help with build

Okay I currently have a 1996 supercharged riviera but im going to leave it all stock as a daily. Im looking to start a 3800 project whether it be a rivi, grand prix, regal, whatever. I want to some ideas on what way to go. Ive considered building a supercharged car, going turbo, and lately even twincharging. I want to put all the DSMs, mustangs, and camaros around here in there place. Give me some ideas. Please leave jokes and unrealistic ideas out. Thanks

In my opinion, do a Regal GS. EVERYTHING is available for them just like the GP's. You can get that thing runnin 11's with the supercharger fairly easily. If your talkin a complete engine build, you can go faster than that. Turbo kits are pushin this 3800 into the 10's on street cars.....

a regal is lighter than the riv, and still an unsuspecting sleeper. a 10s riv would be cooler but you have 400 extra lbs working against you.
So how fast do you want to go and what is your budget?

Well i mean this is a project so im not going to be done with the build for awhile. Im looking to spend 5-10k on the build

1.buy cheap LS regal and gut it ($2000)
2. buy zzp built trans ($3000)
3. Build L67 block and build it up ($2000)
4. add turbo to block and tune ($3000)
5. sell spare parts for slicks
6. run 10's for $10k

Im a little reluctant to buy a car that the engine seems to be okay, but may have underlaying problems.

well ,if i were going to start a build, i would begin first by installing a Prince Albert mod,and then i would take it from there.....

LS regals have L36 motors. my suggestion was to swap it out with a L67
motor and add turbo+cam+I/C+race trans.
LS regals are just easier to find and cheaper. if you can find a low mile GS then go for it.

and it is hard to find even a cheap regal ls with low miles

I have found a few somewhat low milage L67s around where i live for $500-800.

mileage doesnt really matter if you are replacing the internals with built parts IMO

yeah i guess thats true. I would probably buy an L67 first and work on that alone for awhile. I dont have room for another car at the moment but Im moving in with a buddy of mine in 2 months, and he has plenty of room. what do you suggest for the engine as it sits out of a car?

I would do a buick century. It's a w-body too so a swap should be very doable. It should also be at least as easy as a regal to find cheap and in good shape.

maybe, but Century's are kinda blah lookin.....like it's missin some parts. I mostly agree with Mr. Riviera.....however I would find a GS and rip it apart. At least then you have the power plant and all the controls for it already in place instead of having to swap everything. The L67 already has the HD trans as well as the supercharger, and you won't have to worry about the LIM, heads, and other stuff like that. You can build the trans yourself and save a buttload.

good point. i didnt think about having to swap out the main engine harness and pcm for the different trans in the LS.

SCbuick010 wrote:

yeah i guess thats true. I would probably buy an L67 first and work on that alone for awhile. I dont have room for another car at the moment but Im moving in with a buddy of mine in 2 months, and he has plenty of room. what do you suggest for the engine as it sits out of a car?

You've got to decide what your going to do with the engine.
As far as either Supercharging it or Turbocharging.
Also, depending on mileage on the engine to start with would determine whether you want to strip the block all the way down, remove the crank and send everything out for balancing and machining.
I personally would want to strip my engine all the way down and have the rotating components machined and balanced. Will help you get the numbers you are looking for without necessarily destroying the engine if it's done properly. Put your money and focus on the drivetrain completely and the body after.
If you are going to turbocharge it you need to talk to some of the guys/shops that have done it and find out what unique head work you will need to be done to accommodate the flow, etc.
There's a lot of homework and a learning curve to go through to build a 10 second car that can hold up to that stress with out breaking. I personally haven't done a 3800 motor yet, so I can't offer specifics. But I have built many motors in my time and you have to start at the core of the engine to be successful.
Again, I would be asking for information from shops like Intense and ZZP and others, then take all of it and decide for yourself which way you want to go.

You also need to think and learn about the transmission, unless your already up to speed on rebuilding these trans' and knowing what performance parts and hardened shafts, etc to put in it so it will hold up to the punishment of a high HP and High Torque Engine.
So there is plenty to do before even considering the chassis.
If you can find a used powerplant reasonably priced now, and start on that, then you can keep your eyes open for the donor car during the engine and trans build.
Then whatever you find for a car you can always sell the motor and trans or better yet find a car with a bad motor and trans for very little money and go from there.

I+would+like+to+build+a+supercharged+3800.+Is+it+possible+to+get+close+to+500+hp+on+a+supercharged+3800%3F

yes!+$50.000 dollars+later+he+did+it!+the+oldsmobile+toronado+as+a+donor+car,+gave
up+its+life+unwillingly+but+gave+it+up+nontheless+it+did!+bravo!+bravo!+bravo!+

SCbuick010 wrote:

I+would+like+to+build+a+supercharged+3800.+Is+it+possible+to+get+close+to+500+hp+on+a+supercharged+3800%3F

Have you gone schizophrenic on us.?
You originally asked about the possibility of going with (Look at your first post in this thread).

#1 Supercharging Only
#2 Turbo Only
#3 Super and Turbo Charging.(TwinCharging)

So I guess my answer at this point would be to figure out what you want to do, in whichever configuration, and just do it.

Have Fun.

L26 block, E85, 65 lb injectors, ported gen v and ported and polished L32 LIM, SSAC headers, 1.9RR yella terra's.. i could sell you some of or i mean all this stuff too

98riviera98 wrote:

L26 block, E85, 65 lb injectors, ported gen v and ported and polished L32 LIM, SSAC headers, 1.9RR yella terra's.. i could sell you some of or i mean all this stuff too

Then Operation Repo might stay away from your house!

Well+i+would+like+to+keep+it+supercharged+but+i+just+didnt+know+if+i+could+
get+the+hp+numbers+out+of+it+that+i+want.+I+would+like+to+be+at+or+near+500hp.

go+for+it!+

I just want a 3800 with over 400hp. I would like to keep it supercharged just because I fell in love with the whine from my rivi (4" FWI). Im trying to narrow it down, because I could really use everyones help with what to get. Im going to stay supercharged.

Have a look at what ZZP has done to make 400 HP engines, as well as Intense racing. The both of them have gone there and beyond and mfg and sell the products necessary to do it.
Call and talk to both of them. They will probably each have slightly differing views. But each of them race with those numbers consistently.