What Car Do You Own?

[Sparky]

Picked this up a week ago.





Ooo sunroof


Yes, still have the Camaro... but it is for sale. Need to sell it to help pay for this truck.

[RAW-Raptor22]

Picked this up a week ago.



Yes, still have the Camaro... but it is for sale. Need to sell it to help pay for this truck.

Awesome man, nice truck.

Does it have the straight 6 or the V8?

[Sparky]

Has the 4.2L straight 6. Enough engine for what I need. 270HP and 275TQ if I remember correctly.

It needs a few things taken care of (typical tune-up, spare tire winch fixed, a little rust on the edges of the doors, and a squeaky window lol) but its in pretty good shape overall. Previous guy had it 7 years, and traded it for another, newer one of the same model, so I figure he can't have had any real issues with it.

[RAW-Raptor22]

Has the 4.2L straight 6. Enough engine for what I need. 270HP and 275TQ if I remember correctly.

It needs a few things taken care of (typical tune-up, spare tire winch fixed, a little rust on the edges of the doors, and a squeaky window lol) but its in pretty good shape overall. Previous guy had it 7 years, and traded it for another, newer one of the same model, so I figure he can't have had any real issues with it.

Awesome, straight 6s for the win.

Last American Straight 6.

[[XC] Lead Head]

My father has a GMC Envoy, basically the same thing as the Trailblazer but with a better interior. Engine is awesome, plenty of low end torque but loves the high revs. Only major let down IMO is the 4 speed automatic behind it. Its gear ratios are just not suited at all for the 4200.

Also, 02 is 270HP, 03 is 275, 06+ had 291HP.

[RAW-Raptor22]

My father has a GMC Envoy, basically the same thing as the Trailblazer but with a better interior. Engine is awesome, plenty of low end torque but loves the high revs. Only major let down IMO is the 4 speed automatic behind it. Its gear ratios are just not suited at all for the 4200.

Also, 02 is 270HP, 03 is 275, 06+ had 291HP.

Whats the mechanical differences? Can someone just do a ECU flash?

[afireinside]

New wheels!

I didn't know the TBs came with monster i6s. That's pretty cool. I love those trucks.

[RAW-Raptor22]

]

New wheels!

I didn't know the TBs came with monster i6s. That's pretty cool. I love those trucks.

Sweet, nice car.

[[XC] Lead Head]

Whats the mechanical differences? Can someone just do a ECU flash?

06+ Have revised pistons and rods. The heads also flow slightly better.

A PCMForless tune will really wake up any Envoy/TB with the 4200. Especially if you request most of the torque management deleted and the shifts firmed up.

[RAW-Raptor22]

06+ Have revised pistons and rods. The heads also flow slightly better.

A PCMForless tune will really wake up any Envoy/TB with the 4200. Especially if you request most of the torque management deleted and the shifts firmed up.

Head. There is one of them, not heads...

Thats awesome, I normally cant stand GM but I wouldnt mind a TB or Envoy or some of the new stuff they have out.

[Sparky]

06+ Have revised pistons and rods. The heads also flow slightly better.

A PCMForless tune will really wake up any Envoy/TB with the 4200. Especially if you request most of the torque management deleted and the shifts firmed up.

I'm planning on a Transgo SK-4L60E shift kit to firm a few things up, particularly with the torque converter lock. These trucks are a little lazy and soft locking it and keeping it locked. I have that kit in my Camaro (same transmission, kind of funny actually) and it made a troublesome TCC lock become very quick and precise, and got an mpg increase from it too. But the tune will also be needed on the trailblazer I think because of the "comfy" stock tuning it has for the trans compared to the little more "aggressive" stock tuning on the Camaro. But we'll see.

[[XC] Lead Head]

The torque management with the electronic throttle on the TB/Envoy is horrible. Even if you mash the pedal to the floor, it will only open the throttle blade about 40% until the engine is over 4000 RPM. Mainly to protect the transmission.

However with the shift kit you could probably have PCMForless do a near full TQ management delete without hurting reliability, especially if you have them firm up the shifts in software too.

Stock these things won't/will barely even chirp the tires if you punch it off the line. People say after the torque management delete they will happily roast the tires off the line without a problem

[RAW-Raptor22]

The torque management with the electronic throttle on the TB/Envoy is horrible. Even if you mash the pedal to the floor, it will only open the throttle blade about 40% until the engine is over 4000 RPM. Mainly to protect the transmission.

However with the shift kit you could probably have PCMForless do a near full TQ management delete without hurting reliability, especially if you have them firm up the shifts in software too.

Stock these things won't/will barely even chirp the tires if you punch it off the line. People say after the torque management delete they will happily roast the tires off the line without a problem

Yea I heard that stock TBs were anemic which didnt make sense when you relize they have 290+ HP...

[breathemetal]

Old man car



but it has a good engine



167k right now.
Runnin' strong.

Just had new front/rear struts and mounts put on and a new tailoring arm

[Stoner133]

As long as you can keep the 3800 from sucking in its intake manifold gasket. Have yet to see one not do it in its lifetime.

[breathemetal]

As long as you can keep the 3800 from sucking in its intake manifold gasket. Have yet to see one not do it in its lifetime.

how do i prevent that?

[Sparky]

As long as you can keep the 3800 from sucking in its intake manifold gasket. Have yet to see one not do it in its lifetime.

Never heard of that happening. And I own a 3800, have done a lot of the work to it on my own. Did have an intake manifold gasket issue but that was because somebody (not me) had forgotten to tighten down all the bolts

[Stoner133]

You can't prevent it only watch for it. First sign is a loss of coolant as it will leak into the area between the bottom of the intake manifold and the top of the block. I've heard it is related to the intake manifold being made from plastic instead of being a casting like they used to use on other motors. I have five friends with different GM cars that all use the 3800 motor which have had the problem. On one Buick Park Avenue, one Buick Century and two Pontiac Grand Prix's and one Olds Intrique. The newest one is an 06 Grand Prix. Dealers take you to the cleaners to repair it but if you have any michanical skills its not that hard of job to do yourself. Except for this problem the 3800 is a great running motor, I've seen them run well past the 200,000 mile mark. I wouldn't be scared to buy one myself, non of the five have ever needed a third gasket installed.

[Stoner133]

Never heard of that happening. And I own a 3800, have done a lot of the work to it on my own. Did have an intake manifold gasket issue but that was because somebody (not me) had forgotten to tighten down all the bolts

Most likely they forgot to get the bolts tight after changing out the intake manifold gasket.

[Sparky]

You can't prevent it only watch for it. First sign is a loss of coolant as it will leak into the area between the bottom of the intake manifold and the top of the block. I've heard it is related to the intake manifold being made from plastic instead of being a casting like they used to use on other motors. I have five friends with different GM cars that all use the 3800 motor which have had the problem. On one Buick Park Avenue, one Buick Century and two Pontiac Grand Prix's and one Olds Intrique. The newest one is an 06 Grand Prix. Dealers take you to the cleaners to repair it but if you have any michanical skills its not that hard of job to do yourself. Except for this problem the 3800 is a great running motor, I've seen them run well past the 200,000 mile mark. I wouldn't be scared to buy one myself, non of the five have ever needed a third gasket installed.

Ok that's why I haven't heard of it. My Camaro has a metal intake manifold, not a plastic one.

[Stoner133]

Ok that's why I haven't heard of it. My Camaro has a metal intake manifold, not a plastic one.

Your Camaro does not use the 3800 Series II motor. The 3800 Series II is strickly a transvers mounted front wheel drive motor. You are mixing up the Chevy 3.8L motors which was used in the Camaro with the 3800 Buick motors which were used in many different GM products.

[Sparky]

Your Camaro does not use the 3800 Series II motor. The 3800 Series II is strickly a transvers mounted front wheel drive motor. You are mixing up the Chevy 3.8L motors which was used in the Camaro with the 3800 Buick motors which were used in many different GM products.

Uh, yes it does. It is the 3800 Series 2, stamped right on the intake. The Series 2 was made for both transverse mounted FWD cars and the RWD V6 fbody. It has a different intake manifold, and the accessories are mounted differently, but the engine itself is the same.

I've had the Camaro for 3 years, and done a lot of work of my own on it. I know what engine my car has

[wiretap]

I can confirm the v6 Camaro uses the 3800 series 2.. got one sitting in the garage right now.

[Stoner133]

What year Camaro? The L36 motor was a varient of the 3800 Series II. Aluminum intake 3800's were Series III motors. Currently the 3800 series motor is no longer in production. Plant 36 has been closed a little over 2 years now.

[Sparky]

It is a 98, but all 96-2002 V6 Camaros used the 3800 series II. Yes, it is the L36. I know the 3800 isn't being made anymore.