3.4 into 83 Citation 2.5

[Citation83]

I recently bought a 3.4L from a 2003 Impala with transmission and Computer. I am going to attempt and engine swap into a 1983 Chevy Citation with the help of some friends. I am completely new to swapping engines and am curious exactly what kind of problems I mgiht run into. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

[Zboy]

You need the Impala fuel pump, wiring and relays or an aftermarket electric pump, I would think the radiator is different from impala to citation, and I have yet to see a new Impala without airconditioning so either delete the AC pump by finding a different Serpentine belt ( Super hard to find one that fits and works correctly ) hook up the ac, pump, condenser and all or keep the pump so you can use the stock belt and just block off the holes so no moisture gets in and seizes the pump. Wiring a latemodel engine is a complete whore. Multiple wires for everything and there are only so many colors in the spectrum so there many wires of the same color that connect diferent sensors to different areas of the computer. Don't forget all the relays on the firewall and there may even be more than 1 computer to control the engine and transaxle, I'm not sure. the next problem is axles. The Impala axles are almost sure not to fit in the Citation hubs. So either use the Impala front suspension or have custom axles made up. If by some miracle the Imp axle fits and bolts up properly to the Citation hub, consider this a sign that the swap is meant to be. Power steering hoses are probably different too, so new custom ones will be needed, as for actually mounting the engine, It depends on what engine is in the Citation now. If you have the old carb 2.8 you may actually be able to bolt the engine up to the old mounts but I doubt it. As for the wheezer four cylinder, I have no idea. Then you have the basic stuff like new exhaust, coolant hoses, throttle cables, trans cooler lines, trans shiter cables, and how to adapt the electronic computer and sensors to a mechanical speedometer and instrument cluster. These are just some basic hurdles, but you get the idea.

[RacerX11]

I am doing a similar swap into my '84 X-11, but I am using a manual transmission. I don't have alot of time today to respond, since I am heading out of town, but I will get started with some answers.

For a fuel pump, I reccomend getting either a tank, or pump/sending unit from a '96 Cutlas Ciera. They share the same fuel tank with the Citations, and will bolt right in. I was going to just use the sending unit in my tank, but I picked up a complete tank for $35, and it was much cleaner than my rusty original, so I just swapped tanks comlete.

For a radiator, you can pick up a three-core HD unit from an X-11, or an aftermarket aluminum one. There is also an aluminum GM radiator that will fit...I can't remember the exact application. Check out this guy's site: http://www.tyre.serveftp.com/mycitations/

He has done some crazy engine swaps into Citations, including a 3800SC and a Caddy 4.9 V8. He has some great install info and pictures that would apply to engine and transmission mounts, as well as wiring the ECM. He is also using one of these aluminum radiators in one of the cars.

I'll drop back in with more info later in the week when I get back in town.

Marty

[DustoneGT]

And all of this begs one question....WHY?

LOL, J/K.

You might want to see if v6 citation mounts work, not sure though.
Dont forget that the Fiero is basically the same in the cradle as an
x-11 citation, so some of those mounts might be what you need.
People on www.fiero.nl are putting modern engines in all the time.

[pocket-rocket]

use the stock belt and just block off the holes so no moisture gets in and seizes the pump.

Actually as long as you don't energize the AC compressor clutch coil, the pump will be disengaged, therefore the pulley will freewheel all day untill the bearings in it go bad

[pocket-rocket]

And all of this begs one question....WHY?

LOL, J/K.

Well if you want to stay FWD, the Citations are the lightest ones around from what I have heard.

[RacerX11]

Do you have a picture of the accessory drive belt routing on the 3400? De pending on which setup it uses, you can replace the AC compressor with an idler puller and shorter belt.

The Fiero cradle is slightly different than the Citation cradle, but the motor mounts are close, and can be used with a 2.8L engine. However, the 3400 and 4spd auto have different mounts that won't bolt up directly to the citation cradle.

Marty