1992 Grand Prix GTP

[GrandAmSSE]

Well I traded my Challenger for a 97 Monte Carlo (front end damaged) and a 1992 Grand Prix GTP. Also for the Challenger I'm get the rack fixed on my 95GA and a engine hoist and some money. What can I do with the GTP? It needs work but not as much as the dodge did. Its got power everything and a 3400 DOHC w/ OD on the trans. The timing is off so its really slugish.

PICS!!!

P.S sorry if the pics suck my good camera got stolen.

[GrandAmSSE]

more

[GrandAmSSE]

last one for now.

[red98grandamse]

but honestly, im sure youll find that not many people know much about that car here. theres the obvious appearance mods, same type of things youd do to your GA, and all are pretty much universal type things. but for anything GP-specific you may want to look into grand prix forums and such tos ee what they do for those cars.

[Brandon]

well as others have said, id go to a grand prix and a monte carlo site for them....

[GrandAmSSE]

What is there a GPOC? lol Know any good forums? Hey does someone make a RA hood for my new ride?

[nineteen88ga]

Google works wonders.

[sumx4182]

My dad had a 97 GP GTP...Forrest Green metallic, fully loaded with leather and HUD...man, i wish he kept that car! I would have loved to have it when i started driving...

[Big Joe]

:peepsofa: I'm watching..........

[Prospeeder]

Ah the 3.4 DOHC, NOT To be mistaken for a 3400 at all. Have fun with that, there fairly unreliable and have no aftermarket what so ever. Also your missing your front Valence like me! lol

[DontPassTheFence]

OH NOES the rare 3.4L Twin-Dual Overhead-Cam engine, aka the LQ1. Its effing amazing once you get it to stop eating timing belts, and keep its oil consumption down. Id say overhaul that engine, all new gaskets, all new belts and hoses and vac lines, then after that it SHOULD run like new unless it has an electrical problem or a transmission-related problem.That is seriously an awesome engine there (220hp and slightly less torque than that stock, IIRC)

[jayhawk]

3.4 DOHC; you are going to be one ANGRY, ANGRY person soon enough.

[Prospeeder]

Originally posted by DontPassTheFence
OH NOES the rare 3.4L Twin-Dual Overhead-Cam engine, aka the LQ1. Its effing amazing once you get it to stop eating timing belts, and keep its oil consumption down. Id say overhaul that engine, all new gaskets, all new belts and hoses and vac lines, then after that it SHOULD run like new unless it has an electrical problem or a transmission-related problem.That is seriously an awesome engine there (220hp and slightly less torque than that stock, IIRC)
It doesnt EAT timing belts like a defect, it just needs replaced at 60k like every timing belt equiped car. Oil comsumption isnt its thing, its the leaking oil pump drive seal commong in all .8, 3.1 and 3.4 DOHC engines. They do however have like Upper intake manifold gasket problems so the car revs all the time, alternators that take hours to replace, timing belt that doesnt sound fun AT ALL holy crap id show you the procedure in my chiltons. The rear spark plugs will be REALLY fun for you to, theres absolutly no room under there, but the only thing you can do is rotate the engine forward. for more info id go to W-body.com, they specialize in the 3.4 DOHC 88-96 cars

[RocketFast321]

get ready for it to be off the road from a long time

[GrandAmSSE]

The engine was just replaced and has really low mileage. I love the seats on it. So prospeeder know how to srt the timing?

[car audio dave]

all of this negative stuff about the 3.4 DOHC but the thing is, its like any other GM engine...if you take care of it, and fix stuff when you need to, itll last you a while. i know theres not many mods for it, but you can do an intake and exhaust...i wouldnt do much more than that to it.

if you can find the hood off the grand prix turbo its a cool looking hood...very intimidating.

[GrandAmSSE]

Whats the hood look like?

[red98grandamse]

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/4/web/568000-568999/568633_36_full.jpg


I "think" Dave is talking about this hood. For more pics of it, go to ProSpeeders cardomain.

[Prospeeder]

Ah thats a crappy Picture, lol, heres a better one. Oh BTW its the same hood for 91-93 GTP grand Prixs.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Prospeeder/1132.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Prospeeder/Turbo%20Grand%20Prix/100_0804.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Prospeeder/Turbo%20Grand%20Prix/100_0256.jpg



From what it looks like, he has a 94-96 GTP hood with the little pussy Louvers that are small

[Prospeeder]

Also how do you know the timings off? Those 3.4s arnt very quick off the line but really haul at higher RPMs. Timing would be set by Setting the crank to Top dead center then both the Camshafts to top dead center. Have fun with that and buy a Service manual

[red98grandamse]

well yea.. lol, i only had access to your cardomain pics, so I had a limited selection. haha

[GrandAmSSE]

I thought your GP was the same Gen as mine? I mean I thought you front end was the same.

[Prospeeder]

Nope, i have an 88-90 Model, but the Turbo Models were only 89-90 and had the Large composite headlights and specific fascia completly unique to the Turbo Grand Prixs

You have a 91-93 Model

[GrandAmSSE]

Know where I can get 92 appearance mods?

[Prospeeder]

Uh i would leave it be, these cars look great with the stock effects. Just find a new Lower valence, were both missing them :( Damn those curbs

Pics of cars with Valence

http://turbograndprix.com/favorite.htm

[GrandAmSSE]

I had to ask this but I lost my damn keys. I think they might be in the trunk but I can see them throw the hole in the back seat. Oh the trunk button in the G-box doesn't work either with no key at all. How much to buy replacement keys?

[GrandAmSSE]

Never mind found them!

[Prospeeder]

Your trunk popper in the glove box doesnt work? Wierd, might be a fuse or just not plugged in, the battery is charged right, its a power acuated selinoid that opens the trunk

[MantaGreen97]

If you're interested, that LQ1 makes a crazy amount of power when turboed :D

[GrandAmSSE]

Not sure what I'm going to do yet. Was thinking of swapping the 3400 to a Supercharged 3800. I need a new set of hood louvers as is.

[Prospeeder]

I wouldnt bother with the cars powertrain till it actually looks decent seeing as it runs fine and has lower miles on the engine. Looks like the body could use some help

[GrandAmSSE]

Update: I've decided to get the car resprayed. I'm going to sand it to metal and take it to a local shop. Any color ideas?

[nineteen88ga]

pink.

[XoticGA]

Salmon! :D

[FasTBird232]

Why in the hell was Prospeeder talking about the LQ1? He never even had one! I swear, I haven't seen one message board he hasn't been banned from...

Speaking of which, join up at W-Body.com (http://www.w-body.com/forum/index.php). I've been there for a few years, and it's without a doubt THE best first-gen Grand Prix forum on the internet.

As for the LQ1 horror stories, I never had any problems with my GTP. Just pop off the timing belt inspection cover every 20k miles or so and keep an eye on things. The oil consumption stems from a leaky o-ring on the oil pump drive, but that was a common problem with all early 60* V6s, not just the DOHC.

And for all you LQ1 haters, well, I can't think of another GM V6 that can spend all day long at 7200 rpm. That engine was a blast to drive, and I only wish it wasn't such a damned wide engine (and won't fit in a GA engine bay).

[Husky]

The LQ1, or 3.4 TDOHC, is a potent motor with a lot of potential. And no aftermarket, for the most part. A Company called FFP makes poly dogbones, which firm up the shifts and launch a good deal, and an underdrive pulley, which is good for a claimed 10 BHP, but beyond that you're getting into the realm of custom parts. Honestly, what you have to do is register on some forums(w-body.com and 60degreev6.com, don't waste your time with ClubGP, they won't tell you anything useful unless you have a 3800 Series II Supercharged). The motor's love turbo's, and can handle crazy amounts of boost on stock internals. There's currently a guy running a T03 setup, IIRC, homemade, and he's got all stock engine components except for a set of Hypereutectic pistons, and he's got 455 estimated BHP. I think he dyno'd juuust shy of 400 at the wheels. TimG runs 15 pounds, I believe, and he's making 350 WHP with no tune whatsoever. The big things on that car to take care of are the timing belt(it's a non-interference engine, in theory you can break a belt and not have a bent valve or anything, it's happend to me and all I replaced was the belt), and the transmission. The damn tranny's were rated for less torque than the damn engine makes from the factory. For performance, you can free up some big HP by adjusting the cam timing. See the writeup on 60degreev6.com for reference, you might as well since you're doing the cam timing now anyways. There's also a walkthrough on how to set the stock timing there. Lessee... Oh, in 1994, the engine got some updates, better cam carriers, to resolve an oiling issue, and it makes for easier timing changes, and in 1992/1993, they switched to a better transmission in the automatic cars, the 4T60E. Um... appearance, it already has the B4U bodykit, so the only thing you could do is swap the plasticwork out for anewer one, like the ones used from 1994-1996, I personally like those better which is why I bought my 1994 instead. In 1996 and 1997, the heads, cam carriers, intake manifolds, and exhaust manifolds were totally redesigned, the heads and intake is a MUCH better design, especially for top end power, but if you've got an automatic, I wouldn't bother with the intake, just the heads and exhast manifolds. For turbo, the front exhaust manifold flips over and can be used on the rear, so the only custom part needed is the downpipe and crossover.


Basically, the engine is strong, except for the timing components, and very powerful. Stock for stock, it can beat 3800 Series IIs no problem as long as they're not supercharged, and they show much bigger gains for the same amount of boost. For the most part, the naysayers of the motor simply don't understand it. Check out those sites, they'll point you in the right directions. Or feel free to message me if you need to know anything, I've gained a good deal of knowledge about the cars in the last few years.

[Husky]

Originally posted by FasTBird232
[And for all you LQ1 haters, well, I can't think of another GM V6 that can spend all day long at 7200 rpm. That engine was a blast to drive, and I only wish it wasn't such a damned wide engine (and won't fit in a GA engine bay).

Actually... Someone shoehorned one into a GAGT engine bay, a 1996ish GAGT. It's insanely cramped, and he had to modify the fender to have access to the belt tensioner, but it fit. You can use a lot of the 3100 and 3400 mounts and pieces to saddle it in there... And I gotta say, I would kill for a 1999+ GAGT coupe with the LQ1 in there. It'd be a nightmare to work on though, as cramped as it is. I'm looking for pictures now.