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fezman · 06-27-2003, 08:12 PM

My suggestion first off is engine swap. I'm not sure about the engine bay size, but if you have enough room, get the 3.8L Supercharged V6 from the Grand Am GTP or Bonneville SSEi, along with a 4t65e-HD transmission (the beefy one). They really don't cost all that much, probably about the same as a turbo kit. The labor may be more, but in the end, you will have a much better performing car, and that engine is actually quite reliable, unlike turbocharging an engine that was never designed with boost in mind.

If you can't fit the 3.8L in there, a 3.4L from a Grand Am would work nicely, you could build up the engine to take some boost (new 8.0:1 pistons, conn rods, etc) and slap a centrifugal blower on there (like a vortech or paxton) and have some serious fun. Either way you should be able to get easy 250-280hp.

Just don't trust the stock transmission with any modified engine, it WILL die.

Edit: If he's younger than say 20, I wouldn't do much of anything with the car. Tell him to save the money, drive the car till it dies, then when he's proven responsability, then get something nice. I've seen too many young kids wreck fast cars, or worse, kill themselves in one. Make sure to take this in mind, a fast car + teenager = bad bad bad.

06-27-2003, 08:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
fezman Upright	My suggestion first off is engine swap. I'm not sure about the engine bay size, but if you have enough room, get the 3.8L Supercharged V6 from the Grand Am GTP or Bonneville SSEi, along with a 4t65e-HD transmission (the beefy one). They really don't cost all that much, probably about the same as a turbo kit. The labor may be more, but in the end, you will have a much better performing car, and that engine is actually quite reliable, unlike turbocharging an engine that was never designed with boost in mind. If you can't fit the 3.8L in there, a 3.4L from a Grand Am would work nicely, you could build up the engine to take some boost (new 8.0:1 pistons, conn rods, etc) and slap a centrifugal blower on there (like a vortech or paxton) and have some serious fun. Either way you should be able to get easy 250-280hp. Just don't trust the stock transmission with any modified engine, it WILL die. Edit: If he's younger than say 20, I wouldn't do much of anything with the car. Tell him to save the money, drive the car till it dies, then when he's proven responsability, then get something nice. I've seen too many young kids wreck fast cars, or worse, kill themselves in one. Make sure to take this in mind, a fast car + teenager = bad bad bad. Last edited by fezman; 06-27-2003 at 08:15 PM..