3100 to 3400 Engine swap questions

[NosLaser]

Hey all, first post. I'm a turbo DSM guy, but I also have a 98 Grand AM GT as my daily driver. The car is starting to rack up the miles (89K now) and it's financed so I have to endure it for 3 more years, so I figured I'd try to make it fun to drive. My question is, I have been thinking about swapping a 99 and up motor in (3.4 V6) to replace trhe 3100. While the motor was out I planned on replacing the rings and rod bearings, porting the cylinder heads and intake manifold, and perhaps slightly milling the heads for higher compression. When all is said and done, a nice 200HP daily driver would be the hopeful result. My question is will/do these motors bolt up to the factory motor mounts, do they bolt up to the transmission, can I use my existing ECU, and do they bolt up to all of my existing accessories (A/C, power steering, etc.)? I know I have a lot of questions, but I have never delved into the Grand Am's yet so I'm pretty new to it. I'm very mechanically inclined, so thats not the issue, but rather a big (expensive) project wouldn't be completely worth it to me for another 50HP. I can get a motor for under a grand, spend a couple hundred in gaskets and rings, a few man hours if it's a direct bolt in, and be done with it. Any insight from the more technically knowledgeable guys would be great. While I'm on my soap box, are the Supercharged GTP motors completely out of the question? Thanks in advance!!

Regards,

[Jason Lesbirel]

Given what you're apparently willing to spend, yes, a GTP engine is out of the question. It would be a trick install, but one which would cost someone thousands of dollars in custom machining and body modification to make fit.

Question - what exactly is wrong with th 3100 in the car? The 3400 is simply a stroker version. Bolting on new (or salvaged) Intake Manifolds from a 99+ Malibu or Grand Prix (in the GP, it's the base motor) will boost horsepower to 170, which is the stock 3400 output. Open up the exhaust with a set of headers (3400 headers will work on a 3100), a high-flow cat and bigger pipes from the cat-back will get you about another 10-12bhp. Get another 5-8bhp from a big-bore throttle body.

Finally, send your 'puter to ASE for modification, tell them about the new parts you have, and they'll custom map the ECM to take full advantage of them - and there's your 200bhp, maybe even a little more.

(As a side note, there could be issues with a 3400 swap and the transmission currently in the car. 3400s use the 4T45E, but pre-99 GAs used the 4T60E transmission. Both are controlled by the ECM. There could be program differences sufficient enough to cause compatability problems bewteen either the 3100 computer and the engine, or between the old tranny and the 3400 computer. Finding a way to use the 60E would be preferable, as it is the stronger of the two.)

[digital-d]

From what I've heard, all you have to do to swap in a 3400 is to put the timing chain cover from the 3100 on. Everything else should match up.

[NosLaser]

Hmmm.. Thanks for the replies. The reason I'd rather do a swap is to minimize downtime. I can perform a direct bolt in swap in a weekend, and have everything I wanted done to the motor just waiting to drop in, and I can take my time and be meticulous with it since my car will be running in the meantime. Perhaps what I'll do is pick up another 98 (3100) motor, freshen it up a bit with new rings and rod bearings, port the cylinder heads and have them slightly milled, perform the 99+ intake manifold/throttle body swap, perhaps port the exhaust manifolds, a cat back exhaust, and a reflashed ECU, or perhaps an aftermarket chip. The motors are pretty cheap, and I can do all the port/machine work myself so it may not be a bad job to perform. Does anyone make a camshaft for these cars? Is there a good website to browse for mods and prices? Thanks.

Regards,

[Antalive[DM]]

Well do the intake manifold for 99+ malibu fit a 95 v6 se?

[1996v6corsica]

a while ago i saw that mantapart had a "performance" 3100 for sale... 200+ horsepower. i dont remember how much it costs and their web site seems to be down, im thinking a little over 2 grand... i dont remember, i thought it was pretty cool though

[Marks95GAGT]

I found a couple of cams...one made my Crane and the other is made by GM....The GM one is the 3400 camshaft and they also have one that is a little wilder. Crane had three or four cams if I recall, 2 that didn't reqire ECM upgrades and 1 or 2 that did require it and had such lifts that the vacuum dropped off. I think the 2nd upgrade was a roller hydrolic. Might be interesting.

Mark

[Vinaashak]

ok so your sayin that an intake manifold off a 99+ Malibu or GP(3100) will bump horsepower up 15 to 170 correct? What other mods are required to do this. Do you need a new throttle body or does that bolt up as well. And as for the headers from a 3400 is it true that they will bolt up on a 3100? If that' is true what kinds of mods will be needed to fit them on our cars? Also can you just use the stock exhaust manifolds off a 3400 to gain any power. im sure they flow a little less restrictive than the ones off a stock 3100. Are the exhaust manifolds off the 3100 Malibu's and GP's the sam as ours or would they add alittle power as well?

[HondaCivicsSuck]

the exhaust manifolds on the 3100's are all the same but. the ones on the 3400 minivans Transsport blah blah blah are a bit bigger. i think i might pick up a set of 3400 upper and lower intakes and put them on this weekend :)

[mikem220153]

Check out this web site: 60degreev6 (http://www.60degreev6.com/) They have a lot of good info.

[HondaCivicsSuck]

hey thats a pretty cool sight :)

[JRugsy]

If you're looking for a used engine to rebuild just go to www.cherry-auto.com and they have every used part you could possibly imagine in every condition for decent prices... I am also curious about trying to instal the GTP engine my 1997 grand am. Can some one give me a good reason to do it or not to do it?

[SPECIALGAGT]

This is sorta esoteric, but a hot-rodder can dream, can't he ?? Just how far can my 3400 be bored out before reaching antifreeze? My intent is to overbore completely into the jackets and then press in sleeves for as much CID as can be gotten. I'd "trap" the sleeves between a shelf at bore-bottoms and butt them up under the head-surfaces. I understand that center-to-center of the bores is around 4.7 inches, so I am hoping to get up to 3700 ~ 3750 cc displacement. If I do, will the std. injectors feed enough fuel? Lots more calculating to do, but it's just a matter of time. Does anybody in the U.S. still heli-arc rod-bearings, and then regrind for a stroker?? Thanks.

[94shark]

could i put the manifolds on a 94 buick skylark with a 3100???

[Azrael]

Chances are, yes you could put the manifolds from a 3400/2000 and up 3100 onto an older 3100. The only problem is the EGR changed from digital to linear which bolts up differently. The only solutions to that is to rip out the EGR system and block the holes in the intake and exhaust manifolds and forever live with an SES light, or get a custom adapter plate machined. I think one or two people were selling them over at www.60degreev6.com

[94shark]

so i could put the 3400 intake and exhaust manifolds on the 94 if i got the adapter? I'm looking for a forsure answer because these parts arent cheap the adapter alone is 60 bucks