Preventive maintenance

[MrBrownPants]

So I have a 1994 3.4 Firebird with 185,000 miles on it and I plan on doing a upper swap (intake, heads etc., as well as pistons, and maybe the cam) next year. So while I'll be working on her, I'd like to do some preventive maintenance. What are some things that you all think I should go ahead and replace. I was thinking maybe the crankshaft bearings, but I don't know if that is anything to worry about. I was just thinking I should probably replace some of the moving parts since they have been in there 20 years, but I'm up for replacing almost anything. Thank you for any information!
Brad

[Roadbastard]

If you're going to do all that and break into the bottom end to do the pistons you might as well as do a full rebuild. These motors are unbelievably easy to work on.

[MrBrownPants]

Hey, thanks! Yeah, that's pretty much what I was going to do. Here is a list of things I plan on replacing, that is other than what is needed to do the upper swap, which is pretty much just a rebuild.
Speed-Pro Hypereutectic Pistons
Premium Piston Ring
Oil Pump Screen Assemblies and Tubes
Rod Bearings
Crankshaft main bearings
Timing Chain Set
Oil Pump

[Roadbastard]

Sounds like a good idear. Don't forget to ask around on Machine shop cost if you plan on having them clean and hone your block or freshen up your crank and rods. I spent about maybe 400-500 or so on the machine shop. 150 of that was them doing a valve job and doing a light resurface on my heads. It's just the kind of stuff you don't expect to do but realize it's a good idea to do while you're in there so you always need some extra $$$ mystery money set aside just in case. Amazon was the cheapest place I found most of the gasket kit sets. Like $100 cheaper for the upper gasket kit with the thick head gaskets, metal intake manifold, exhaust gaskets, valve cover gaskets and all that. I know "RockAuto" has some Master rebuild kits with most of the rebuild parts you'll need if you go that route.

For my engine at least the motor was in good shape but the bearings where damaged and any part that came into contact with them was damaged because of the gasket leak. I ended up having to spend more money to get my rods and crank cleaned up but since it was a coolant/oil issue I had to replace EVERYTHING! Hopefully you don't have to do the same. If it's just a high mileage rebuild and you already have good parts you'll need less machine work. I think machine shop costs were the most expensive part of rebuilding the motor. It really is a simple engine to work on though.

One thing you should also not forget to throw in there is valvetrain. New lifters and upgrading the factory hollow cam to a solid one is a good choice. Don't ask how I know http://60degreev6.com/forum/showthre...w-what-that-is

[MrBrownPants]

Well, if I do go this route (building up a 3.4) then I wont have to worry about getting my heads worked on or doing anything with the valvetrain because I plan on getting all the necessary parts to do a 3400/3500 upper swap. Heads, pushrods, rockers, all that jazz will new. Only thing a machine shop will need to do for me will bore out the cylinders if they are bad or grind the crank if its bad. Oh, and probably tune it as well because I don't have the slightest idea of how to do any of that. I appreciate all the information you gave me there!! I really do! Thanks!

At this point, I don't even know if I am going to continue on this path of building up a 3.4. As it stands right now, I would definitely need to buy another firebird because mine just has way to many miles and it is a salvage title. So yeah, that sucks. I may end up buying a nice, clean LT1 bird. Who knows. All of this is wayyy out in the future. I'm stuck with what I have for at least another year and a half.