Fuck the 3800

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[What About Bob?]

OBD2 and one helluva tune would pretty show off what the 3x00 can do!

[RobertISaar]

OBD2 and one helluva tune would pretty show off what the 3x00 can do!

you don't need OBD2 to make a 3x00 sing... but there is a LOT to be had over the factory tune.

[EuroSS]

Early Northstars were junk... don't have any experience with a newer one.

all northstars are crap. Exept the supercharged one
and it not even close to the same motor. The quad 4 is literally
half of the Northstar, save for the p/s pump is driven off the
back of the cam, not the w/p

[XTRevolution]

all northstars are crap. Exept the supercharged one
and it not even close to the same motor. The quad 4 is literally
half of the Northstar, save for the p/s pump is driven off the
back of the cam, not the w/p

By what proof do you have to claim that all northstars are junk?

[Prospeeder]

Yea no shit, Most of the casting and head issues were solved by 2003. its now 2010 and thiere still being produced and quite reliable.

[SofaKingWeToddDid]

By what proof do you have to claim that all northstars are junk?

ur askin euross to back up shit he said?

you would probably have better luck figuring out what the fuck hes talking ABOUT before you could get him to explain it, remember, thats just gonna give you more shit to figure out after.

[EuroSS]

ur askin euross to back up shit he said?

Shit eh?
  I have worked in the auto parts biz for almost my entire working life (18 yrs), and  besides the craptacular 4100, the 4.6dohc is the #2 engine i have sold parts for or sold a replacement long block ! bar none.

there are other brands that are shit, but im refering to gm

[XTRevolution]

Shit eh?
  I have worked in the auto parts biz for almost my entire working life (18 yrs), and  besides the craptacular 4100, the 4.6dohc is the #2 engine i have sold parts for or sold a replacement long block ! bar none.

there are other brands that are shit, but im refering to gm

From the Bonneville forum:

In honest defense of the Northstar, I did read an online article yesterday by a mechanic in which he stated that the engine's worst enemy were owners who puttered around town and made tons of short trips without ever revving the engine. He mentioned this caused a problem with ring wear, which in turn lead to oil consumption and ultimately death. So it seems the engine will live longer with the occasional trip to redline. If this is all it takes to make the engine live longer, there would no shortage of that with me...I do love a good blast up an interstate on-ramp

I have been working with N* engines for two years now on a daily basis as a transmission/engine tech with Capital Cadillac in Smyrna, GA. From my experience, which is somewhat limited, and more so from speaking with techs who have worked with the engine since it's inception in 2003, the main problems with it are oil leaking from the lower crankcase and/or oil pan and head gaskets leaking/bolts pulling out of the block. Both problems are dealt with rather easily, but neither fix is for the DIY'er to tackle in the driveway.

I do know that the N* LOVES artificial atmosphere! Turbocharging a N* produces excellent results. I know a guy with a '98 STS turbo making over 500whp on pump gas. Not too shabby. And which is making more power/cu.in? The 6.2L Supercharged CTS-V at 550hp or the 4.4L Supercharged STS-V at 468/469HP? Easy, by over 20hp/L, they 4.4 S/C engine makes 106hp/L. (The LS-based 6.2L engine makes 88hp/L) and IIRC, it uses less boost to do it.

My point is this, if you have a N* engine, keep it. 4 valves are always better than two. if you are contemplating a swap, go with the N* and do it up right with head bolt upgrade, etc before you install it. That is if you plan to do any performance with it. Otherwise, just put it in and enjoy!

Can't say my Northstar engine has been too unreliable with now 76k miles on it. Do keep in mind they've made this engine for a VERY long time.

[EuroSS]

More reasons they suk
1 LIM GASKET failures
2 WTF would you put a starter in the middle of the v,a part that inherently works worse when hot

3 speaking of in the middle of the motor , why isn't the water pump there? No were gonna run it off the back of the exh cam by a belt. At least when they made the quad 4 they ran it off the timing chain. Tossing a belt for the w/p isn't acceptable.  The quad 4 tosses the belt off that cam and all you lose is p/s in a car that probably doesn't need it to begin with

[XTRevolution]

More reasons they suk
1 LIM GASKET failures
2 WTF would you put a starter in the middle of the v,a part that inherently works worse when hot

3 speaking of in the middle of the motor , why isn't the water pump there? No were gonna run it off the back of the exh cam by a belt. At least when they made the quad 4 they ran it off the timing chain. Tossing a belt for the w/p isn't acceptable.  The quad 4 tosses the belt off that cam and all you lose is p/s in a car that probably doesn't need it to begin with

The 3800's water pump is run off the belt...

LIM Gasket failures? How many GM engines made since 1990 that doesn't have LIM gasket failures.

[SofaKingWeToddDid]

sweet, this is really turning into a pissing competition. you guys know what? i like the ford 4.6 more than 90% of the GM V8s ever made. hahahahahahaha

[Prospeeder]

Those 4.6s are poo. My dad had a Expidition as a police rig and it consumed oil like crazy and was horribly underpowered. It was put to rest after the 3rd trans died. And police fleets are rediculously maintained, oil changes every 3k on the dot, Trans flushes after any high speed pursuit or 20 thousand miles. So they wernt un maintained.

[EuroSS]

The 3800's water pump is run off the belt...

yes they are , but not of the f' exh cam on the front head!
Post Merge: April 09, 2010, 05:09:30 PMAnd  it isn't hidden under a plastic cover, so it gets missed during a reg check up. The 3800's is right where every other normal engine has it's accessory belt

[SofaKingWeToddDid]

Those 4.6s are poo. My dad had a Expidition as a police rig and it consumed oil like crazy and was horribly underpowered. It was put to rest after the 3rd trans died. And police fleets are rediculously maintained, oil changes every 3k on the dot, Trans flushes after any high speed pursuit or 20 thousand miles. So they wernt un maintained.

doesnt mean he didnt get a lemon. go look at the odometer in the next crown vic taxi you get into, then ask him what motor is turning those tires.

my exs mustang was nearing the 400hp mark, that thing had sooo much balls it turned her into a lesbian driving a mustang GT 5spd! lol you could roast the tires right through 3rd gear... not very under powered in my books. not by comparison to every w body we all own.

[EuroSS]

No just no traction