you know, I had a friend that used to say the same thing about taking a 3100 over a 3.4 DOHC. That was until he drove my gold car. I guarantee that if you drive one that is built RIGHT, you might not be so hesitant to take one. At one time, I was the same way about the 3100. It was not until I decided to take a CHALLENGE and build one for myself that my opinion really changed.
Once upon a time, I too thought the 3800 was the shiznit. It was not until I started reading up on the actual mechanical aspects to the engine that I started seeing that it was not quite what everyone thought it would be. It is heavy, bulky, and has a lot of poorly designed aspects behind it (a 90* V6 is a naturally UNBALANCED engine).
poorly designed?
ok, i dont mind the 3100, its decent. in the way it comes out of the box too... but the 3800 goes and goes and goes and goes... the torque it puts out is WAY better than the LQ1s power range, im not a fan of revving to 7000 rpm to go (thats a honda thing if you ask me)
and also, im not saying the 3800 is gods gift to the automotive industry.
the 2.8 is a pile of shit you couldnt convince me to use to hold a door open with.
but i do think the 3800 is a good engine and proves itself through reliability and over availability and price of parts.
have you ever met a mechanic who wouldnt work on your 3800? i know of 3 shops that wouldnt touch a 3.4dohc with a hammer, let alone wrenches and sockets.
everything there is to do to maintain a motor is easier to do on a 3800 than the lq1. but the jobs ive done on the 3100 were all just as, or easier than the 3800, plus i agree with its power output, for its weight its got enough power to move decently *and ive never driven a modded one. the 20 mins it took me to change a waterpump on one, for the first time ever, kinda sold me on it. did a whole tuneup, plugs wires oil change and checked all the other stuff too. and its all easy.
Post Merge: May 07, 2010, 06:46:02 PM
Ill take my Turbo 3.1 to a Supercharged 3800, and id take my 3.1 over a 3.8 of the same vintage, they didnt have overwhelmingly higher power. The 3100 wasnt TOO far off from a series 1 3800. 3100-160hp 185ft lbs, 3800 series 1 - 170hp 200 ft lbs of tq. The 3100 is more than adequate to move these cars. 60* V6s are still made, GM dropped the 90* finally, hmm wonder why
because they werent making money selling parts, either the whole engine dies, or it goes till the car falls apart.
then, the ones old enough to have worn parts out, those assholes go to the junkyard and find one that got crashed!
Topic: Transplant, Gone Wrong (Read 1499 times)
