3.1 Budget Build Ideas

[Racing_Rush]

Looking to build a Gen 2 3.1 V6. Need to have reliable setup/smooth. Only looking to spend $1000-2000 for a complete build. That probley puts me out of 3400 territory. Looking to acheive 200-250Hp with lots of top end.

I was thinking high compression hybrid? Stroker? Or maybe budget boost...

Why do the Gen 2's have oiling problems? I have a Mellings High volume pump in now, plus a crank scraper to go on soon...

[1meanz]

with that price range, and what you want. id do a hybrid with cam, p&p'ing and maybe up compression a bit. good exhaust and intake and maybe have a few bucks left over

[1988GTU]

If you're thrifty and have a lot of fabrication skills you could probably build a boosted G2 and blow past that 200-250hp goal.

[MY91GT(Z)]

w/ my setup in my sig puts me close to 2000 in my motor and thats w/ 3400and 3500 upper for both motors only cost 900. u could buy a 3400 upper end p&p w/ a cam from bens store and itl prolly cost u around 1500/2000 mark

[Racing_Rush]

Oh I forgot to mention that my current Gen 2 is pretty high milage so I would be finding a lower milage from "Pick Your Part" and building that one. If I was going the boost route I am just worried about the bottom end and spinning bearings. Whats the differences between 3100 and 3.1 rods and pistons?

What are the differences between the Turbo and Non turbos 3.1's?

For a gen 3 swap what is a real world estimate for cost... I have some little things like throttle body cable, power steering pump and hose, I have the small port heads and intakes (but was messing around with a dremel on them).

[1988GTU]

Having high miles on a pretty well maintained engine doesn't matter. Hell, even a beaten g2 could live long on boost if done right. If you spin a bearing then your engine temps got excessively too hot, poor oil flow/quality, &/or just hacked together parts creating for a future mess.

[Racing_Rush]

For the turbo route whats the most reliable way. I will probley do headers and a turbo mounted where the battery sits. Does anyone make a turbo chip (With more performance than the TGP)? What size injectors? Turbo cam? Bigger pump? 2 Bar map sensor? BOV? Boost controller? Do I need a wide band oxygen sensor? What other supporting mods?

[MY91GT(Z)]

ben here on here wot-tech makes chips and whatever else u may need (cam, pushrods, P&P head/intakes) ur stock 2 bar map sensor should be fine, their is mixed thoughts on walbro fuel pumps, and innovate wb o2 sensor should be used to keep closer on what ur motor is doin and along w/ that i would reccomend moates tuner also

[1988GTU]

LIC: Ben doesn't do chips for FI tunes. A wideband really is not NEEDED unless you dont plan on going to a dyno for a fine tune as soon as your done putting it together. EGT gauge would be nice to have, but again, not required. If you want a reliable, failsafe turbo application, you'll want both the wb and egt along with a few other things. Walbro's are a hit or miss. As long as you don't get a china made one, you should be good to go. I did have a non china made pump go flaky on me after a short period of time, but I am giving walbro a second chance.

[Racing_Rush]

Can I get away with a Rising Rate Fuel Pressure Regulator and/or should I have a chip or stand alone.

I have always worried about stand alones because I have heard of problems setting up mega squirts... Changes in weather mean you have to change your programing?

[1988GTU]

What kind of car/year is this all going in? That type of information should be first said in the first post.

[Racing_Rush]

Oh shoot my bad I forgot to make a Sig for this forum. I am running a 91 Cavalier Z24 with a 3.1l and a 5 Speed. Currently my engine mods include ported exhaust manifolds, msd wires and coil packs relocated to tranny mount, 2.5" exhaust system with flowmaster in place of cat and a magnaflow out back. The exhaust really opened up the mid range but on the top end I get passed by stock looking civcs!!! I am ashamed to say it was a 4 door too :*(

I am still highly considering a stage 1 3500 top end but the store price of $1500 + $150 for street porting and whatever shipping costs is a pretty big hit all at once. I am looking to spread the costs out over the period of a year aswell as building a more durable motor to handle the power.

I think that ripping into my motor replacing the bearings and maybe throwing some forged pistons and rods in (do 3100 units fit?) with new rings and a stronger clutch might be stage 1. Then do a top end conversion with ported units might be stage 2. Finally boosting the setup for the finished product.

This next winter coming up I plan on having a Daily Driver and converting my Z24 into a road cruiser, big power and lots of luxery's. May all be pipe dreams seeing as I am getting married in August...

[1988GTU]

91, you have a handful of people on this site that could burn you a chip for what you need or you can learn how to tune yourself if you feel confident.

[Racing_Rush]

When I finally get a Daily Driver I won't have issues with tuning a chip. I assume that its tuning via laptop and software that you are refering too..

Is it the heads or intakes on the Gen 2's that are the biggest restriction?

Also what is the minimum compressor and exhaust housing size that I should be trying to find?