3400 newbie would like some suggestions

[anikan25]

Alright so I'm currently in the process of swapping a 3400 from a 2000 grandam into my cavalier. I've got the 3400 sitting on an engine stand right now and I plan on building it over the winter. So far I know the LIM gasket should be addressed, but what else would you guys suggest before the engine is installed.

As far as performance goes, lets assume I have a budget of about ~$500-$700 possibly more if you can convince me its worth it. I've got a set of 3.4f-body pistons I can put in, I'm just not sure if I want to do that right now or hold off until next winter so I can make sure everything is running properly stock first.

Please be as detailed as possible with your suggestions since I know very little about these engines. So basically I have a 2000 GA 3400 with 90 XXXkms and ~$700 to spend on it, what should I do?

[bob442]

gaskets, TB upgrade, and, well, thats about it, maybe a cam, but you will have to upgrade the chain, and after seeing my stock cam bearings on a well taken care of motor at 90,000km, i'm replacing them. then you need to tune... so i'd throw in a timing chain, do the top end gaskets, 65mm tb out of a 3.4/3.5 DOHC motor and go from there, Also my stock timing chain was like a bicycle chain, and had Alot of play.

[anikan25]

Forgot to mention I own hptuners so I won't need to worry about tuning and will definetely be upgrading exhaust, I'm just not sure on the route I will be taking. 3500 manifolds with dual exhaust is tempting me, but just running 2.5" from the manifold I have now would save me money for other parts...

My long term plan thus far was swapping in the 3.4 pistons and buying some ported 3500 manifolds. I'm sure the larger TB would be great with the new manifolds, but is it worth doing now?

Also I regret posting a $700 budget, you guys can ignore that. So suggest whatever you want, all I know for sure is at this point I am not looking for boost. I'd much rather go high compression n/a.

[bob442]

Do what ever you want, its not how fast you wanna go, its how much you wanna spend. My budget changed due ot my job. Search for previous threads started by noobs before everyone got tired of answering the same quesitons.
A good place to start is a sound bottom end, and a cam. So checking bearings, clearances, new pistons and machining for them, and selecting a good cam would be my personal best start being if i had the funds to spend for high compression pistons. Originally i wanted to run 11:1, but i dont have the flow anymore. Instead, i'm going to hone my walls, check the tollerance, and hopefully be able to put in some sealed power stock CR pistons to get rid of my annoying piston slap. and i'm putting in all new bearings on my already perfect bottom end. Next is a heavy cam, and pre-99 timing chain, and new cam bearings, so if anything is going to be changed, its done in the car, AKA heads, intakes, injectors.
In your case, i would suggest just that as you are just putting in the motor, not pulling it. Then you have a chance to clean everything up and feel all good and warm inside about the transplant. Good for motivational purposes if and when things get fustraiting.
As far as tuning, IMO, tuning should be done on a dyno, by a professional, with wide band O2's. but as far as getting a wonderful base tune, turning to Ben at Wot-Tech is a great idea, and i will be doing so myself.

[kflo 93 gt]

Start small, these engines respond well to mods.

Build a good intake, run the TCE 65mm tb and port the plenum inlet to match it or run a 3500 upper intake with a tb adapter. Then put a decent cam in it and some clean up port work on the top end along with LS6 valve springs and a new GM timing chain for a 97 3400. That with stock 3400 exhaust manifolds with the rear outlet ported and a true 2.5" exhaust will make some nice power on a budget of right around $1000 or so.

[anikan25]

I understand what you mean with I should jsut do what I want, but the problem is I don't know my options. I have the 3.4 pistons that I want to use, and I plan on buying ported out manifolds (ported 3500 are the better flowing ones right?), but after that I have no idea what else I should look into (I know you suggested cams, I'll look into some). Anyway thanks for the advice I'll try and track down previous posts on the topic.

I will be using a wideband for the tuning but as you probably would have guessed I don't own a dyno, so I will be taking it to professionals once I have have completed most my planned mods. No point in paying someone to tune it 3-4 times if I can have it running on a basic tune in the mean time.

[anikan25]

Start small, these engines respond well to mods.

Build a good intake, run the TCE 65mm tb and port the plenum inlet to match it or run a 3500 upper intake with a tb adapter. Then put a decent cam in it and some clean up port work on the top end along with LS6 valve springs and a new GM timing chain for a 97 3400. That with stock 3400 exhaust manifolds with the rear outlet ported and a true 2.5" exhaust will make some nice power on a budget of right around $1000 or so.

Didn't notice your post, thanks for the suggestions.