Tossing ideas around: LS or 3800 swap?

[kpratt]

Your correct shelbyracing, that's why i ended up with the tune due to the gear ratio between what ever trans the 3800 pcm had vs the 3.5 and to the comment no replacement for displacement, there is...its called boost. Boost is your friend.

[scottyaurorav8]

Hey so Kpratt, how has it been going for you? All the bugs worked out yet? Is the engine running strong. I think I recall you saying you planned to keep it simple...a smaller pulley, intake etc...
Do you plan to post a video of it doing a run? 0- 60, 0- 90 etc...? That be awesome!

[kpratt]

I have all the kinks work out and it runs good. only down fall to a 0-60 run is that its winter and snowing out lol so that wont be happening. Not sure how long i want to drive it this summer due to a 1962 chevy c-10 im getting.. much more fun..

[plato442]

Jan 16, 2014 17:05:01 GMT -6 kpratt said:

Your correct shelbyracing, that's why i ended up with the tune due to the gear ratio between what ever trans the 3800 pcm had vs the 3.5 and to the comment no replacement for displacement, there is...its called boost. Boost is your friend.

I'm not opposed to boost! I'd just rather her have something like a 4.6L or a 5.3L under the hood rather than a 3.8 S/C.

[99blackautobahn]

I have just one point to bring up real quick here. You are talking about removing a 3.5 ok well that is a remarkable motor from what Iunderstand. that said. My point is everyone is talking about all motors other than the 4.0. to this I have two quick statements. First of all this 4 liter V8 is the same motor that absolutely dominated the indy car circuit for the first seven years of it's existence. if you werent running the 4 liter v8 you may as well leave the car on the trailer. Before I ramble I'll get to my other point. Shelby American Motors for a period built their very own supercar called the Shelby Series One and of all the Motors in the world they npicked the Olds 4 liter V8. remember nOldsmobile is the company that pioneered the quad 4 motor (the fast one) that set and broke a whole ton of records at indianapolis. Back on the indy car subject I believe Isuzu runs a pretty dominant force in the IRL now I remember when they scrapped olds they were supposedly going to rebadge the 4 liter as a chevrolet motor and maintain their presence in this circuit. This is purely a guess I could look it up, but I would venture to say the Isuzu branded indy motor is probably just a rebadged 4.0 v8. It had to go somewhere.

[plato442]

Jun 10, 2014 4:10:31 GMT -6 99blackautobahn said:

I have just one point to bring up real quick here. You are talking about removing a 3.5 ok well that is a remarkable motor from what I understand.

The 3.5, and the 4.0 in our respective Auroras are completely different motors than the ones dropped in a Shelby or Indy car. Indy cars just don't drop an Aurora 4.0 crate motor in and go race. No. These are great motors, but do have their faults. Just ask anyone who's had a run in with leaking head gaskets. Of course, the 4.6 Cadillac NORTHSTAR has these same ups and downs. They also have little to no aftermarket goodies.

That being said, it would be interesting for someone to stray from the pack and change the status quo. Drop in a sweet built 4.6 ($$$$$), or a built to the nuts S/C 3.8 ($$$), or a 5.3 with even small mods ($) which the latter two have plenty of aftermarket to chose from!

[99blackautobahn]

The cool thing about the S/C 3800 is that a guy can get an enormous amount of power from the factory supercharger by overdriving the supercharger that being said I guess the choice is clear. Myself I would love to be able to turbo my 4.0. Thinking a 150 shot of N2O is about the biggest bet for what is currently available. Man wouldn't it be sweet to run one of those hyper dominant indy car motors? I went on and on in my first reply about whether the aurora 4.0 is still living on under a different brand am still curious if anyone has any knowledge please share.

[plato442]

STS Turbo makes a great turbo system, but a stock 4.0 couldn't withstand the boost. I don't think that the 4.0 is rebranded

[wickhamizer]

I see a number of comments about the LS4, and am considering that route myself, but has anyone done that install in a classic? As mine is running around 230-240 engine temp and sucking down a gallon of coolant a month, I know I have a big repair upcoming. I've found donor cars for both the 4.6 and the 5.3, and I'm leaning toward the 4.6 since it's a more direct fit, but I've driven cars that came factory with the 4.6 and the 5.3, and I'd love to have the power the 5.3 produces. I'm just not sure about everything that would be required to make the electronics work together.