Should I have any problems?

[Killert]

Well its now time to spend my christmas money and Im looking into some upgrades for my RWD 3.4. Im mainly looking for lower end torque. My plans are
Comp Cams CL-Kit (Cam and Lifter Kit) Camshaft Number:: COMP-16.232.4

http://www.compcams.com/Cam_Specs/CamDetails.aspx?csid=56&sb=2

CompCams Rocker Arm Kits--1.52 Magnum Roller Tip rockers & High Energy pushrods http://www.compperformancegroupstore...=CHEV466Rocker
and
CompCams Valve Springs - http://www.compperformancegroupstore...e=CHEV466Valve

The motors got a little over 60k on it and Im running pacesetter headers. Should I have any problems running this set up?

[Superdave]

i'd go with the 16-233-4 kit http://www.compcams.com/Cam_Specs/Ca...x?csid=57&sb=2


either way it'll all work, you won't see any huge power increases without a better set of heads though.

[Killert]

i'd go with the 16-233-4 kit http://www.compcams.com/Cam_Specs/Ca...x?csid=57&sb=2


either way it'll all work, you won't see any huge power increases without a better set of heads though.

Would I lose low end torque with that kit? Im not too worried about lots of high end.
Would port and polishing my heads do me any good?

[robertisaar]

compared to the 252, not much.

[Killert]

compared to the 252, not much.

What do you mean?

[Weatheralls Auto]

In your first post, the cam you linked to was grind 252H,
The cam superdave linked to was 260H.

So robert means going with the Cam 260H, you will not loose much more low end torque than you would with the 252H grind cam,

At least, that is what I think he meant.

[Killert]

Oh. I understand. With either would I gain lowend torque?

[Superdave]

you will gain torque with both cams, the 260 will have a little rougher idle and will give you overall more power.


the Iron head die-hards will probably whine about this but since you have the 3.4 already you can upgrade to a generation 3 top end and make tons more power.

a top end from a '04-'06 3500 V6 is the best you can get, it flows way more than the iron stuff. You'll have a little over 11:1 scr, crazy amounts of torque and more HP than the V8's did in the 3rd gen Fbodies.. lol

[Killert]

Say I find a 3500 top end, What else would I have to do? Can I keep the distributor? What about egr and emissions? Can I still use my headers?

[Superdave]

your headers will work fine but you'll need to slot the bolt holes a little, the distributor won't work any more, you'll have to switch to a DIS system like the 3.4 had in the 4th gens (and all the FWD engines have). That's not too hard, grab an engine harness from a early 90's cavalier, the coil assembly from the same car and the EGR as well (if you really want to keep it).

It's a little bit of work but it's been done before and there are plenty of people on here to guide you through it. The tuning aspect will be important as well, with the DIS setup you will have excellent control of the engine. You can tune it to get some very respectable gas mileage. In the end it's all about how far you want to take the car and how confident you are in your mechanical skills.



Once the snow melts i'm putting a whole 3500 in my '89 Camaro with a 91 cavalier harness and ECM. I plan on fully documenting the swap so if you wait a few months there will be a ton of info on using the FWD stuff in a RWD car.

[Killert]

This is where it gets more involved and starts costing more. I neither have the mechanical skills/know-how or funds.
Why can't I keep the distributor?
How would I convert it to DIS?
Can I keep it emissions legal?
What about things like the the throttle body and the TV cable?
and all the vaccumm lines and what not for the EGR?
What head gaskets do I use?
Do I need to change my ECM?
Do I need to change pistons?
What kinda Hp/torque would I be looking at?
What kinda HP/torque would I be looking at with the setup I posted in my first post?

I have many questions and not much I understand about the swap

[Superdave]

the stock 3.4 iron head is 160 HP/180 TQ, with the 16-233-4 kit and your headers you might hit 175-180 HP and 200 TQ.


with the 3500 top end desktop dyno says 242 HP @ 6K and 236 TQ @ 4500.


you can't keep the distributor because it doesn't fit with the FWD top end. You could probably notch the upper and lower intakes to make them fit. I've seen a topic somewhere where someone combined 2 together to get enough height to clear the FWD stuff.

Converting to DIS would need the FWD engine harness, ECM and just the extra parts like the coils and module.

yes, i don't see a reason why you couldn't keep it legal. You'll have to do a little extra work to lengthen the EGR tube but in the scope of things that's pretty minor.

I haven't figured out the throttle cable yet but i planned on using one from a 305 TPI Fbody to start with.

WOT-Tech sells a top notch 65mm TB and the adapter to use with the 3500 UIM, that's the easiest route but it is a little pricey.

your 3.4 pistons will give you around 11.5:1 compression, if you swap to the 3400 V6 FWD pistons you'll lose about 20 HP but have around 9.2:1 compression. Headgaskets depends on what piston you go with. with the FWD pistons you'll need to use the FWD gaskets but with the RWD pistons either will work, 3.4 gaskets are thinner and will give you a better quench.



I'd stick with just the cam swap for now on your 3.4, but use 1.6 rockers instead of 1.5's. If/when you get more comfortable with engine building then a top end swap would be a ton of fun.

[Killert]

Thanks for all the advice, I'm using gonna use the Top-end swap as motivation to get a job this year haha!

But until then I'll continue doing research and throw the cam in it. And since there's no hurry, I'll just start piecing the swap together.

Also do you have any advice on Port and polishing iron heads?
And if I use 1.6 rockers and the 16-233-4 cam, will I have any problems with like a value hitting a piston or something like that? I assume that would equal a ton of lift

[Killert]

bump for my last few questions

And if I use 1.6 rockers and the 16-233-4 cam, will I have any problems with like a value hitting a piston or something like that? I assume that would equal a ton of lift