3400 VS 2.2L Ecotec

[pakenney38]

I hate to do this because I know there will be hell to pay, so there are some rules to this post:
1. You say what you have to say ONCE.
2. You may not respond to someone else's comment and make this into an argument or even a debate.
3. You must have at least riden in cars with both engines.

Q: Which engine is better, in your overall opinion, in terms of the engine weight effecting the handling and acceleration of the car? Assume that I have the option to buy either one and need to make a decision between the two engines. Assume both cars are stock. What would you do?

This post is duplicated in the 3400 Forum, so please only post in one or the other.

[StaindGreen9]

Well, you don't buy a 2.2L for the super power it gives you stock. Secondly, you don't buy the 3400 for economy gas mileage. Two different engines for different people. It also depends on how deep your pockets are.

[pakenney38]

I'm more concerned about the weight of the 3400 changing the way the car handles as opposed to the 2.2. Do you have anything to say about that?

[Matt95GT]

Depends what you're looking for.

IMHO...
Price/fuel economy - Ecotec
Longetivity - Ecotec
Stock performance - 3400
Mild mod (intake/exhaust/etc) performance - 3400
Wild mod performance (forced induction) - Ecotec


Originally posted by pakenney38
I'm more concerned about the weight of the 3400 changing the way the car handles as opposed to the 2.2. Do you have anything to say about that?

Weight differences are negligible - the I-4's are still heavy engines. The manual trans available on the Ecotec will be a weight saver tho.

Also, FYI... cross-posting is frowned upon here.

[pakenney38]

Then create a VS section. None of the current sections address this. With the fact that there were so many engines available for the Grand Am, it should be expected that there would be engine comparisons.

[RickHigginsHtbr]

Well the Ecotec is going to be cheaper for you to afford, the price of the car and the amount of gas you'll be using. Suprisngly, the Ecotec is pretty peppy with normal maintenence... Oil changes every 3k, air filter inspection, etc... I even go as far as cleaning out my TB and Intake every other month... just a spray of a lil carb cleaner and all is good.

Suspension wise... nothing different between the SE's or GT's that I know of... I definately recomend the STB's from PFYC and Eibach Springs.

[Bjornboy81]

Originally posted by xxkewlguyxx
Suspension wise... nothing different between the SE's or GT's that I know of... I definately recomend the STB's from PFYC and Eibach Springs.

The GT has a bigger sway bar in the back.

[jayhawk]

Ecotec all the way if you are going to modify it. 3400 if you want to have it stay stock.

I mean, come on. 170 horsepower from 3.4 liters of displacement. Thats just plain shameful in this modern day and age.

[99GrandAMSE]

... 4-bangers are for tractors :lol: :poke:

[Bjornboy81]

Originally posted by jayhawk
I mean, come on. 170 horsepower from 3.4 liters of displacement. Thats just plain shameful in this modern day and age.

But it would cost more to get the Eco up to 200hp then the 3400.
It's just headers, intake, and exhaust...for the Eco you'd need a blower. Correct me if I'm wrong :)

[Zinger]

I have the 2.2 and i love it. Good on gas has some spunk to her and the 5 speed u cant get on the 3400 which is kinda dumb but hey wat ever works for GM i guess. As for mods if u want higher power yea you will need to invest more money into the ecotec than the 3400. my parts so far have come to around $1 945 give or take which include the TB/intake header and exhaust plus high flow Cat and both tower bracer bars. You cant go wrong though with the amount of room you get to work with. Theres a good foot and a half clearence between radiator and engine and fire wall and engine so its pretty forgiving if you ever have to get in there. Iv also heard somewhere i dont know if its true or not but the stock engine parts like the crank are capable of handling most mild mods like putting it under boost and a small shot of NO2. And if you are going for serious upgrades the parts seem to be available to strengthen both top and bottem end. In my opinion 2.2 all the way

[Mike94SE]

Originally posted by jayhawk
Ecotec all the way if you are going to modify it. 3400 if you want to have it stay stock.

I mean, come on. 170 horsepower from 3.4 liters of displacement. Thats just plain shameful in this modern day and age.

More so if you look at a certain 4 from a decade ago......

[thegeswho3]

Sorry, but the 3400 is out of date, thats why the new G6 doesnt use it. The Eco is a great little engine for a power/economy compromise.

Neather give you great preformance, but then again im driving the very outdated 2.4 that gives about the same, and i have fun.

I say go Eco.

[Bjornboy81]

Originally posted by thegeswho3
Sorry, but the 3400 is out of date, thats why the new G6 doesnt use it.

Isn't the G6's 3.5L the same engine as the 3400...just bored out?

The G6 GTP will have the 3.9L which I know is the same as the 3400.

[thegeswho3]

Originally posted by Bjornboy81
Isn't the G6's 3.5L the same engine as the 3400...just bored out?



I dunno, mabe, but it's still not impressive to be getting 200 horses out of 3.5L.

[Bjornboy81]

lol...thank you Captain Obvious!!!



:D j/p

[Grandam02chick]

I have the ecotec in my 02 ga,I bought it 3yrs ago.and I bought it cuz i couldn't afford the gt model with the 3400,but I've been told from other friends,that have driven my car.that the ecotec motor has more potential then the 3400,grand it.the 3400 as 175hp stock-the ecotec has 140hp-stock.but if u do the research,u'll find that someone has done a ecotec with 1,000hp motor wise.I've drove both cars,the 3400 was the first car I test drove till I drove mine.grant it.it's a 4cylinder but it's good on gas.I love the handling in my car.but POntiac has always been known for their handling and suspension when it comes to cornering,exspecially sharp corners.


p.s I also agree with matt95gt and everyone else.also u should have post this in the debate section.not double posting in the 3400 and ecotec topic

[XtremeGrandAm]

Originally posted by pakenney38
I'm more concerned about the weight of the 3400 changing the way the car handles as opposed to the 2.2. Do you have anything to say about that?

I had a 2002 Grand Am SE1 Sedan for 3 year with the Ecotec and Now have a 2004 GT1 Coupe. I think the upgraded suspension parts compensate for any weight differences that would cause a change in handling. As far as the 3400 Series not being acceptable for a modern car its acceptable enough....At least the 3.4L Grand Am's are just slightly faster than the G6's with the 3.5L 200 HP engine. (And I know that they are faster because I have both a G6 and Grand Am at my house and my Grand Am can get up to speed faster)

With my driving style I have actually gotten better gas mileage out of my new 3400 Series GA vs the Ecotec. But the Ecotec engine is very nice. I dont have anything negative to say about it. The 3400 Series can have reliability issues which I wasnt as afraid of with the Ecotec.

[RickHigginsHtbr]

Eh, I really don't like the way the G6 rides... I like to feel the road and hear my car when I drive. My parent's g6 is just way too quite and smooth for my likings. And I do have to say, at FT, I think my Ecotec hits 60 MPH atleast a second or two sooner.

[XtremeGrandAm]

Originally posted by xxkewlguyxx
Eh, I really don't like the way the G6 rides... I like to feel the road and hear my car when I drive. My parent's g6 is just way too quite and smooth for my likings. And I do have to say, at FT, I think my Ecotec hits 60 MPH atleast a second or two sooner.

The G6 is extremly smooth some older drivers will probably find that as a positive while a lot of younger drivers like to be more engaged in their driving. When I drive the G6 I do find it kind of boring compaired to the Grand Am. However I do like the automatic/manual shifting mode that can be fun but the steering is so controled that even making a turn on a fun to drive road seems boring.

[urweak]

I would say if you had a a 5 speed ecotec or a 3400 i would go with the ecotec. If both cars are autos then i would go with the 3400.

[goredsox]

I know the poll says no commenting but, the 3400 only gets 175 since it is the dated pushrod engine (OHC w/ 2 valves per cylinder) where the Ecotec is a DOHC w/ 4 valves per cylinder. Niether engine is fast or reliable. But if push came to shove i'd still have the 3400, even though u cant get a manual tranny with it.

[XtremeGrandAm]

Originally posted by goredsox
Niether engine is fast or reliable.
The Ecotec engine hasnt proven to be unreliable.