Head swap, yes or no?

[lilredtruck]

I have a HT3400 (GMPP) in my ’92 P’up and its getting ‘long in tooth’
> w/ 365K on it. Thinking ahead, I want to put splayed valve heads on
> the next 3.4; will they swap? Any Camaro’s with the L32 block using
> LG6 heads? Any TBI manifolds for Splayed valve heads?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Brian/lilredtruck

I see from some of the threads CR is the major issue. So what has ben done recently to correct this, to get down to 9.0/ 9.5 ? Or is it just better for a 'daily driver' to stay with the in-line valves?

[bszopi]

Glad to see you finally got posting figured out!

As far as your question goes, the only splayed valve heads are the aluminum heads, and there are no TBI intakes for aluminum heads.

[Superdave]

Your solution would be to swap the pistons for a set from a 3400. That would be 9.6:1 with 3400 heads or 9.1:1 with 3500 heads.

Like bszopi said though, there is no TBI intakes for the aluminum heads. You'd either have to make one or switch to MPFI.

[dusterbd13]

and switching to MPFI isnt hard on tehse trucks.

[lilredtruck]

OK, so how about I get a 3500, bore out my 3.4 to 94mm, use the 3500 pistons, heads, intakes. Is CR still a problem? Note about converting to MPFI, is it a big deal or no?

[dusterbd13]

MPFI really isnt all that tough on these trucks.

after i get mine finished, ill probably make a few more conversion harnesses for sale.

ill be running a stock 3.4 firebird motor, DIS, MPFI, 7727 ecm. still freshening the motor right now.

michael

[Superdave]

why not just bolt in the whole 3500? If i can do it in a Camaro, you can do it in a truck.


.080 is too much to safely bore out the 3.4 block, plus the 3500 pistons have a different compression height due to the longer rods.. which will not work with the 3.4 crank because the rod pins are .25" larger on the 3500.

[lilredtruck]

Engine swap

Hi,Dave,
Tell me more - I'm interested! That thought had crossed my mind but I saw no threads that were suggesting converting FWD engines for use in RWD vehicles. In the truck, I have an MUA5, 4WD trans, std. GM bell housing with starter on the left/driver side to facilitate the front driveshaft on the right and an offset oil filter adapter on the left side to clear the starter.
What donor car should I be looking for to get the 3500 from? Should I be getting the whole engine including the bolt-ons (A/C, PS, alt)? All of mine bolt onto the front of the heads.
Is ther an ALDL to USB cable available? I have software to read the OBDI but cluelrdd as how to connect.
Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Brian

[dusterbd13]

yes. i use an older AKM cable with a radio shack serial to usb adapter. AKM now makes them straight to usb.

[Superdave]

2004 Malibu seems to be the best choice, 05 and 06 should have it as well. The 04's seem to have the better forged steel crank.


I'm not familiar with that trans but if your starter is already on the drivers side then you are set, that's where the FWD ones are.


I would keep your RWD stuff like the timing cover and all the brackets. All that stuff will swap to the 3500 but you will have to modify the accessory brackets since the bolt holes in the aluminum heads are different than the irons. You'll also have to get creative with the motor mounts, that's where i'm at right now with mine.


One of the better ways to run the engine is to use an engine harness and ECM from a Cavalier or Beretta, then run a custom burnt chip. There are some gorey details that go along with it but that's the gist of it.

You'll also have to deal with the fuel pump, MPFI runs at 43-55 PSI so you'll need to figure out something there.

[lilredtruck]

Engine swap

Hi, Dave,
The bolt pattern on the MUA5 is "GM Hex", like 700R4, etc. Most likely the same as you have in your Camaro. I have looked for trans adaptors for SB Chev to MUA5's and didn't find one because they are not needed - same pattern except for starter on right. Since my present engine (HT3400) is really a '94 Camaro, that checks. Have you found an adaptor for FWD 3500 to GM hex?
Have you gotten your 3500 yet? I got a response from Engine and Transmission World for a '05 Mailibu 3500 (31K miles) for $995. No harness, ECU, or bolt ons.
Need more info on the cable. Have a serial to USB w/ software but need the ALDL to serial. Am I understanding that correctly?
We had a '05 Buick Terraza w/ a 3500. It appeared the engine was suspended from the top/side, correct? Are there any bosses on the
lower sides for possible mounts?
Thanks,
Brian


lowesdes of the block for mou

[IsaacHayes]

check www.car-part.com You can find them way cheaper.

[Superdave]

Hi, Dave,
The bolt pattern on the MUA5 is "GM Hex", like 700R4, etc. Most likely the same as you have in your Camaro. I have looked for trans adaptors for SB Chev to MUA5's and didn't find one because they are not needed - same pattern except for starter on right. Since my present engine (HT3400) is really a '94 Camaro, that checks. Have you found an adaptor for FWD 3500 to GM hex?
Have you gotten your 3500 yet? I got a response from Engine and Transmission World for a '05 Mailibu 3500 (31K miles) for $995. No harness, ECU, or bolt ons.
Need more info on the cable. Have a serial to USB w/ software but need the ALDL to serial. Am I understanding that correctly?
We had a '05 Buick Terraza w/ a 3500. It appeared the engine was suspended from the top/side, correct? Are there any bosses on the
lower sides for possible mounts?
Thanks,
Brian


lowesdes of the block for mou

your 3.4 and the SBC chevy use different mounting patterns.


this is the small GM corporate pattern that your 3.4 and my 3500 have



This is the SB chevy pattern




You can see in this picture, the 3500 bolts right to the V6 bellhousing'd 700R4:




That trans came from a 93 Firebird with a 3.4.



I've had both of my 3500's for several years, one was mounted in a 91 cavalier for the last 4 years and ran very hard.

There are bosses on the block but they are different than the RWD ones. Still in the same general area so it's possible to make mounts.

[dusterbd13]

contact AKM cables. you can get the ALDL to serial, or ALDL to USB cables from them pretty cheap.
moates also hasthem, i think.

just google ALDL cable. youll find em.

[lilredtruck]

Thanks,Dave, you are a wealth of information, a great help.
Brian