with the 3.4L and the engine in it blew. I drive our 3800 in the ground everyday i drive it, for over a year now and it runs just like it did the day it was purchased. How many of you would put a 3400 into a Bonneville because it produces more power than a naturally aspirated 3.8 which is designed to produce TORQUE? I know i sure as hell never would because it would be put through alot of stress due to the added weight.

GM designed the 3400 to perform at high rpms, on a "LIGHT" (so to speak) car. The 3800 is designed to haul LUXURY sedans around, and be able to perform very well.

A lumina is FAR lighter than a Bonneville, or even a 3800 GTP. That is what GM was thinking each time the redesigned the 3800, and since you seem to think that the 3800 is abolished, then why is there a Series III variant that will be produced in the 2004 Gran Prix? Get your facts straight.

So next time you rant and rave about an engine because it has iron heads, or because its "BEING ABOLISHED", why don't you try getting your facts straight??
Check out www.bonnevilleclub.com and see a bit of the massive spectrum of mods that can be done to the 3800

Have fun with your lowsy 3.4's

With love, from Deutchland

[nocutt]

OH oh...
'We are all looking for the same thing at the end'...I think that is the best way to put it and to add, FREE YOUR MIND...lol!

[Rhedalert]

AHAHAHA!!! Oh yeah, nothing beats that monsterous harmonic balancer that this "fine tuned" top of the line engine needs. Series 3-this! Sorry, but compare the engines when they have the same displacement, and see which comes out ahead in HP and torque. Though maybe I'm going a little overboard, since the 3900 n/a makes the same horsepower and a lil shy of torque compared to the 3800 supercharged. What ever will I do....