3400 swap minivan

[jamie]

I have a 97 olds silhouette in need of another engine.Will any 3400 bolt in? I have access to some 02-04 malibu or impala 3400's will they work?Bellhousing patern and all are same?Sorry if you already answered this for someone on here.

[geoffinbc]

Yea but it is better to stick to closer to the year you have. Reason being is things like coolant line connections changed and so did cam position sensors. Nothing that cannot be addressed but you need to have it all straightened out beforehand to have a seamless swap.

Some of the late model engine swappers will chime in soon. I am not as familiar with the changes between the FWD platforms.

[IsaacHayes]

Cam sensor does not matter. They changed styles yes but they all read the same. Only one that won't work is the equinox 3400 as the crank trigger setup is different.

The coolant fitting in the lower intake on yours is threaded. The later year 99+ 3400's had a press in fitting. You can tap that with NPT thread to put your fitting in or just re-use your old lower intake and upper intake. You will have to re-use your upper anyways for the EGR setup unless you are getting a pre 2000 3400. OR for the EGR issue, you can run the 2000+ style upper intake and EGR, along with the EGR to manifold tube and the computer will control it just fine. They just changed how it all fits together.

So to recap, any 3400 as long as it's NOT a equinox one. And if something doesn't fit you can re-use your old stuff with new gaskets. Might as well put on the metal felpro lower intake gaskets so you dont have to worry about a leak ever again taking out the motor.

[geldartb]

the 3400's from 96-99 were the press in on the coolant fitting too. i had a lim which is now on my beretta from a 96 or 97 3400 that was press in fitting.

[El_Diablo]

just depends on the engine and car i believe

oil pan from the van may need to be swapped on to the new engine depending on what you get it from IIRC, if it were me i would also just swap to the newer egr setup, its worth doing the work for the extra power you get with the newer manifolds IMO

[jamie]

minivan

its a 1997 olds silhouette 3400.So if I use the 2004 malibu motor are the exhaust manifolds the same too?

[El_Diablo]

just to clarify, the 2004 malibu comes with the 3500 and will not be a direct bolt in, the manifolds are different on that engine aswell

a 1997-2003 malibu will have a 3100 (04 and 05 classic will have an ecotec)
99-05 grand am will have the 3400
99-04 alero gets the 3400 aswell

[IsaacHayes]

The 97-98 Mini-vans were screw in. I have a 97 3400 LIM on my car that came from a Venture van and it's screw in.

[jamie]

minivan

maybe it is out of an impala but I know it is a 3400.

[Plastic Van Man]

Doing 3400 swap now

Jamie,
Am working on a similar swap now. From a 1996 to a 2000. Both are van engines. I plan on using all the later model components I can. I have the 2000 engine on the engine stand now. It only has 64k on it so I'm just changing the intake gasket. Will probably have the old engine out by the end of the week. will let you know when there is new progress to report.

For anyone else who has done this before, are the 2000 fuel injectors compatible with the 1996 management system.
Plastic Van Man

[IsaacHayes]

No, Stick with the 96 injectors and FPR. The later years run a higher pressure FPR and larger lb/hr fuel injectors. If you use the newer ones it will flood out and run poor.

[SappySE107]

03+ have smaller rocker arm studs. I prefer 10mm over 8mm when given the choice.

[jamie]

So use my old injector rail and fpr but use the newer style upper and lower intake?Is the newer style intake better even though it is getting a little less fuel with the old injectors?

[El_Diablo]

the large port manifolds greatly outflow the small ports, it really doesn't matter about the fuel because while stock, the computer can make all the adjustments it needs in order to provide the proper fuel ratio

[IsaacHayes]

Whoa hold on Diablo. This is 3400 we are talking about. All 3400 are large port.

The only benefit from the newer intakes is a 2000+ Upper the throttle body neck is a little smoother for flow. But you'd have to use the 2000+ EGR and tube on it of course swapped over.

You use your old injectors and FPR because the computer is calibrated for the amount of fuel that they squirt. If you went bigger it would flood out and not run well.

If you want to keep it simple, any 3400 other than from an Equinox will work, and swap your intake manifolds and FPR/injectors/fuel rail over to it and you'll be good to go. Swap your knock sensor and O2 sensor over though and any other sensor that doesn't match up.