3.4L intake 180*

[Positive P]

I will be doing a 3.4L swap from a '95 Firebird into an '87 Fiero GT, I pulled wiring and all from a '96 Lumina, ECU and everything, doing a full conversion to '96 wiring w/DIS and OBDll.
I know that with the 2.8L the intake can be reversed to face either way for FWD or RWD setup.
My question is does the 3.4L intake allow the reverse install, so that the intake faces the correct direction?
I've been searching all over, no matter how I word the search I come up with no answer, or the answer to a different question.

[IsaacHayes]

Dude, I thought you were going with a 3400?

The camaro iron head 3.4L is weak. Makes the same power as my 3100 did when it was stock. When I was stock I spanked my friends 3.4L camaro with 5spd, cai, and headers.

If you stick with the iron heads, in the 96 lumina 3100 tune, remember to up the timing as the iron heads need a lot more timing than aluminum ones do since they are not fast burn heads.

[Superdave]

the VE tables will need to be drastically changed for the iron heads.. you'll have to reduce WOT fuel alot since they won't make near as much power. Like Issac said the spark advance tables will need to be completely redone as well.

IMO what a waste of time/money, that Camaro 3.4 barrely makes more power than the old 2.8. Even with the upgrades in your sig you'll be lucky to break 120 WHP.

[ForcedFirebird]

The iron head 3.1 uses the $88 code. I read my stock chip the other day, and Ben was comparing it to the FWD, and it wasn't that different (if at all).

[Positive P]

Dude, I thought you were going with a 3400?

The camaro iron head 3.4L is weak.

For ease of installation, and I'm not really in need of a race car, I'm about to be 34 and I have kids that are more important to me right now. Racing will have to wait.
I want the car to be quicker than stock, but not 250hp. It'd be nice, but I'm buying the car for economical reasons, and it's a p***y getter. If I mod it all up and I'm only getting 16mpg hiway then that kind of defeats the purpose.

Later on I could always do the head swap, or a full swap, but I think for now, the most cost effective and easiest way for me will be the RWD 3.4L.

120whp really? You think I'll lose that much? The 3.4L is rated at 160hp flywheel, but the Fiero uses a FWD setup, I don't think I'll lose 40hp to the wheels, maybe if I had the Camaro, with the driveshaft, rear axle and all.
But with the FWD transaxle I don't think It'll be that bad. Less rotating mass.
Maybe 25hp loss, but with what I want to do to it, it should make at least 180hp. If I lose 25-30hp that'll still give me 155-150hp to the wheels. Depending on which final drive gear used, that can still be a fairly quick car.

Good enough for now, plus this will be my daughters car in a few years.
I don't need her killing herself trying to race people.
I could always build another car later. But hey Thanks for all your help Isaac!

[IsaacHayes]

Actually, a gen3 engine will get better gas mileage than the iron heads. They are not fast burn and the more efficient the more power and more mileage. You will want to do it right later on, and wish you would have just gone with the good stuff in the first place.

Yes you will loose a lot to the wheels. A 3100 car dynos low 120's to the wheels. The FWD trans especially the automatics suck a ton of power. You'd be surprised how much they weigh as well. If you have a 5spd getrag it will be better though, people that swap those into their berettas to replace the 4t60-e usually drop a 1 sec or better in the 1/4.

merlot build a pimped out 3.4 and it didn't do a whole lot. Then he went with a cammed 3500 and it was a tremendous improvement.

At least grab some 3400 heads and intakes, or 2000+ 3100 ones (same thing) and slap them on the 3.4. Stock they will beat any port job you could ever have on the iron setup.

Seriously if you are going to put in the effort and money to put a motor in the car, put in something that is worthwhile. Otherwise just drop a low mileage 2.8 and call it good if you just want a motor

[Positive P]

Ok then now I will have to rethink things.
The iron head block and the 3x00 blocks can't share the same camshaft can they?
There really is no decent cam for the 3.4L and no roller lifter option.
Exactly how difficult is the FWD 3x00 engine in the Fiero?
I hear theres far more work involved.

[IsaacHayes]

Nope, different cams. 3x00 have roller cams, wottech store here has many grinds and can do custom. Only work I can think of is maybe welding up a mount bracket or two. Maybe notch the deck lid to clear the alt. But I don't know the rest. Hell it might bolt right in depending on the mount locations that go into the motor. The blocks have more than one spot that mounts could be used on.