Whats the best engine to swap into a GA?

[Street-racer]

Just wondering what engine is best to swap into a GA, there is a 5.7 most trans am have that comes with 6 spd tranny or auto, older trans ams had a 6.6 with turbo tranny 4 spd. But as I understand all of those are for RWD and not possible in GA?

So then whats possible? The 4.6 that has like 280hp?

[potheadrme]

i would say maybe a 3.8 supersharged motor

[car audio dave]

it all depends on what you are planning to spend. if you have a 3400 now, then just get a new one, and bfore installing it, have it bored out to a 3.6L, get it ported/polished, and get some more suctom work done, like cams, lifters, pistons, and more. you can then add a turbo setup, and have a custom built 5 speed tranny, and youll be fast as hell, id guestimate over 300 hp, and itll still cost less than converting to RWD and adding a v8.

if you wanna get crazy, get your hands on a catera, move the grand am body onto it, and youll have a RWD n-body. then swap in a northstar motor.

[HighwayProwlerz]

I thought about either having my 3.4 bored out, manual tranny and adding a SC or getting a 3.8L with a supercharger out of a Grand Prix.

[RocketFast321]

hmmm SHO power Grand Am hmmmmmmm

[Street-racer]

3800 is not a v8, and really not worth the trouble. Thing makes barely like 30 more hp over GA. It would be cheaper to just build up 3400 for good FI then to swap 3800.
(and as a side note I actually do beat 3800's during races pretty easily GT ofcourse not GTP)

[PGsGT]

...

[96gtcoupe]

Im guessing thats for 99 + gas, what about 98 - gagts?

[blitzen]

if you still plan to go with front wheel drive and avoid all that huge hassel why not take the 3800 from the grand prix, port and polish it, add high performance cams, heads, and lifters. this way you can still buy good seals so that you could run a turbo/blower/nitrous. with this much more power over a stock 3400 you'de need work done on the tranny though.

also take into consideration how much more the grand prix weigh if those are the 3800s you were racing:poke:

[95-GT]

3400 is your best bet. You can still use the stock ecm and wiring, and mounts. If you go with a 3800, you need the tranny also, plus custom mounting, custom half-shafts, all new wiring harness and computer. Too much work.

[SonicTron]

What about going from a 2.4L to the 3800? 3800-II supercharged of course. Lots of tranny work I would guess :(

[VanishingImage]

Originally posted by 95-GT
3400 is your best bet. You can still use the stock ecm and wiring, and mounts. If you go with a 3800, you need the tranny also, plus custom mounting, custom half-shafts, all new wiring harness and computer. Too much work.

Its not really too much work if someone is willing and wanting to go through with it.Some people just can't stand or have the need to go all out and spend the money needed to do it.But the saying with $$$ anything can be done..............As for the engine,go for the one that RSM has a SC for,port and polish it and get the 5speed tranny and you got yourself a pretty quick GA.

[Street-racer]

i dont think there is a 5 spd or 6 spd tranny for a 3400 ga.

[VanishingImage]

my mistake........then u know what u can do.......Customize one:D

[95-GT]

actually, you can mat a getrag 282 up to the 3400. All you need is the clutch pedal, shifter, and transmission, cv joints from a 5-speed 92-98 grand am, flywheel and new clutch with a custom welded mount.

[92CamaroRS]

Originally posted by blitzen
if you still plan to go with front wheel drive and avoid all that huge hassel why not take the 3800 from the grand prix, port and polish it, add high performance cams, heads, and lifters. this way you can still buy good seals so that you could run a turbo/blower/nitrous. with this much more power over a stock 3400 you'de need work done on the tranny though.

also take into consideration how much more the grand prix weigh if those are the 3800s you were racing:poke:


uh just a correction but the 3800 is a OHV which means it only has A cam no cams. good ole torque style :D

[VanishingImage]

Originally posted by 95-GT
actually, you can mat a getrag 282 up to the 3400. All you need is the clutch pedal, shifter, and transmission, cv joints from a 5-speed 92-98 grand am, flywheel and new clutch with a custom welded mount.

Well there ya go:D Which car is that Getrag 282 from,or what cars have that on them?

[96gtcoupe]

Originally posted by 96gtcoupe
Im guessing thats for 99 + gas, what about 98 - gagts?

96- 98 gagts? What are their options?

[HighwayProwlerz]

I think I am going to probably go with the upgraded 3400 with a custom manual tranny. As soon as I can afford it.........

[96grandma]

Originally posted by VanishingImage
Well there ya go:D Which car is that Getrag 282 from,or what cars have that on them?

ya im curious about that too. the only beaf i have with my car is i really miss driving a manual trans. it would be cool to know what i would need

[Night Wolf]

Originally posted by car audio dave
it all depends on what you are planning to spend. if you have a 3400 now, then just get a new one, and bfore installing it, have it bored out to a 3.6L, get it ported/polished, and get some more suctom work done, like cams, lifters, pistons, and more. you can then add a turbo setup, and have a custom built 5 speed tranny, and youll be fast as hell, id guestimate over 300 hp, and itll still cost less than converting to RWD and adding a v8.

if you wanna get crazy, get your hands on a catera, move the grand am body onto it, and youll have a RWD n-body. then swap in a northstar motor.

swapping a N* into a Catera would be more difficult then swapping a N* into a Grand Am....

[3 DeeJay]

how about a 2.2 ecotec and jus mod the hell out of it.. lol :)

[LargeFish]

For a pre '96, Quad4 is your best bet.

Not that I'm biased or anything...

[96grandma]

y not a 2.4 ecotec:shrug:

[92CamaroRS]

Originally posted by 96grandma
y not a 2.4 ecotec:shrug:

there is no 2.4 ecotec for the GA
i think you are talking about the 2.2 Ecotec
the 2.4 was just a TwinCam 4banger

[96grandma]

ya isnt that the new jbody motor? i guess i just didnt realize that the 4 cyl motor for the ga was different than the 4 cly out of the cavi. thanks for clearing that one up

[3 DeeJay]

Yeah the 2.4 ecotec is the new jbody motor..

[RocketFast321]

I just thought about this, the Chevy Lumina has the 3100 right but the police one has the 3800. I know the Grand Am and Lumina are not the same but close right? Do you think a parts from the lumina will make the swap easier.

3800 Lumina
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2451841549&category=6157

[The Grabulator]

Hmm I wonder if the motor mounts are in the same place on a 3800 as on the 3400...I've been interested in convering my SE to a "GTP" for a while. Also does anyone know if I can just put the whole engine/trans out of a Grand Prix GTP? I beleive that Getrag was from the fiero?? or maybe that's just the trans the modders use. hmm anyways, if anyone has anymore info/ideas I would appreciate them.

[silverbullet00]

A friend of mine approached me today and questioned me about the 3800 swap. He is actually more into the import scene and said he can hook me up with a 3800 SC for a really good price. He told me this is new. If you could get this at almost a steal price, would it be worth all the hassle to do the swap. If someone knows for sure what all I would have to do, please let me know as I am serious about this especially since I found out how much. Only thing I need for it is the starter and alternator.

[The Grabulator]

Great, I didnt know if I was the only on interested in doing this. dont suppose your friend can get 2 deals on the motors...? Im still bebating whether I want to bother with a stick shift or just modify the GTP auto.

[silverbullet00]

Well, being as I cannot do this right now I asked him if he can only get the one or can he get them anytime. He said anytime. It is someone he knows from the US somewhere. I have to talk to him more about the $$ because I find it hard to believe but if it is true, I want to rally find out the hassled I have to go through to do this swap. If it is not worth it in the end, then forget it. I don't want to spend that kind of money if I can get the same hp from the 3400 somehow.

[95-GT]

Came in fieros and early model w-bodies