First time poster, needs lots of help!

[cujoe_da_man]

Heya, was pushed here from Pennocks Fiero Forum for questions regarding my engine/car.

What I have is a 95 Grand Prix, 3100. Engine knocks, I'm getting ready to replace it. However, I have run into a plethora of problems/questions. I know someone is going to tell me to go with a 3400/3800, but my situation is this, I need a car now and don't have time to modify anything to make other engines fit. I need the engine to bolt in and allow me to drive away without a second though.

I'm sure I could find all this searching, but I'm on a strict time limit and need to have the car done by the end of next week.

Here's all of my questions in one long list:

1: When i search for engines, I come across this "upper, center AC mounting boss on block is (is not) drilled and tapped"

I have seen both engines and need to know which is which. One compressor is mounted straight to the engine with a "dogbone" shaped spacer between it and the pump and the other (like mine) is bolted on with a formed steel bracket.

2: If I find an engine with the pump bolted straight to the engine rather than the bracket, can I still use it in my car? The engine I'm looking at will have the correct pump still installed on it.

3: Why does a '96 3100 not work for my car?

4: (also posted this in the wanted section) Does anyone have a decent running 3100 around the Michigan area? No knocks, no smoking, leaking, and preferably around 100k miles or less. I say "around" because I'm looking at a '94 3100 with about 125k on it, which is about 40k less than my current and the price is $300, but I'd prefer a GP engine so I don't have to swap any kind of wiring

5: I was told I have to swap out the fuel injector wiring from a 94 Corsica to my 95 GP prior to installing, is there anything else I should know?

I thank you for taking the time to look and answer, I'm still learning myself... like finding out there were two different AC mounts... and I do have someone helping me who has worked on Grand Prixs for a while, just need to find out some small details is all

[no_doz]

on craigslist, cars with the 3100 in them can be bought with bad trannys, body damage, or no title for like $300, & then when you're done you can sell/scrap the car & recoup. if you go pickup a 96/97 Grand am/Cutlass & swap that engine, the swap should be pretty easy & not require virtually anything to be different (if anything).

[robertisaar]

1. Welcome

2. we will NEVER suggest that you swap in a 3.8...

3. a 96 3100 should work fine with one exception: the EGR, but luckily you can swap the upper intake and EGR from your current motor onto the new one.

4. as far as wiring differences between the car models: there shouldn't be any, i'm not sure where you heard that from

5. why would you need a corsica's fuel injector wiring? its the same across all models...

6. i can't help with the a/c stuff, i don't know enough about it...

[cujoe_da_man]

on craigslist, cars with the 3100 in them can be bought with bad trannys, body damage, or no title for like $300, & then when you're done you can sell/scrap the car & recoup. if you go pickup a 96/97 Grand am/Cutlass & swap that engine, the swap should be pretty easy & not require virtually anything to be different (if anything).

lol, yeah, I've been creeping around there for a while now and all I find with the same engine in that price range already has the same problem mine has or over 200k miles on it... but that's Michigan, we try to sell crap because we think it's made of gold

and thanks for the tips from robertisaar, if you sound confused about my questions, this is what I was told by a couple of different sources... not to mention when I do a search for engines or stop in any yards, they don't list the 96's for my car. I was certain that the wiring should be the same, unless there was a MAF sensor or someone royally screwed something up.

However, when you say upper intake, you mean the plenum, right? The big aluminum intake that says 3100 on it? Just making sure I know which part is which

[robertisaar]

right, the plenum. the only differences between a 95 and a 96 engine is the EGR and rockers, but if you're installing the whole engine, the rockers won't be an issue. you could actually use the 96 plenum with the right adapter from WOT-Tech. actually the 96 and up also use a single 3 wire temperature sensor, while the 95 used 2, one with 2 wires, another with 1. someone who has done the swap can help with that.

and the 95 had a MAP sensor only, while the 96 has MAF and MAP. since you're running it in a 95, just use the intake tubing from the 95 and you don't have to deal with the MAF.

the wiring might be different between a 95 and 96, but if you're pulling the motor, you're not going to be keeping much if any wiring from the 96

[cujoe_da_man]

ahh, that better explains why they don't list 96's. Where can I find more info on the temp sensor swap? Almost sounds like you need to split the single *triple* sensor wire into a single and double wire for two sensors, or is it a bit more than that?

[robertisaar]

ahh, that better explains why they don't list 96's. Where can I find more info on the temp sensor swap? Almost sounds like you need to split the single *triple* sensor wire into a single and double wire for two sensors, or is it a bit more than that?

it might be, i don't know, i've never swapped out my engine for a 96-newer one. someone here knows.