another 3.4 question

[jackscars]

The conversion that I am planning will end up dropping about a thousand pounds off of the standard weight of a Camaro, down to about 2200, so I don't believe that I am going to need TONS of engine performance mods.

Having said that though I think that I would be foolish to not take advantage of a few simple and inexpensive things that could add a little more steam.

The car will be used for nice day recreational purposes and I am well into my senior years so drag racing and speeding ticket collection will not be on my to-do list.

Any and all suggestions gladly received.

Jack

[landj]

Re: another 3.4 question

I have a 3.4L and think it's great, but... to put it in the most positive terms I can, the 3.4 engine was built for low rpm torque. It has a highly resitrictive intake an exhaust. Read some of the other posts and you'll start to see that extensive modification to the intake (and i'm not talking some cheezy "high flow filter") and exhaust manifolds would be necessary to see the true potential of that 60 degree v6.

[Bird_Of_Prey]

Re: another 3.4 question

I'll save you some time. You will NEVER get a 4th gen down to 2200lbs and retain the factory frame. It *might* be possible to get there with a tube frame and composite panels. Hell, to get it under 3000lbs, it starts costing dumptrucks full of money.

[ACiFiC]

Re: another 3.4 question

What's this.. "conversion" ?

[jackscars]

Re: another 3.4 question

The engine and transmission are going into a 71 chrome bumper MGB. The transmission is a WC T5 out of a V8 Camaro (wide spacing) and the rear axle is a 3.3 out of an MGC.

As I understand it the 94 F body car weighed in the neighborhood of 33 hundred pounds. A stock MGB with an overdrive transmission weighs just a tad over 22 hundred.

The V6 weighs about fifty pounds less than the MG lump and the T5 weighs about thirty pounds less than the B overdrive transmission.

This is going to be strictly a fair weather toy with the door windows stripped out and the bumpers removed along with anything else that isn't essential for driving on nice days.

I was leaning toward going with a Holly because I am old and don't like chasing electrons, but someone talked me into retaining the OEM management system so I am trying to educate myself on it before I jump into this head first. Besides, in order to fit the Holly I would have to fabricate a new intake manifold.

Dead stock the V6 will double the horsepower of the B four banger so I figure that if I can pick up another twenty or thirty ponies without sacrificing reliability or "normal rev range" performance I might be a happy camper come next Spring.

BTW: I dropped by the local GM store today and had a moment or two with one of their "electronics" guys. He said that aside from the harness and the ECM I would need another module that had to do with an anti-theft system built into the F body steering column. I am completely unfamiliar with this so if anyone cares to enlighten me I would happily accept the information.

Jack

[Bird_Of_Prey]

Re: another 3.4 question

He is talking about the VATS components. You can delete VATS via resistors. I'm sure you can find it if you search here. Why do a 3.4 if you're doing a swap like that? Do you need to stay 60 degree? A 3.8 has MUCH more aftermarket support.

[3.4grapeofwrath]

Re: another 3.4 question

Lose the EFI and go with a carb and distributor. Install some headers and off you go!

[landj]

Re: another 3.4 question

Well, if you've got that 3.4 available and just wanting it in the bay of that MGB, I say go for it. There are a few here that have done extensive conversions (3400 upper end swaps) and others who have ported and polished with some success. Nearly everyone will tell you that a megasquirt conversion will be necessary (DIY fuel/spark managment computer), but the f-bodies position that engine damn near the middle of the car for weight distribution and it makes carbs difficult to retrofit because it ends up being half under the dash. The MGB may be a different story. I would say toss a carb on it and see what happens if you feel comfortable doing that. A fierro board may have more info on these engines than this board. I have heard that the fierro fellas to take the 3.4 from the camaro and do conversions.

[jackscars]

Re: another 3.4 question

The 60* engine fits into a B much more easily than a wide block lump. Going with a 90* motor entails cutting up the fender aprons and routing the exhaust out of the bay that way. The 3.8 engines also pose their own extra set of installation problems. On top of that I just want something that is reasonably quick, not a complete rocket ship.

Now you have gone and done it Grapeman! It had taken me months to settle on keeping the injection and now I have to go to sleep trying to get visions of Hollys out of my head. It sure would be more simple to deal with a carb in so many different ways!

A fella might be able to get to sleep easier by counting sheep, but tossing around basic decisions on a conversion like this keeps me from getting much shut-eye.

What then is the group consensus on which carb and intake manifold to use on a 3.4 ?

Jack

[3.4grapeofwrath]

Re: another 3.4 question

Most of the power limitations with a EFI 60 degree 3.4 motor is the intake,fuel volume,lack of tuning and exhaust restrictions. The cheapest and easiest way to go is with the carb/distributor/headers set up. Edelbrock sells an intake manifold and as far as a carb you will have to do some homework. There are plenty of sites to check out with MGB's with 60 degree motors. Good luck and post up some pics.
Here's some Edelbrock manifolds.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EDL-3785/
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EDL-3789/
Or you could try and locate an old carb set up at the junkie.

[jackscars]

Re: another 3.4 question

Thanks guys !!

Jack