engine swap NEED HELP

[skuzz]

my eninge died due to lower intake gasket failure so i need a engine but i wana a little more power in my car...

I want to know if i can put a pontiac 3.8 V6 engine in my 1996 grand am GT

or if not that then largest engine that can be placed in my car...


what do i need to change to make this work?...
like transmission, computer (reprogrammed), mounts, etc
if possible part numbers or model numbers of transmission etc

also any web links to people who have done this to grand AM s

THX

[wiccanferret]

The mounts aren't the same. I've looked. I don't believe it'll bolt to the tranny either.

[Brad97GS]

Actually the 3.8 is a Buick engine.... ;) I just feel the need to point that out sometimes...sorry.

It's probably not easy to swap a 3.8 in, but it's not impossible either. If you have the money it'd be a great swap. I believe somebody did it in a Beretta...but I don't know of any specific sites to check out. Good luck!

[skuzz]

what about a 3400?..
would that fit?...

[HondaCivicsSuck]

Still would be the same... the mounts and computer would be diffrent. This is what i did... try to find the newest 3100 you can find with low miles on it. I think you only can get a 98 in your GA

[wiccanferret]

It really depends on the motor mounts. The tranny and PCM will fit pretty much universally as long as you stick with a 60 degree V6 (3100, 3400). If you have the big mount on top that connects over to the passenger side, then any motor with that mount should fit fine. The PCM and OBD-X doesn't really matter as long as you get a motor that's as current or later as your PCM because all you have to do is plug in the sensors that your PCM uses and leave out the ones it doesn't. The 3800 is out because it's a 90 degree V6...completely different animal as far as mounting goes.

[Antalive[DM]]

Ya that would be probably bad ass but i don't see much gain in it. why not just bore over the 3100 to that?

[Antalive[DM]]

But of course if you having to get a new one anyway then it is worth it.

[MJE95GAGT]

There is no way you can bore out a 3.1 to a 3.4 let alone a 3.8. 3.2 is probably all your gonna get. Plus boring out an engine mainly increases torque. Stroking it out (hehe) would get you really good gains, but I dont think anyone has done that.

[Jason Lesbirel]

GM did it - the 3400 is a stroker version of the 3100.

And, just FYI, the tranny (4T60E) was installed on, and will fit a 3100, 3400, or 3800 - just be sure that the bellhousing is the same.

The 'puter is another story - they aren't "universal". If you get a motor from your year (another 3100), you'll be OK. But if it's a newer engine, there are subtle differences in code to take advantage of the improved intake manifolds, so you're going to be better off making certain to get the 'puter the engine originally came with.

[MJE95GAGT]

Well yeah, i meant did that to their own 3100. That wouldnt be worth the money, you would probably need new pistons, rods, etc. Hm, some of the people with 99+ GAs with FI want to strengthen their trannies to hold the boost, how come none of them have considered putting on a 4T60E after their tranny blew? The 4T60E max is 280 lb-ft of torque compared to the 215 on the 4T45 i believe. No sarcasm is meant by that question.

[Jason Lesbirel]

I've been wondering the same thing, actually - given that the bellhousing bolt pattern should be the same. It might be that the suspension design in the front end makes the tranny swap difficult - the 4T45E looks like it has a shorter case than the the 60E.

[MJE95GAGT]

Do you know if the 4T45E is a more efficient/better tranny? Does it shift smoother? It doesnt make too much sense for GM to put in a weaker tranny? Couldnt GM have just somehow shortened the 4T60E if the suspension design was different and use that in the newer GAs? GM has done some odd things, so somehow it doesnt surprise me.

[Jason Lesbirel]

It's a more compact design, and is likely more efficient due to it's smaller size, but that is the limiting factor in it's power handling ability. Using the same types of metals to build both trannies, the smaller parts are naturally going to be less capable of handling power than a larger, more robust design.

[MJE95GAGT]

I see, thanks bud

[chasm31]

A friend of mine blew his 3.1 in his Grand Prix and swapped it out with a 3.4 Chevy Lumina engine. It's an older model than say, our Grand Am's but just a thought and same 3.1 engine.

[Antalive[DM]]

Ya i understand that boreing it out only increases tourque, but in my case that is what i want. Because im getting new pistons any ways rods cams and since i am boosting it i will be able to make use of that extra bore and tourque. So that why i dropped that line. Only being suggestive! :D

[Antalive[DM]]

By the way could you all tell me the differnces between the trannyies that you guys mentioned. Because i have to look into a better tranny too because it ain't gonna handle what i got coming! :cool:

[MJE95GAGT]

Well if you are gonna be puttin in new pistons and rods, that is a good idea :thumbup2: More suggestions are good man I was just given the facts to back it up. Remember .060 over is probably the most you can safely get out esp. if you are goin with boost.