Huge news, convert 3.6 255 hp to 3.6 HO 275hp

[Kael]

waa waa waa "buy a V" shut the hell up.
really, we dont need you. we know there is a V out there and we dont need to be reminded of it. if I wanted a LS engine I would go and start the ws6 trans am in storage.

this is not the point. the entire point is to have a high strung v-6 with a lot of power that gives the car a much better front/ rear weight reatio than its v-8 brother does.

there is no challenge or fun in the ls1,ls2,ls6 engines. everything that can be done has been done already. its boring. "hey dude my ls1 v-8 has 600hp.."
"yeah, you and 457 other guys" its no fun.

oh member X, just shut up. you obviously dont know crap about anything. and I already posted basic prices. here let me clue you in. 2 grand for heads are for cutom aftermarket heads, I AM TALKING ABOUT FACTORY MADE PARTS THAT COME ON A SUV.
here let me do a comparo.
average aftrmarket headers, 800. stock manifold, about 100.

we are talking about people spending 1200 on an exhaust that gives you 5-10 hp.
for 1200 you can now add 20hp to the entire power band. probably more since our engines rev 100 rpms more than the suv does.

this si the first REAL breakthrough for preformance for this car since lund came out with the headers.

[nickc50310]

So is the outlook out yet? Ive been trying to find engine pics but cant find any! Ive only been able to find a couple shitty pics.

[dkozloski]

Originally Posted by Kael

waa waa waa "buy a V" shut the hell up.
really, we dont need you. we know there is a V out there and we dont need to be reminded of it. if I wanted a LS engine I would go and start the ws6 trans am in storage.

this is not the point. the entire point is to have a high strung v-6 with a lot of power that gives the car a much better front/ rear weight reatio than its v-8 brother does.

there is no challenge or fun in the ls1,ls2,ls6 engines. everything that can be done has been done already. its boring. "hey dude my ls1 v-8 has 600hp.."
"yeah, you and 457 other guys" its no fun.

oh member X, just shut up. you obviously dont know crap about anything. and I already posted basic prices. here let me clue you in. 2 grand for heads are for cutom aftermarket heads, I AM TALKING ABOUT FACTORY MADE PARTS THAT COME ON A SUV.
here let me do a comparo.
average aftrmarket headers, 800. stock manifold, about 100.

we are talking about people spending 1200 on an exhaust that gives you 5-10 hp.
for 1200 you can now add 20hp to the entire power band. probably more since our engines rev 100 rpms more than the suv does.

this si the first REAL breakthrough for preformance for this car since lund came out with the headers.

On top of that, there are lots of guys doing their own engine repair work in the Northstar forum. The biggie there is a head gasket replacement which is very similar in scope to replacing heads and cams. This cost thousands at a shop because it's very labor intensive but when you figure your own labor at two bits an hour it starts to make good sense. Lots of guys have done the head gaskets on a Northstar. You wouldn't want them to think we're all a bonch of weenies would you? The only possible wrinkle I see is the chance for having to repair the threads in the block. The neccessary tool kits have been circulating for years. You guys could share some yourselves. You've already prooved you're ready and willing to help each other. Why not organize some meets and a bunch modify their cars and share skills together in a Holiday Inn parking lot? It sounds like a lot of fun to me. It's also viable for the first guy to do the job to make up a list of all the parts and material needed and to organize the stuff into kits for resale. Somebody else can write up a how-to. Hell, this is starting to sound too easy.

[dynalub]

Hi, Good information,however I think everyone is missing the point.As this engine is used in more platforms more and more after market manufactures will start to develop parts for our engines.These parts and what is manufactured by GM should give us what we are looking for more HP,That may be cost effective. How about that Kale,greenies for you.Thanks Tom

[Kael]

on the outlook the entire engine is covered, not much to look at. the models that have the ho 3.6 are the XE and the XR the xe has 270 and the xr has 275 (because of dual exhaust)

[RobertCTS]

Originally Posted by Kael

on the outlook the entire engine is covered, not much to look at. the models that have the ho 3.6 are the XE and the XR the xe has 270 and dthe xr has 275 (because of dual exhaust)

Isn't that a FWD 3.6VVT?

[dkozloski]

Originally Posted by RobertCTS

Isn't that a FWD 3.6VVT?

Here comes Chicken Little, throwing cold water.

[dkozloski]

Hey guys! No guts, No glory!

[Kael]

well it IS transversly mounted. the outlook is FWD or AWD. being transversly mounted wont affect the parts we need at all.

i do like the dohc though. i dont have to pull the engine out of my cts to get the heads with cams out.


and KOZ,
do the northstars really have an issue of the head bolts pulling the threads out when they are removed? so I should get my set of thread taps ready. what was that other solutiion your were talking about? I am not familiar with it.

[dkozloski]

Originally Posted by Kael

well it IS transversly mounted. the outlook is FWD or AWD. being transversly mounted wont affect the parts we need at all.

i do like the dohc though. i dont have to pull the engine out of my cts to get the heads with cams out.


and KOZ,
do the northstars really have an issue of the head bolts pulling the threads out when they are removed? so I should get my set of thread taps ready. what was that other solutiion your were talking about? I am not familiar with it.

Head gaskets stand out on Northstars because that is about the only trouble they've got. What happens is that for reasons not entirely clear, there is a link between gasket leaks and thread failures. Some guys report thread failures first and others report the threads come out at disassembly. In any case, the usual repair for threads, Heli-coils, don't work for this repair. Before the Northstar even hit the market, GM PowerTrain worked with Time Inc. to develope a thread insert repair system called a TimeSert. This is a steel sleeve threaded both inside and out with a shoulder. The block is counterbored at the threaded location to a specific depth with a special drill, threaded with a special tap, and the insert installed with a special driver. Part of the kit is a guide plate that keeps everything aligned. The plate causes some issues with dowel pins that locate the heads on the block but this is easily overcome. The kits have gone up in price in recent months due to some sales chain issues(no more direct factory sales).

[dkozloski]

There are 10 bolts per head on a Northstar and all should be replaced if one fails. The kit comes complete with 10 inserts, enough for one head. Ours would require 8/side.
There is a good chance it would never be an issue with our engines. I'm just pointing out the possibility.

[nickc50310]

Thats awesome guys! very exciting! Im a pretty smart guy and pretty mechanical. nothing like you guys but you get the idea. Im sure with enough time, effort, and the right tools I could get these parts installed with a little help from the forum. Im sure alot of us here could.

Now, heres the problem- Alot of us dont have the confidence to try to install something like this. This would be the first time I attempted anything nearly this complex. The difference between us and most people on the northstar forum is this- those cars are usually 5 to 10k while ours are almost always 20k+. I would have no problem doing that on a 7k dollar hobby car but not my 25k dollar daily driver!

Most people who get this mod will have to pay for labor. VERY few on here would be willing or able to do it themselves.

[dkozloski]

Originally Posted by nickc50310

Thats awesome guys! very exciting! Im a pretty smart guy and pretty mechanical. nothing like you guys but you get the idea. Im sure with enough time, effort, and the right tools I could get these parts installed with a little help from the forum. Im sure alot of us here could.

Now, heres the problem- Alot of us dont have the confidence to try to install something like this. This would be the first time I attempted anything nearly this complex. The difference between us and most people on the northstar forum is this- those cars are usually 5 to 10k while ours are almost always 20k+. I would have no problem doing that on a 7k dollar hobby car but not my 25k dollar daily driver!

Most people who get this mod will have to pay for labor. VERY few on here would be willing or able to do it themselves.

I'll restate my position on this: No guts! No glory! Now give me a bunch of crap for trying to encourage you! For most of the Northstar guys $5k-10k, is the same as $20k for you yuppies.

[dkozloski]

What a bunch of losers. You tell them they're going to have to take some risk, break a sweat, and get their hands dirty and they turn tail and run.

[nickc50310]

I got no problem with any of those things. I used to play football, sports, etc... I worked in the construction industry for many years.

What I do have a problem with is messing up my ride and not having any transportation!