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can a LS4 be squeezed into a 1997 malibu?

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Old Oct 28, 2008 | 09:02 PM
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Default can a LS4 be squeezed into a 1997 malibu?

Hello.....im a newbe to this and i am just wondering if it is worth it to put a LS4 into a 1997 malibu? I want to build a high comprression LS4 (around 400hp) but i don't kno where to start. I am also hoping to build a transmission for it but don't kno where to start there either....any help would be appreciated....
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Old Oct 28, 2008 | 09:19 PM
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What is the existing engine in the malibu?
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Old Oct 28, 2008 | 09:22 PM
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i have a 3.1 V6.... is there any way to remove the DOD system from the LS4 cuz i could care less about the whole mpg saving idea....
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Old Oct 28, 2008 | 09:35 PM
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I doubt its going to fit...not much room in those engine bays.
Tight enough the V6s in them.
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Old Oct 28, 2008 | 09:39 PM
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could some body work be done to make it fit? if not how about a supercharged V6? all i want and desire is 400hp under the hood baby! and i got around $8000 to do it with...so any suggestions?
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Old Oct 28, 2008 | 09:41 PM
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Heh, That would be pretty cool to see.
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Old Oct 28, 2008 | 09:44 PM
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Originally Posted by HP500stingray
could some body work be done to make it fit? if not how about a supercharged V6? all i want and desire is 400hp under the hood baby! and i got around $8000 to do it with...so any suggestions?
Im quite sure a supercharged 3800 would have a better chance at fitment than the V8.
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Old Oct 28, 2008 | 09:45 PM
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what kind of changes should i make to the suspension? i am clueless on how to go about creating a 400hp car that can be an daily drier and kick butt at the drags....any info u can dump on me would be........awesome
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Old Oct 28, 2008 | 09:45 PM
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Originally Posted by HP500stingray
could some body work be done to make it fit? if not how about a supercharged V6? all i want and desire is 400hp under the hood baby! and i got around $8000 to do it with...so any suggestions?
Spend the money on another car........ You can buy a decent running F-body for that $$$$
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Old Oct 28, 2008 | 09:49 PM
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i know i could buy something else but i want something that is going to be unique, something original ya know wat i mean? any info on a 3.8 block, wat compression to use, pistons, intake manifolds, etc to build a suppercharged V6 is what i need.
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Old Oct 28, 2008 | 09:52 PM
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Originally Posted by HP500stingray
what kind of changes should i make to the suspension? i am clueless on how to go about creating a 400hp car that can be an daily drier and kick butt at the drags....any info u can dump on me would be........awesome
well, do you want to stay with a FWD (front wheel drive) platform? or go to a RWD (rear wheel drive) type car??
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Old Oct 28, 2008 | 09:53 PM
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i want a FWD platform..... i have heard that there are problems with this type like "torque steer" but i would still like to try and make it work....
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Old Oct 28, 2008 | 09:53 PM
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Originally Posted by HP500stingray
i know i could buy something else but i want something that is going to be unique, something original ya know wat i mean? any info on a 3.8 block, wat compression to use, pistons, intake manifolds, etc to build a suppercharged V6 is what i need.
find a wrecked Grand Prix GTP or Bonneville SSEi or other car with a supercharged 3800 engine at the wrecking yards....??
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Old Oct 28, 2008 | 09:57 PM
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ok but i would like to mod the engine completely from block to exhaust....i hope i am not making myself sound like a fool lol i just want to create a unique setup for my car and dont kno how to go about it
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Old Oct 28, 2008 | 10:02 PM
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Pull engine and trans from a wrecked grand prix GTP, SS monte/impala and install it. If you have a 3.1, you could grab the engine wiring to and "add" it to your existing with the accompanying PCM and you should be ok.

400 hp with a S/C v6 is a lot harder to get than you'd think. My '99 grand prix gtx had quite a bit done to it (not 8K however) to get it to dyno 412 at the wheels.

Having said that, you could buy a decent shape GTP for 3k or less and put the rest of the 8k into it, susp, and engine and have a better car than a frakenstein malibu.
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Old Oct 28, 2008 | 10:07 PM
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could u get a bigger supercharger to fit without weakening stability of block? any other parts u could change without having to switch blocks to sustain the power being created?
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Old Oct 29, 2008 | 07:14 AM
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Originally Posted by HP500stingray
could u get a bigger supercharger to fit without weakening stability of block? any other parts u could change without having to switch blocks to sustain the power being created?
go over to clubgp.com or find a vendor named INTENSE. A few 9 sec grand prix were built and you can find more info in those two places than you would ever find here for that type of build.
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Old Oct 29, 2008 | 07:44 AM
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I don't see why this wouldn't work, the grand prixs are probably based on the same platform. I'm with everyone else though, fwd is pretty useless when you have a lot of power. The car turns into a wheelspin machine and torque steers like a ****. Start with a different car.

That being said, I think the swap is doable- on the ford side a continental v8 (4.6 DOHC, huge motor) fits fine in a taurus, its a reasonably straightforward swap. I think this swap would work, but again, fwd v8= all aboard the failboat.
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Old Oct 29, 2008 | 07:53 AM
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The 3800 blocks are very strong and can take alot of abuse. There are better blowers out there that have been modified to fit however the best choice is a '04+ GTP blower known as the GenV. They are more efficient that the previous Gen3 but are still inefficient when compared to turbochargers.

A quick search on the net revealed quite a few L67/4T60-HD swaps out there (Grand Prix GTP)

Phisically, you could more than likely fit the LS4 into the malibu but as being the "same platform" as a grand prix/monte/impala, I think that is off. IIRC the Malibu has a somewhat narrower engine bay and is also shorter front to back.

Originally Posted by 6spdgto
go over to clubgp.com or find a vendor named INTENSE. A few 9 sec grand prix were built and you can find more info in those two places than you would ever find here for that type of build.
As my personal preference, I would choose the vendor named ZZperformance. They have a better reputation for not blowing your engine with their parts and I beleive hold the record for fastest FWD grand prix at 8.6582 @ 158.97mph.

Last edited by TTLS1GP; Oct 29, 2008 at 08:00 AM.
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Old Oct 29, 2008 | 08:39 AM
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Yea the malibu is similar to a grand am and not a grand prix. Def go with the 3800 over a LS4 since you'd like to keep it fwd and have a limited budget for the build. Also check out the link below as its based mostly on swapping L67(3800sc) into other vehicles.
http://l67swap.com/
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