3400 into 1993 c1500

[1QUICKHATCH]

I figured I would start a thread to help keep me motivated on this project!

I picked up a 1993 Chevy 1500 pick up about a year and a half ago just to do this project! I originally was going to do a swap in a s-10 or Sonoma but decided to go with a full size so that I can tow/haul a little more than a s-10 can if I have to. A Lot of people are asking me why but their are a few that understand what I'm trying to do! I could take the easy route and swap in an LS, but I would rather do something different.

The goal of this project is to get better milage than the old tired 350, and make more power than the 350 (stock TBI 350)





The best thing about this swap is all the room that I have to work with!




Starting with a 3400 engine and harness from 1999 grand am


I should be installing the 3400 in the next few weeks.

[1QUICKHATCH]

So far I have stripped the 3400 down a little bit for the 3.4 camaro timing cover and to flip the lower intake.






And tonight it got a bath!

[robertisaar]

it isn't going to be difficult to overpower a TBI 350, but torque is not going to be easily matched... at least, not without some form of boost.

[caffeine]

Geared correctly, the difference in low end power probably won't be terribly important.

[1QUICKHATCH]

The truck has 3.73 in it right now, and the 3400 will take a good 200lbs off the front end. Once it is running I will port a set of heads and intakes for it and swap the cam.

Truck was around 4700lbs Iirc with the 350 last time across the scale at the scrap yard.

[young gun]

Cool! Although without a turbo I don't see why you wouldn't go with a 3900.

[1QUICKHATCH]

Well I have a little update! Changing direction on this project slightly... 3400 is being put aside for now, I did not like the looks of things when I started changing the intake gaskets. The coolant ports are rotten from the dexcool, lots of sludge in the lifter valley, and some in the pan. Going to start with a large port 3100 that I used in my cavalier years ago. It already has a ported set of heads on it and newer rod bearings, I at least know the history of this engine!


Got the 350 out today


Little size comparison



Hope to start making mounts tomorrow!

[1QUICKHATCH]

well today I gave the engine bay a quick wash, got started fitting the trans adapter then set the engine in the bay to get some ideas on what to do for engine mounts!

[caffeine]

Are you using the speedway motors adapter? 700r4 transmission?

[Guest]

As much as I love the 60 degree V6, even I have to ask why?

I agree with not going LS, god how I hate those engines, but a properly built and tuned TPI 5.7, or even LT1 will make some great bottom end torque and get good gas milage.

it isn't going to be difficult to overpower a TBI 350, but torque is not going to be easily matched... at least, not without some form of boost.

I agree.

Cool! Although without a turbo I don't see why you wouldn't go with a 3900.

Again I agree, but it looks like there will be some forced induction.

I'm using the same turbo on my LX9, which I used on my L28. Probably a little oversized for a 3100, even a ported and cammed one. Lag was very noticable on my 2.8L I6, and the 3500 while better still has some delay to the onset of boost.

[1QUICKHATCH]

As much as I love the 60 degree V6, even I have to ask why?

I agree with not going LS, god how I hate those engines, but a properly built and tuned TPI 5.7, or even LT1 will make some great bottom end torque and get good gas milage.



I agree.




Again I agree, but it looks like there will be some forced induction.

I'm using the same turbo on my LX9, which I used on my L28. Probably a little oversized for a 3100, even a ported and cammed one. Lag was very noticable on my 2.8L I6, and the 3500 while better still has some delay to the onset of boost.

do you think that the load from the auto and the extra weight may help with lag? I am doing this swap mostly for something different and to see what can be done with a 60*. I have lots of space to try playing around with intake manifolds, or maybe some small twins... but for right now I'm going to focus on getting it running! Lol

Are you using the speedway motors adapter? 700r4 transmission?

Yes I'm using the speedway adapter and a 4l60e

[caffeine]

What PCM?

[Guest]

The extra weight might help a bit, but the auto can help load it up as well. I only ever had manuals behind the engines I used that turbo with, but knowing how turbos work with auto transmissions, coupled with the weight it might drop the onset of boost a few hundred RPM. I would expect that it would start spooling around 1500 RPM and get into some good boost between 2200 and 2500 RPM. I was also running about 17 PSIG with that turbo on the L28, and would see about 10 PSIG about 2600 to 2700 RPM or so. It would get to full boost about 2900 to 3100 RPM, depending on how hard I hammered down, and what kind of load I had on the car.

I'm only running about 10 PSIG so far on the LX9, and see that around 2500 RPM or so, IIRC. It's been a few months since I drove the car and only I've only had the LX9 in for a few months before that.

[1QUICKHATCH]

Little bit of an update! Well progress has been slower than I would like but it is progress!
This is pretty much where it is sitting right now



LS truck upper rad hose worked perfectly!

Next week I should be finishing up the hot side pipes then I will get the wiring in it! I will try to get some more pics up soon of other things that I have done to it.

As for pcm I'm going to try to use the 99 3400 grand am pcm. If I can't get that to work I will use the stock 350 pcm until I can get some thing aftermarket. I Found that guys that switch to carb from TBI used the computer still to control the transmission.

[JtuckerSvces]

Can you tell me what you did to convert that engine to rwd??