very easy platform to modify , quickest stock rotating assembly 3800 fwd went 8.6 @159 (ZZ Performance) mnay , many 12 sec daily drivers over on
www.regalgs.org ( I am a moderator over there) as the poster above mentioned by the time you get in the 12's (your stated goal) you will be at the point of considering trans upgrades to tolerate that power level , but $3k in the trans isn't bad compared to what some platforms have to put in trans, driveshaft , loops , rear end , suspension to do the same consistently and many have been 12's without spending 3k in the trans .
As you mentioned your knowledge of boost vs timing ,knock retard , proper fuel systems , scanning ,tuning etc are all transferrable skills and will make the learning curve quick on the L67 w body platform. I have made low 13's on $1000 in mods before full weight car no spray and 12.1 @118 on another car with spray , trap says more traction and it would have run 11's , if it wasn't full weight it likely would have cracked 11's also had $4000 total in the car... Been playing with Ls1 Camaro's lately so I don't currently have an L67 car track ready but in the past I have taken a stock car and run 14.4 with it track prep only and about $300-400 in well purchased mods will get one top 13's.
Also you mentioned chip - no chip (prom) instead its tuning the pcm (powertrain control module) its either buy a tuner and you (or someone else with a tuner) tunes your pcm , or you buy a pcm with a cookie cutter tune from a vendor such as zzp or intense with a choice to send them your pcm or pay a core charge , I happen to have a 98pcm in one of my parts cars if you need a cheaper core than they would charge.
your goal of 12's can be achieved many ways , I will assume you want to do it without spray.. some have done it with addition of an intercooler technically an aftercooler as its located after the SC and before the lower intake manifold/sandwiched between which along with tuning intake , and exhaust mods will let you pulley down aggressively. Cam or high ratio rockers can make that goal much easier to get to and or far surpass it ( Intercooled/cammed cars with good supporting mods and knowledgeable driver tuner , attention to details can and have run 11's)
If you have e85 in your area you could also go that route as its cheaper , lighter , and one less system to deal with than IC , several guys have gone 12's on e85/cam/supporting mods.
All these scenarios are full weight , gut the car and you can surpass these numbers . if you think you may want to go faster than 12's be it 9's ,10's ,11's start out by ditching the sc and going turbo and plan on investing $4-5k in the transaxle to hold those power levels.
Most important thing to get good et's out of a fwd w body is getting the seat time and learning the attention to details to get these cars to et , making power is easy the series 2 3800 is basically a stage motor stock - it will take a lot of crap , its tough... get fuel air and spark to it and its going to make power its getting it to the ground without breaking stuff that's the challenge.
One of my favorite things about the platform is a lot of people don't know its potential , if you go to the track in an ls1 Camaro like I am playing with or a grand national , etc... people expect it to perform at least reasonably well , run 12's in a stock looking 4 door fwd buick with a 6 banger and you will draw a crowd after every pass and bust a lot of ego's , I really enjoyed my time racing them and plan to go back at some point and tsake the platform further ( personally speaking)
