3400 or 3500 for swap in 95' Cutlass

[nixtux]

I'm pricing out some motors from a local scrap yard.

The 3400/3500 are about the same price. They vary in miles from 15k-75k.

Between $400-550

I'm debating between

a 3500 out of a 04-05 Malibu /w 20k for 550

or a 3400 out of a 04-05 Impala /w 24k for 550

I have a 1996 Grand Prix SE /w a blown motor for computers and parts. After it's parted out for everything I need it's going to the scrap yard two miles down the road.

My question is, which is going to be the easiest to work with? I'm voting for the 3.4L since it seems to be covered better and swapping in the 3.5 LIM/UIM on a 3.4 /w 3.4 Plenum seems to render good results. Possibly Heads too? I plan to make the purchase early next week. I want to stalk more information before I make the final decision.

Thanks

[IsaacHayes]

Easiest yes 3400. 3500 has more work but more power. 3400 is pretty much remove and replace aside from a few things. 3500 has more issues, read PCGUY's sticky in the performance section for 3500 issues.

Depends on what you want. Lots of power, or a new engine with a little extra kick. 96 means you are OBDII and can find a tuner to tune it so if going the 3500 route you're ok there.

[bbeck]

which motor would be a better base for boost?

[Superdave]

which motor would be a better base for boost?

the 3500 is an all around better engine.

[bbeck]

the 3500 is an all around better engine.

I watched a few of your videos the other night, and was impressed. How much different is the 3500 swap over the 3400? And while I'm considering the 3500, why not look at the 3900?

[3100 MPFI]

which type of CUTLASS do you have? Cutlass SUPREME, or Cutlass CIERA?

Getting the engines in there is no big problem. The 3500 does not really require that much more work to get it in there. It is the getting it to RUN that is a little more involved.

As for the 3900, I have heard that there was some issues with getting it to run right, but that is because people are trying to run it on an older computer. If you can get the newer computer and get everything hooked up (you have to add more things to do that). then it will work.




With the 3400/3500, there are a lot of people that are putting it in, and running it with an older computer (the NON-VVT ones, that is). Getting either of those engines (as well as the large port LG8 3100) into these cars and getting them to run with what we already have, that is easy, and been done.

If you are doing a Cutlass Supreme, just thought you should know that I swapped a late 1999 3100 SFI (large port) into my 1988 Cutlass Supreme (replacing the stock 2.8 MPFI). The 3100 and the 3400 are identical for getting them in, and the 3500 is only different in the exhaust manifolds, upper intake manifold, and you need an external crank trigger.