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Succesful 3.4 Swap

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  • Succesful 3.4 Swap

    So I'm now a proud owner of a 88 3.4MPFI Camaro. Well as proud as a V6 owner can be. Other than a few broken and stripped bolts, a broken power steering pump bracket, and the wrong lower intake plenum I have to say everything went okay. I do have to say first before I get into details that I am absolutely amazed with the gains over the tired 2.8MPFI.

    I figured as I just finished the swap and it's all fresh on the mind (and I know what mistakes we made), it could help someone out there who's thinking of the same swap.

    I started with a 2.8MPFI in my 88 Camaro. The motor that went in is a 3.4SFI from a 95 Camaro. I think we got to the right combination with the 3.4 thanks to the help from the people on this site. This is what we did and here is a few points to avoid any hickups. This is using the 2.8 distributor and computer from the 88 not DIS. If using the 95SFI intake you will need to use the DIS.

    1. If using the 2.8/3.1 intake you NEED ALL 3 plenums. The middle will bolt to the 3.4 lower plenum but it will not have the cold start injector in the back, and is missing a sensor hole in the front. I match-ported the 2.8 intake from the tb to the heads and it works great.

    2. Use 3.4 injectors in the 2.8 fuelrail, they are a little shorter but seal fine in the intake. The 3.4 fuelrail does not have a cold start injector and the lines are the new style and bent different.

    3. The 3.4 front cover/waterpump has a smaller intake hose and your stock Camaro lower rad hose will be about 1/4" too large, I unfortunately didn't notice untill the motor was in so I had to sleeve it. Don't leak and cools fine so gonna leave it. There's also a bolt hole for the powersteering bracket that takes a larger bolt and has to be drilled on the bracket. (this is if using the 3.4 front cover)

    4. Knock sensor is NOT the same for the two motors. The 2.8 Comp will throw a code

    5. 3.4 Oil pan will clear the 88 Camaro front crossmember, Even with headers. It is a bit bigger in the sump and may seem like it'll hit the exhaust but it'll be fine (unless you are running a 3" crossover pipe). It has a larger capacity (full 5L+), and I noticed the 3.4 Oil pump has more pressure than my 2.8 one did. I never even broke the seal on the oilpan, if it ain't broke don't fix it.

    6. Passenger side motor mount or the side of the block has to be modified due to an extra wide oilpan mounting flange on the block. If not modified the motor mount won't sit flush to the block. I just cut the lower rear corner of the mount off, about the size of a quarter.

    7. Set both your motors to TDC before you swap your distributor over, we did that and it only took about 2 cranks for the 3.4 to start and run fine. Also you have to remember that the 3.4 doesn't have a timing plate due to the DIS so it's a bit of a pain to time the motor if the ditributor is off mark.

    8. You'll have to use the 2.8 valve covers to have the PCV's to match like stock but can be got around, and the valve covers have to be installed before the middle plenum.

    Other than these few points the swap went pretty good. All of the bolt holes in the heads matched up perfectly and even the hole for the Knock sensor is on the passenger side head in the rear. The results are like night and day. Tons more torque and good power all the way to around 5200-5500rpm, V6 power that is, but I think the headers and porting the 2.8 intake made all the difference. The 95 never pulled like the 88 now does.

    Good luck
    Art

  • #2
    I know someone out there knows how to tune these 2.8 ECM's (Forced...?!?!) Can I buy a chip, or is it one of them in-line tuner pods that just modify the IAT signal, or...?? Can I do anything to the distributor other than add timing? Is there such a thing as a performance module? I got all MSD with a Blaster Coil and 8.5mm wires.
    Thanks again,
    Art

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    • #3
      Considering the 2.8 and 3.4 use the same heads there won't be a drastic VE difference between the 2 engines. The 3.4 might run a little lean but the ECM will correct itself to an extent. Having a chip custom tuned is about the only way to go.

      I'd suggest investing in some tuning hardware if you really want to get it running the best possible.
      Past Builds;
      1991 Z24, 3500/5 Spd. 275WHP/259WTQ 13.07@108 MPH
      1989 Camaro RS, ITB-3500/700R4. 263WHP/263WTQ 13.52@99.2 MPH
      Current Project;
      1972 Nova 12.73@105.7 MPH

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      • #4
        What do you mean by tuning hardware and Where should I start looking?
        Thanks, Art

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        • #5
          The Ostrich emulator, and a decent ALDL datalogging adapter would do the trick. Both are avaliable at www.moates.net.

          for software, Tunerpro RT is the best out there IMO.. and it's free
          Past Builds;
          1991 Z24, 3500/5 Spd. 275WHP/259WTQ 13.07@108 MPH
          1989 Camaro RS, ITB-3500/700R4. 263WHP/263WTQ 13.52@99.2 MPH
          Current Project;
          1972 Nova 12.73@105.7 MPH

          Comment


          • #6
            Congrats on the swap!! Not sure if I skipped over this but which acessory brackets did you use? If you used the 2.8 brackets do you have a picture from the front showing the acessories?

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            • #7
              Hey thanks, the novelty still hasn't worn off but I'm gonna need some new tires pretty quick, unfortunately 20's aren't cheap.

              Yeah I used all of the 2.8 bracketry for the accessories, the only problem I had with them and the 3.4 front cover/waterpump was the one hole on the power steering bracket that had to be enlarged. The heads and block had all the other holes in the proper spots. I do have some pics of the swap and some after but I'll have to look to see if any show the accessories well. If not I'll take some closeups for you.

              One piece of advise for everyone out there thinking of putting MSD wires on the V6's, incase it's news to anyone. DO NOT use the blue 8mm replacement set that they list for the 2.8 They are garbage!! I've now heard this from numerous people and experienced it myself. Mine dried and cracked within a year of use, and the wires ripped at the plugboots, and as a result of the shitty wires they burnt my cap and rotor aswell. Not alot of money (for the cap and rotor) but very disappointing. A better and cheaper way to go was to get a universal V8 set, like the 8.5mm set I got now and have not heard of a probem with them. The blue set I paid about $78CAN and the black 8.5mm set with a pair of extra wires I paid $59CAN plus taxes of course. Sounds like deal to me.

              Later, Art

              Comment


              • #8
                the reason I would like to see a pic is because I would like to see how much room the A.C. takes up.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Here is a picture before we pulled the motor (hopefully it uploads), not like it looks much different now but anyways. The A/C compressor is the old style (short and fat) above the power steering. If you want some close ups and clearance pics let me know what you want a picture of and I'll get them for you.
                  Later, Art
                  Attached Files

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                  • #10
                    Looks like a nice swap, I want to do one one day. I just did a cam swap into the old 2.8. There is a writeup over on TGO in the PCM section just for us V6 guys.
                    00 Grand Prix GTP Daytona

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                    • #11
                      What's TGO? I keep seeing that but I've never figured out what it is. A website I guess???

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                      • #12
                        TGO is Thirdgen.org it has a lot of info on 82-92 camaros and firebirds, you should deff check it out! Congrats on the swap! now all you need is a 3500 top end

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                        • #13
                          Yeah thanks I just figured it out while watching tv. It just came to me heh I'll have to check it out thou.
                          And yeah the 3500 topend would be cool. I have a complete 3400 that I was gonna hybrid into this motor but changing the pistons just wrecked our timeline so it'll have to wait. Was just getting ready to start p&p everything and found out about the compression issue. Might just rebuild the 3400 bottom up and do another swap... still debating

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            TGO is the best site for all info for our cars and the V6 section is nice too. Lots of good info. Swapping a 3400 block takes alot of work too.
                            00 Grand Prix GTP Daytona

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              ECM question for everyone. When I did the swap I was told that the 95 Camaro uses a 'OBD 1.5' ECM therefore I should stick to using my factory 2.8 one. I'm reading on the "60degree family tree" section which states that the 95 f-body uses an "OBD I" ECM as does my 88. Which is correct?
                              If the computers are the same, would it be beneficial for me to either swap computers or can I swap prom chips? Few differences with the two engines from factory ofcourse being DIS and MAP and cranksensor in the 95 and MAF and distributor in my 88, also a different knock sensor.
                              Thanks again...
                              Art

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