3.4L to 3.8L

[BearWithChainsaw]

Anyone ever done it? I have a 1995 camaro and was just curious on what parts are needed and the general over all cost of the project. Waiting for my 3.4 to fart out and was looking to see if i could just get that 40+ HP instead of another 3.4L engine.

[tmon930]

Re: 3.4L to 3.8L

why not just go for a 5.7L? it'd probably cost the same.

[greasemonkey]

Re: 3.4L to 3.8L

why not just go for a 5.7L? it'd probably cost the same.

All aboard the bandwagon! :banana:

A 3800 can be found for a few hundred bucks. I haven't seen an LS1 worth looking at for under a grand.

[niik000]

Re: 3.4L to 3.8L

i asked the same question on this site in this section and i learned about the magic top end swap:

you take heads off of a 3400 (or 3500 if you can find one) fwd motor, lower intake off of a 3400 (or 3500 motor if you can find one) and upper intake and trottle body off of a 3400 (or 3500 but you would need a bigger hood with a little more clearance) you also need 3400 pistons bacause your compression ratio will be to high without them. and bigger injectors. these mods alone will give you the same power, if not more, as a 3800 swap. look in the advanced engine section theres tons of threads about this, and a couple of guys have done it who can help you out.

[niik000]

Re: 3.4L to 3.8L

read this:

http://forum.camarov6.com/showthread.php?t=64963

[BearWithChainsaw]

Re: 3.4L to 3.8L

Hmm interesting... Is this all a DIY project or would a mechanic be able to do this for a nominal charge if I gave him the pieces?

[87SC/SS]

Re: 3.4L to 3.8L

It depends on your level of mechanical ability. You have to basically pull the motor and tear most of it down. It took me almost a day to get my engine out (without breaking parts of the car, or myself) and torn down. Then it took another day to rebuild the motor, and about 2 days to get the engine in and hook everything up. Now I did all of this over a period of a few months. When I say day I'm figuring 8-10 hrs. I think I was quoted by a mechanic shop about 40 hrs to pull the motor, rebuild it and reinstall it. If you've never pulled an engine out of a car, I wouldn't recommend learning on a 4th gen its a PITA, and I've done it 3 times.

[niik000]

Re: 3.4L to 3.8L

I know it makes it eazer in the long run but Do you have to pull the engine?

[BearWithChainsaw]

Re: 3.4L to 3.8L

I know it makes it eazer in the long run but Do you have to pull the engine?

ATM no and I will not have to for some time.

[87SC/SS]

Re: 3.4L to 3.8L

Yea you do need to pull the engine to perform this upgrade. Because the combustion chambers are smaller on the 3400/3500 heads, you need the same pistons that are in the 3400, otherwise your compression ratio would be around 11-11.5:1 (I forget the exact number). You could probably tune it with a Megasquirt to run at that compression, but it would have to be pretty precise and you might not be able to run enough advance to get the full performance out of your cam. Plus to run that kind of advance with that CR you'd have to richen up the mixture quite a bit and your gas mileage would be in the toilet.

So... Yes you do have to pull the motor to change the pistons. If ya got it out, might as well do a rebuild if you have more than 75,000 miles. On the bright side your Fbody will thank you with an extra 40-60 hp (depending on if you do any work to the heads).

Check these threads out for more info:

Forced_Firebird is in the process of this upgrade now, he's shooting for an additional 100 hp (265 out of a 3.4!?!? that'll shut up those GT drivers)
http://forum.camarov6.com/showthread.php?t=83282

Here is the unbelievable amount of research that black34v6 did on this upgrade.
http://forum.camarov6.com/showthread.php?t=64963

Hope this helps.

[BearWithChainsaw]

Re: 3.4L to 3.8L

Thanks guys never knew 3.4L was even capable <,<

[niik000]

Re: 3.4L to 3.8L

yah there not crappy motors, there good motors with crappy top ends.