3400 iron head?

[X11_STE]

Hey guys,
A little over a month ago I recovered my X-11 from the body shop only to discover the owner STOLE my engine just before going to jail. So lately I've been looking for something cheap just to drop in & get my car mobile. In that quest I was talking to a friend who mentioned that he thought GM made a 3400 iron head but he wasnt sure. So I ask you guys since I've never heard of such a monster, did the general make a 3400 iron head FWD and what did it come in (so I know what to look for)? Also, if I do happen to find a suitable engine for my car, will an edelbrock 2.8 carb intake fit? This question is because I do NOT want to hack my firewall for wiring or messing with any of that crap. Keepin it true school.
TIA,
Jeremiah

[Canyonero]

The iron head 3.4Ls were found on the RWD F-Body engines. But, correct me if I'm wrong, I think you can use the iron heads on a 3400 FWD block. Just most people don't want to.

[geoffinbc]

There were no 3400 iron head motors in the true sense. 3400 would denote the newer style block with roller valvetrain revised oiling and cross bolted mains.

However there were tons of 3.4L Firebirds and Camaros with iron heads. Or you could score a 3400 block and swap in iron heads and pistons which would make a nice bolt in swap.

[ForcedFirebird]

However there were tons of 3.4L Firebirds and Camaros with iron heads. Or you could score a 3400 block and swap in iron heads and pistons which would make a nice bolt in swap.

The engine mount bosses are in a different location, the starter is on the opposite side and the oil pan interferes with most RWD frames.

In my opinion it's easier to use a RWD block and FWD top end rather then reversed.

[geoffinbc]

Yes I know but the Fiero guys use the 3.4L with just a few adjustments. It would be similar in a Citation. Or a 3400 block would work too.

[X11_STE]

OK, so if I understand you guys correctly, I should try to find a FWD & swap on a set of RWD iron heads & pistons? Yes, the citation is very similiar to the fiero. So that would make it easier to use a FWD block rather than try to convert a RWD, right?
What about the intake set-up? Again I do NOT want FI, carb is the only way to go on this project.

[ForcedFirebird]

OK, so if I understand you guys correctly, I should try to find a FWD & swap on a set of RWD iron heads & pistons? Yes, the citation is very similiar to the fiero. So that would make it easier to use a FWD block rather than try to convert a RWD, right?
What about the intake set-up? Again I do NOT want FI, carb is the only way to go on this project.

Yes, you want to match the pistons to the heads. With FWD pistons and RWD heads you would have uber low compression.

The FWD block is better, you get a roller cam even

[X11_STE]

Head interchange?

OK, so I've been researching to figure out a way to put a 3400 hybrid together but have been surprised by the LACK of parts availablity (evilbay lists very few parts for the 94-96 camaro's and NO rebuild kits). One thing that truely got me scratching my head was when I went on car-parts.com and searched "95 chevy camaro 3.4 cylinder head". The results came back with everything from an '85 Celebrity to the camaro. Now, I've got nothing against the celeb's but are the heads truely that interchangable? It sure would be nice if they were as I have a set of GOOD '86 6k STE HO heads laying around, not to mention that would quickly answer my question about using my intake & carb.
So again, are the '94-96 camaro 3.4 iron heads the same as an earlier 2.8 iron head?

[bszopi]

Yes, they are the exact same head as some 85 and all 86+ heads. Other than larger valve sizes, the iron heads have basically never changed.

[X11_STE]

Will the 3400 bottom end be able to handle a dist.? Seems to me (though I could be wrong) that GM had gone to an all DIS system by then.

[bszopi]

All of the 60V6s can run a distributor. The only problem is you need to find an intake that will clear it, as there is no aluminum head intake that will.

[geoffinbc]

Yea a distributor is no problem. Just pull out the oil pump drive plug and pop in your distributor.

[Mr_Efficiency]

All of the 60V6s can run a distributor. The only problem is you need to find an intake that will clear it, as there is no aluminum head intake that will.

thats not problem for him cause he wants iron heads so he can use a carbed intake... as far as i know they never made a carbed intake for aluminum heads, so if your set on carbed you stuck with iron heads.

[X11_STE]

Thanks for the info so far guys. I have found a guy that has 3400 short block (blew a head gasket) but he dont know if he wants to part with it. One thing he mentioned has me really curious, especially with building a hybrid. He said the 3400's are more prone to blowing head gaskets than the 3100's due to thinner water jackets or something. Is there any truth to this or would a 3100 block be a better choice? Even though I'm wanting a fairly radical hybrid, I also want something thats built right and is reliable.

[ForcedFirebird]

Lies. The later 3400's use graphite gaskets, far superior to the iron headed gaskets. Makes no sense to me.

3x00's are superior, period. Heads, block, cam etc - the only thing *I* don't like about them is that the cam is held on by a single bolt with an alignment pin.