Turn an LS to an SS?

Is it possible to upgrade an engine that comes in an LS (which mine is a 3.8 v6) to the supercharged version? What's different between the two? Is it possible to give the LS engine the same horsepower as the SS, short of changing the engine out?


(By the way, I have a 2004 Impala LS)

Thanks,

David

Is it possible to upgrade an engine that comes in an LS (which mine is a 3.8 v6) to the supercharged version? What's different between the two? Is it possible to give the LS engine the same horsepower as the SS, short of changing the engine out?


(By the way, I have a 2004 Impala LS)

Thanks,

David

Short answer, Yes its possible.

Long answer, you might be interested in doing other things to up the cars performance for the money it would cost you to switch-over and likely get more HP.

http://www.3800performance.com

They have a load of stuff for the 3.8 engines, both NA and Supercharged. While they don't have the supercharger for the 3.8, they have a turbocharger for the 3.8 and many other goodies.

And in case you wondered what the supercharged engine DOES cost...

http://www.gmpartsdepot.com/store/category.aspx?SID=2&Category_ID=2&;

I don't see anything on that website for "turbo charging" my engine. But I do see the engines themselves. I don't have an extra $3500 right now, but maybe sometime in the future. But where's the turbo chargers on the website?

SUPERCHARGER not turbo and its a Eaton supercharger you can pick up a rebuilt unit with about 18 pounds of boost for around 1200.00
http://www.automotive.eaton.com/product/engine_controls/superchargers/index.asp
check out www.slponline.com under W-Body for everything else

or if you really wanted to, you could go to the dealership and buy the supercharger system, the ss computer the dual exhaust, and the ss wiring harness to hook all this up correctly and have yourself the ss power. but quite frankly, all that will cost you the same as the differnce between the ls and ss. so lets say a fully loaded ls costs 28 grand, the fully loaded ss is about 33 grand and to buy all that extra stuff to make it the ss, will be that 5 grand. so if you wanted the ss, you could have just bought the ss.

Is it possible to upgrade an engine that comes in an LS (which mine is a 3.8 v6) to the supercharged version? What's different between the two? Is it possible to give the LS engine the same horsepower as the SS, short of changing the engine out?


(By the way, I have a 2004 Impala LS)

Thanks,

David

Here is some info from another forum that may be helpful and answer some of your questions since the issue of the supercharged Series II 3800 is relatively new to Impala owners. Any way you go it will be big bucks.
************************************************** **

"It appears that a lot of forum members want to know if the L67 from a GTP will fit or can be adapted to the GT or SE. Many of you also want to know if the supercharger from a GTP can be placed on the non-supercharged 3.8. The answer to the question of whether an L67 will fit is yes. But you must change the PCM, fuel pump, and will need to put the 4t65e transmission along with a host of other parts to make it work.

As far as putting the supercharger on the non-supercharged engine, it is possible but you need to use the heads, lower intake, PCM and harmonic balancer from the supercharged engine to make it work. You should also change the fuel pump and will need the heavier transmission (4t65e) to handle the power.

I hope this answers the question for those who want to know!"

GTP Dad

I'll probably never do it. Actually at the time when I bought the car, I was looking more at gas mileage than anything else. I am going to guess that a supercharged engine is going to get worse gas mileage than a non-supercharged engine. I was originally thinking about leasing a car and I was going to get one with a 4 cylinder for the gas mileage. But then I decided to buy the car and I figured a 3.8 v6 compared to a 4 cylinder was going to last a lot longer. But my last car was an Aurora with a 4.0 V8 that required premium gas. A tank of gas in that car cost $35 or more. Now this car at least costs only around $25. Not much of a saving, but every dollar helps. Maybe my next car, when I am more rich, will be an SS.

SUPERCHARGER not turbo and its a Eaton supercharger you can pick up a rebuilt unit with about 18 pounds of boost for around 1200.00
http://www.automotive.eaton.com/product/engine_controls/superchargers/index.asp
check out www.slponline.com under W-Body for everything else

http://www.3800performance.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=CT-TURBO-KIT&Category_Code=PA&Product_Count=0

Since no one seemed to be able to see that, it DOES exist.

I would think that you could just throw in a K&N filter and slap on Dynomax's kit #19363 and then add Flowmaster American Thunder mufflers. That's my plan, since I'm a bit on the "poor" side and can't afford a supercharger myself. Anyone else think that this would boost up the car's performance a enough to get more horsepower and torque as well as maintaining the MPG?

I would think that you could just throw in a K&N filter and slap on Dynomax's kit #19363 and then add Flowmaster American Thunder mufflers. That's my plan, since I'm a bit on the "poor" side and can't afford a supercharger myself. Anyone else think that this would boost up the car's performance a enough to get more horsepower and torque as well as maintaining the MPG?

Base HP for LS's are 200, The supercharged can add up to 60 HP to that, but there is more involved than just slapping it on unfortunatly. As for value, that always depends on your budget. Try to keep in mind a brand new Supercharged 3800 engine only runs ~$3,800 plus shipping.

Base HP for LS's are 200, The supercharged can add up to 60 HP to that, but there is more involved than just slapping it on unfortunatly. As for value, that always depends on your budget. Try to keep in mind a brand new Supercharged 3800 engine only runs ~$3,800 plus shipping.

I think $3800 is more than the originator of the thread was looking to spend + he wanted to keep the MPG at their present level. Putting on the exhaust and muffler system I mentioned, as well as the K&N filter, would cost about $500-$700 installed. There's about 40 horsepower right there and you saved $3,000+ and he still stays in the MPG range he was trying for.

The horsepower readings, I don't believe, are the hp at the wheels, anyway. They usually aren't.

I would just stay away from one of those electronic superchargers on EBay. I can't see how those could work as well as they say they do on there.

I think $3800 is more than the originator of the thread was looking to spend + he wanted to keep the MPG at their present level. Putting on the exhaust and muffler system I mentioned, as well as the K&N filter, would cost about $500-$700 installed. There's about 40 horsepower right there and you saved $3,000+ and he still stays in the MPG range he was trying for.

The horsepower readings, I don't believe, are the hp at the wheels, anyway. They usually aren't.

I would just stay away from one of those electronic superchargers on EBay. I can't see how those could work as well as they say they do on there.

I don't know about adding 40 HP out of a filter and exhaust system. I know the givin setup is restrictive, but I can't imagine its that bad.

I know the HP ratings are for at the flywheel, not the wheels. http://www.impalahq.com has a dyno run on their site from a LS. If you were really curious.

I don't know about adding 40 HP out of a filter and exhaust system. I know the givin setup is restrictive, but I can't imagine its that bad.

I know the HP ratings are for at the flywheel, not the wheels. http://www.impalahq.com has a dyno run on their site from a LS. If you were really curious.


Well, the 40hp was a rough guess. It still might give him the extra snap that he was somewhat hoping to get without dropping a ton of cash. Also, thanks for the hook-up to that website. I've been looking for a good impala sight. Any other places that you like to go to for the Impalas?

check out www.l67swap.com

check out www.l67swap.com


Thanx, Mali.