Modded 3400 (LA1) vs. Stock L67

[SappySE107]

There is an aluminum engine available, or was available anyway from GM.

[bszopi]

All of the new Global engines are aluminum block and heads.

[Robb235]

I just got home from skiing so I've missed alot of the recent posts.

I think the 3400 swap would be a smart move IMO because for $400 (or less, some have gotten them for $250 with low miles) I am gaining 20 HP over my stock motor, my CAI and UD pulley will swap right over, and I am sitting on a motor that has more potential.

[dbtk2]

The 3400 is aluminum block and heads and is a 60* V6.

ahh quit drinking your bathwater... there is no aluminum block for th e 3400??/ there was a prototype for the beretta "indy"version years ago at its debu, but never made production...

The 3800 is a 90*, so right there its a bigger engine, plus its iron block and iron heads.

the 90' block is only 1 1/2 wider yes thats major ... NOT

Not only that, but yes the supercharger adds weight and size as well.

yep 50lbs for the SC and yes Ill give you it stands abot as tall as the standard plastic intake that the sister 3800 (l36) uses

And the internals of the 3800 weigh more as well. I don't know exact weights for anything, but I know the 3400 is SIGNIFICANTLY ligher than the SC 3.8.

oh yes the 3800 has a balance shaft internally it weitghs about 2lbs... but eng still has cam pistons and rods, just like the 3400

For some reason I thought I remembered the Gen III blocks being aluminum, my mistake there. But, aluminum blocks are available, its not like they don't exist at all.

Yes, the block itself may only be 1 1/2" wider, but there is much more mass to it.

The SC 3.8 stands about 2" taller than a N/A 3.8, which, in some cases, can cause a clearance problem.

I'm not just talking about the damn balance shaft. Yeah, that does add weight. But I'm talking about the whole bottom end. Its built up for the boost, the crank, the rods, pistons, etc.. are all heavier than those used in the 3400. Not only that, but the heads are significantly heavier because they are iron, not aluminum. The crank pulley itself is heavier due to it playing a part in balancing the engine, and because it is twice as wide for the two belts that are on it. The list goes on. Look up the weights for the two different engines, the L67 is much heavier.

Believe me, I'm the last person on here thats gonna go talking about how bad the L67 is. The L67 is a good, strong engine IMO, and I work on them a lot. I've done my fair share of modding to numerous L67's. But I'm not gonna sit here and lie, I have to admit, the 660's do have their advantages.

Shawn

[Froggx]

With the LA1 I am able to reuse my stock engine mounts and I don't have to do any mods to my chassis or cradle to get it in.

West coast fieros makes eng mounts so thers no hacking of your stock frame...

costs money, it's just one of a number of expenses I was avoiding

Also, the obd-1 ecm I chose has code already prepared for a 5-spd. I have no idea how I would have gotten the L67 to work with my 5-spd.

you can buy emulators for the trans plug, or just have it removed form the pcm... DHP handles that.

As I said, I had no idea how to do that. I will take note of this.

Throwing the bulky 3800 in the back would be great if I was building a drag car, but I'm not.

whats bulky about a 3800.. haveing extra 50lbs for the SC???

In a car where the battery is being moved to the front to help the weight balance, I don't think I want an extra 50 lbs in the rear to negate this move. As others have pointed out, it's iron vs. aluminum heads as well.

If your car was offered with a 3800, it might make sense as the swap would get easier,

It would go much much eaiser, Ive got the hours into my project to prove it

I don't know why I requoted this, we agreed on this point quite clearly.


If I ever build another fiero, odds are it will be designed for drag racing. If this is the case, there is a 90% chance I will go with the L67 (or whatever they're calling the new gen 3 sc motor as that might be even better) along with the auto trans that goes with it. However, I'm not building a drag car, and I am extremely constrained by budget, so the 3400 was the way to go this time around. I won't know whether or not I will end up regretting this until everything is finished, but I doubt I will.

[imported_germ]

$1000 3400 swap w/ turbo http://members.cardomain.com/germsws


stick with the 3400

[JamesonGT282]

People are thinking of what is called the "bowtie block". The REAL Beretta Indy pace car had it, 245hp NA 3.4L. GM made the blocks available and MSRP was like 2-3k for the bare block. Over the years once and awhile I heard a story of someone buying one for 2-500, but havent come across one in years. They are aluminum and 40-50lbs lighter then the stock block and can safely be bored to 3.4l. I also think the block had some cooling tricks and other small details that made it unique. It was always my dream to use it to build up the ultimate 60 degree with 3.4L and using gen 3 stuff on top and a turbo setup for 300+whp.

[jimraelee]

People are thinking of what is called the "bowtie block". The REAL Beretta Indy pace car had it, 245hp NA 3.4L. GM made the blocks available and MSRP was like 2-3k for the bare block. Over the years once and awhile I heard a story of someone buying one for 2-500, but havent come across one in years. They are aluminum and 40-50lbs lighter then the stock block and can safely be bored to 3.4l. I also think the block had some cooling tricks and other small details that made it unique. It was always my dream to use it to build up the ultimate 60 degree with 3.4L and using gen 3 stuff on top and a turbo setup for 300+whp.

Yes thats the one.... it was like the first year they came out with the Beretta... I remember seeing it on a hod rod magazine it was yellow and the block and heads were all aluminum... boy how if we could get ahold of what GM has in there proto dept????? ~

[JamesonGT282]

The Beretta came out in 87 as rental only, mass released in 88. The INdy and Indy Replicas which made productions were in 1990.

The Beretta was the source of a lot of hot GM prototypes. There was an AWD turbo, a V8, and a few others all shown a Hot Rod Article in the late 80's early 90's.

[jimraelee]

The Beretta came out in 87 as rental only, mass released in 88. The INdy and Indy Replicas which made productions were in 1990.

The Beretta was the source of a lot of hot GM prototypes. There was an AWD turbo, a V8, and a few others all shown a Hot Rod Article in the late 80's early 90's.

thx jameson for clarifying this... I knew it was out there never saw one on the road, but new it was out there...

[nocutt]

I will put it plain n simple...if you are on a $2500 budget stick with what you already have...the 1st. rule of thumb from the 10Nth commandments, "when doing a swap, on a budget...DOUBLE IT"!

And unless you either have the resources and or time...don't emulate others who have tried to turbocharge their cars...it isn't an easy task! if you are hell bent on getting more performance out of your car...save up...ultimately the L67 will take the cake hands down

[Froggx]

"when doing a swap, on a budget...DOUBLE IT"!

Isn't the second rule "take the amount of time you expect it should take and multiply by 10"?

[dbtk2]

"when doing a swap, on a budget...DOUBLE IT"!

Isn't the second rule "take the amount of time you expect it should take and multiply by 10"?

Yes, I believe it is.

Shawn