GM made 3100 making 238HP in 1998

[robertisaar]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBPcaIywOGs&feature=related

if only we knew how exactly they did this... theres some filler stuff, but the malibu is the important part...

[onefastV6]

Headers for certain, not sure what else was done.

[pocket-rocket]

Well considering GM likes to rate their engines at the crank, unlike Ford rating theirs at the tires, we know the 5 speed in the Malibu has nothing to do with it. He also said a solid lifter cam was good for 50 hp in the Camaro.

[SofaKingWeToddDid]

ill take one of those motors too... make a fun little go kart.

[IsaacHayes]

Uhm, aren't all SAE engines ratings at the crank???? If ford rates their stuff at the wheels then their dyno must be broken from the car's I have ran against, and rode in.

Anyway, that TB on the 3400 in the malibu almost looks like a 96+ DOHC TB or something (similar to the Intrigue style)

Those headers aren't really even headers... no collector on the front...

A cam, high compression sounds about right for that power level like the comments on the video says.

[pocket-rocket]

I was told this by a friend who was very much into cars (and making them faster). Actually I heard this from more then one person. It makes sense though, WHP is what you can use, not BHP.

[robertisaar]

with all of the new SAE required stuff ford definitely rates them by crank HP. maybe in the past they did WHP, but not anymore.

[pocket-rocket]

Well, see, there you go. I was referring to older stuff and don't research what SAE wants. When did they move to this?

[SofaKingWeToddDid]

i find factory HP and TQ ratings a little disguising and arent really going to tell you what the vehicle does. the ford and dodge full ton trucks are both factory rated at 350hp and 650ft/lbs but a decently modded (bully dog, cold air box, methanol injected, 4" dual exhaust) and the factory twin turbos wont help much against a stock dodge....

[Superdave]

Well, see, there you go. I was referring to older stuff and don't research what SAE wants. When did they move to this?

in the 70's.


From what i've seen of the 3400, 238 HP is no big feat. Surely that's crank HP. a moderate cam, the "headers" pictured and a good tune would do that easy.


Most 3400 swapped J's are putting down about 190 WHP with a tune, exhaust and intake. that's roughly 220 @ the crank.

[pocket-rocket]

i find factory HP and TQ ratings a little disguising and arent really going to tell you what the vehicle does

Agreed. Remember back in the muscle car days when auto makers would really underrate their engines for insurance reasons?

[asylummotorsports]

Evidently my track times indicate I'm at 234 crank HP.

Is that accurate? I don't know, but it was done by someone who seems to know what they are talking about.

[Azrael]

Those headers were kind of funny looking. Long-tube maybe? Large-port topend as most (if not all) 3100's in 98 were still using the small-port parts.

[IsaacHayes]

Those really weren't headers from what the front manifold looked like. Looks like the 3800 style manifolds. Headers would have all the primaries going into a collector so you would get the scavenging affects. Those were just tubular manifolds.

The malibu had a 3400 in it, if you read the comments on the videos it says upon further research it was a 3400... And yeah you can tell it was at least a large port manifold.

[robertisaar]

"Did some googling. My bad, its a 3400.
From Popular Mechanics: ...A 238-hp, 3400 pushrod V6 borrowed from the Chevy Venture minivan. It's been enhanced with high-compression pistons, a high-lift camshaft, stiffer valve springs and better breathing.""

i'm going to need a source....

EDIT: some quick pics...

1. shot of the intake: definitely a large port, and with no script on top, PROBABLY came from a van.

2. full motor including the exhaust manifold: what a funky design...