any advantage to 3.1 vs. 3.4?

[mmltml]

i have a 95 monte carlo z34 and i recently found out that it needs new head gaskets and i think i've had enough with this high maintenance, hard to work on engine. i'm going to college in the fall and i need something cheaper and more reliable.

I know that most people convert 3.1L to the 3.4 DOHC that I have in my car, but I think I might do the opposite. My question is:

1. From what I've heard the 3.1's are more reliable, but what do you guys think?

2. Will the 3.1 bolt up to the 3.4 engine mounts and transmission without modifications?

3. I could always fix the engine that I have in my car; the car only has 96k miles on it...but the mechanic i would take it to wants $1,100 to fix it and i think that me and my dad and a friend (who are all good with cars) could pull the engine and install a different one for cheaper. Do you guys think it would be any cheaper to pick up a used engine and do it ourselves?

4. do you think that its worth the hassle and money to keep my monte carlo running or do you think it would be wiser to sell it for cheap and buy a (*sigh*)toyota (or something mechanically superior to this POS engine). From what I've read, the only downside to installing the 3.1 is the obvious power difference.

5. If the 3.1 won't work with this car, are there any other options as far as engines? without (much) modification

give me your opinions. thanks

[jmgtp]

If you're swapping engines forget all about the 3.1 and get a 3100 or 3400. You can find them for a few hundred bux and they were available in W bodies of your year so they should bolt up without a problem to your car/trans. You'd need the ecm for sure and I don't know if the dohc wire harness could be adapted to the 3x00 or not.

Don't hate on the dohc! It's a great engine with a bad rap for being a POS. Once you know you're way around it, its really not bad at all to work on --- but ya, the pushrod engines are arguably more reliable, there's no denying it. BTW, what is wrong with your engine that a mechanic would want $1100 to fix? I'm assuming timing belt and something else.

[mmltml]

thanks...no it needs new head gaskets and the infamous oil leak.

im not very familiar with the 3100 or 3400...whats the difference? (dumb question i know haha)

wait why should i forget about the 3.1? I'm 99.99 percent positive they were put in the 1995-1999 monte carlos

[robertisaar]

the 3.1 is a old motor design, used from 1989 to 1993 in most models, and only made it into the lumina and cavalier for 1994. starting in 1993 the 3.1 was replaced by the 3100.

[mmltml]

ok so the 3100 was in the 1995-99 lumina/monte carlo? sorry i'm just trying to get it straight

[robertisaar]

exactly. the motor for the monte LS is a 3100, while the Z34 got the 3.4 DOHC.

i know the lumina could get the 3.4 as well, but i'm not sure if it had a required trim level.

[IsaacHayes]

3400 has better heads and larger intakes, same for 2000+ 3100 (got the 3400 top end). So go for one of those if possible.

[mmltml]

ok so would this be what i need? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/3-4L-...4506.m20.l1116

it says that none of the accessories are included...i figure there isnt any possibility of making the accessories work from my engine?

[no_doz]

set of head/intake gaskets is $130 at autozone & thats for everything and isnt hard to do yourself if you have tools or someone who will loan you tools. also a rod bearings are $1.77 apiece & also not hard to install if you do a little research & get some plastigauge (which is like $1 per strip)-so you could fix your current engine for like $200 if you do it yourself

[1meanz]

thats the engine we are talking about, but you could get it at a jy cheeper then 800 bucks. you can get thema round here for 350 for the low milage ones.

[asylummotorsports]

Look on www.car-parts.com

Probably find a low mileage unit there.

[berlabs]

so the heads and intakes for a 2000+ 3100 would be the same as the 3400??

[robertisaar]

yes they are the same heads...