3.4L Performance Questions And An Idea???

[Airbubba32]

Ok I知 new to the 60ｰ V6 world so please be gentle.

I finally know that the Engine I have is a 3.4L out of a 1993 Camaro. It痴 going into my son's 86 Chevette

Here is what I知 thinking, let me know if I知 crazy.

Again this Chevette is for my son so I知 not going all out; I just want it to be a good runner so he can surprise some of the kids with their rice burners. More of a learning project for him.

I知 getting rid of the Fuel injection on the 3.4L and am going to go with a carburetor. I have bought a Cam for a 1981 Citation X-11 (2.8 V6) and am thinking of getting a set of heads for that same engine. I know that the intake off of this engine (X-11) will not work so I have a standard (2) Barrel manifold, I have not decided on a carb yet. I was thinking of adapting a Holley (2) barrel from a Big Block V-8, only because I have it on hand and it came off a good running car. I was thinking of using the X-11 components because they are designed for a carbureted engine. I知 from the old school, not up on my Fuel Injection. So I thought the X-11 idea was good, maybe not!

The ignition is really where I知 struggling, I think if I use the distributor out of a mid 80痴 v6 car or truck I壇 be ok. I知 not sure if I can use the distributor out of the Camaro without having the computer and all of the sensors. So if you guys have any suggestion on that I would appreciate it.

I plan on using the 700R4 tranny out of the Camaro I just hope the Chevette rear end will hold up.

Thanks

[2.8-350TBI]

Ok I’m new to the 60ｰ V6 world so please be gentle.

I finally know that the Engine I have is a 3.4L out of a 1993 Camaro. It’s going into my son's 86 Chevette

Here is what I’m thinking, let me know if I’m crazy.

Again this Chevette is for my son so I’m not going all out; I just want it to be a good runner so he can surprise some of the kids with their rice burners. More of a learning project for him.

I’m getting rid of the Fuel injection on the 3.4L and am going to go with a carburetor. I have bought a Cam for a 1981 Citation X-11 (2.8 V6) and am thinking of getting a set of heads for that same engine. I know that the intake off of this engine (X-11) will not work so I have a standard (2) Barrel manifold, I have not decided on a carb yet. I was thinking of adapting a Holley (2) barrel from a Big Block V-8, only because I have it on hand and it came off a good running car. I was thinking of using the X-11 components because they are designed for a carbureted engine. I’m from the old school, not up on my Fuel Injection. So I thought the X-11 idea was good, maybe not!

The ignition is really where I’m struggling, I think if I use the distributor out of a mid 80’s v6 car or truck I’d be ok. I’m not sure if I can use the distributor out of the Camaro without having the computer and all of the sensors. So if you guys have any suggestion on that I would appreciate it.

I plan on using the 700R4 tranny out of the Camaro I just hope the Chevette rear end will hold up.

Thanks

First off you ARE crazy, but in an ingenious way.
If the chevette or the engine in it is a 2.8 and is carbureted, you can use that same intake manifold on the 3.4 since they are from the same engine family.
And for the ignition, just use ignition stuff from any carbureted 2.8, but try to avoid the cali emissions stuff.

For a very decent increase, use a edelbrock torker intake manifold and 4 barrel top with a 390cfm four barrel carb, and a vacuum advance distributor, and you'll have a hell of an engine, especially with the citation cam.

The 3.4 uses dis coils, not a distributor.

Sorry for being so blunt but im short on time here.

PS the 'maro uses a 4l60E

[walterdude]

As a suggestion you might want to hit up ForcedFirebird or BetterThanYou about any performance questions.. A couple of our resident Iron Head Wizards!!! If you look around this site there are a number of Chevette owners and a couple of them are REALLY built!!
Hope this helps,, good luck and keep us posted!!!
Tom...

[geoffinbc]

The 3.4L heads are the same HO or EFI heads that are found on the X11 cars. There is no difference so don't bother changing them.

As for the cam the X11 cam is nothing to talk about in todays performance market. I would go with a COMP 260 Cam K kit and get all the components in one box. You can also grab a set of their Magnum 1.6 roller tip rockers with magnum pushrods in a kit for under $200.

A Carb intake from an S-10 is a better fit for the Chevette since they are both rear wheel drive. The X11 stuff is better suited for front wheel drive apps.

Also the distributor from an 82 to 84 S-10 works with a carb has a small cap and remote coil for maximum firewall clearance. I would just buy a reman unit from the parts store so you get something new and reliable.

Edelbrock makes the only aftermarket intake available for sale brand new. You can get a 4 or 2 bbl top for it. It does have longer runners than a factory intake but I am not so sure it makes a ton more power.

[Airbubba32]

Thanks for all the great information!!!

I'll take your suggestion and run with them.

AirBubba

[Fierobuffoon]

Ok I’m new to the 60ｰ V6 world so please be gentle.

I finally know that the Engine I have is a 3.4L out of a 1993 Camaro. It’s going into my son's 86 Chevette

Here is what I’m thinking, let me know if I’m crazy.

Again this Chevette is for my son so I’m not going all out; I just want it to be a good runner so he can surprise some of the kids with their rice burners. More of a learning project for him.

I’m getting rid of the Fuel injection on the 3.4L and am going to go with a carburetor. I have bought a Cam for a 1981 Citation X-11 (2.8 V6) and am thinking of getting a set of heads for that same engine. I know that the intake off of this engine (X-11) will not work so I have a standard (2) Barrel manifold, I have not decided on a carb yet. I was thinking of adapting a Holley (2) barrel from a Big Block V-8, only because I have it on hand and it came off a good running car. I was thinking of using the X-11 components because they are designed for a carbureted engine. I’m from the old school, not up on my Fuel Injection. So I thought the X-11 idea was good, maybe not!

The ignition is really where I’m struggling, I think if I use the distributor out of a mid 80’s v6 car or truck I’d be ok. I’m not sure if I can use the distributor out of the Camaro without having the computer and all of the sensors. So if you guys have any suggestion on that I would appreciate it.

I plan on using the 700R4 tranny out of the Camaro I just hope the Chevette rear end will hold up.

Thanks

and to answer his last question,, The rear end from a Mustang 2 or v-6 pinto is a drop in, Hot rod mag did an article with their chevette, and they used that.., My 1st ex wife had a 4spd chevette,, she used to clutch drop that crazy thing.. the rear end clunks made me wince.. a 3.4 'cvette is a hairy beast

[tkoforpresident]

haha you are both wrong about the type of transmission is in the camaro. It's not a 700r4 or a 4l60E

it's just a 4l60 since it's not computer controlled (so yeah, technically it's a 700r4)

[2.8-350TBI]

haha you are both wrong about the type of transmission is in the camaro. It's not a 700r4 or a 4l60E

it's just a 4l60 since it's not computer controlled (so yeah, technically it's a 700r4)

Then how come the one I got my 3.4 from had a 4l60E?

[tkoforpresident]

was your car a 94 or 95?

Only the 1993 firebirds and camaros came with the non computer controlled Transmission

[60dgrzbelow0]

Following up on Geoff's (betterthanyou) suggestion about the CompCam performance items, this album in my photobucket has all of them listed with images and part numbers to save you time on research. Browse around there in the other albums because I have covered the complete tear down and re-build of a 1995 GM V6 3.4L L-32 motor with as many performance upgrades as possible being done with the exception of porting and polishing the heads.:

http://s557.photobucket.com/albums/ss19/60dgrzbelow0/GM34LNEWENGINEPARTS/#!cpZZ1QQtppZZ28

For the rest...

http://s557.photobucket.com/albums/ss19/60dgrzbelow0/

[2.8/3400 1985 Camaro]

Be careful what cam you swap into a 3.4, they have a fairly aggressive cam from the factory, I didn't find out till after the fact but the 260 grind cam I pulled from my dead 2.8 and put into my 3.4 was barely worth the trouble, and to be honest I don't like where it put my powerband, I have to go bigger when I get another cam, and drop in a higher stall tq converter and or bigger gears.

[Superdave]

the stock 3.4 cam is far from aggressive... it's basically the same cam used in the gen2 FWD engines. The only difference is the LSA which is supposedly 109 VS 112 on the gen2's. Same lift, same duration. .394 intake/.410 exhaust, ~194/202 duration @ .050"

[2.8/3400 1985 Camaro]

I didn't say it was an aggressive cam, just that it is fairly aggressive when compared to a stock 2.8 or 3.1 cam, and the specs on it are VERY close to that of my 260 grind aftermarket, which is about as big as you can go without tuning, problem is it put the powerband in an unfavorable rpm range for my current setup, the 3.4 cam would have been more favorable in terms of powerband, at the cost of a LITTLE bit of lift. I just don't want someone else to make the same mistake, granted I bought that cam when I had a 2.8, but I would have left the 3.4 with its stock cam If I had known the specs on it at the time, only suggesting that if he gets a cam he choose it carefully, in my case I need something much bigger, to move the powerband up higher, mine moved it to top of low end, and pretty much all of mid range, and a bit of upper, basically a midrange powerband, I want a top end one, but I will also have to get lower gears and a high stall TC if I want to have decent get up and go.

[geoffinbc]

One of you are talking about the stock L32 cam and the other is talking about the "Crate Cam" which is as far as we know made by Crane Cams. The L32 cams is so-so. The Crate Cam is quite good and very similar to the Crane 260 Cam.

[BillS]

One of you are talking about the stock L32 cam and the other is talking about the "Crate Cam" which is as far as we know made by Crane Cams. The L32 cams is so-so. The Crate Cam is quite good and very similar to the Crane 260 Cam.

Indeed, but that isn't all that much cam, either.
The 272 is a much better choice especially with some flow work and a bit more compression.