lookin for some extra power...

[englundjd]

Hey I am looking to give my cavalier a little more get up. lookin for more ideas...
what i already have on the list:
home made cold air intake
2.5" I pipe with an e-cutout in the back then into a quiet muffler
cat delete
1.6 ratio roller rockers
headers of some kind if i can find a set that wont cost me my first born
tb bypass
tune

anymore ideas?
any ideas on headers?
what rockers do i need, the 3.1L doesnt have 3/8 studs does it?
i am looking for a QUIET muffler, i dont want to hear a drone or anything when im going down the highway. any ideas? i dont know much about aftermarket mufflers but my stocker has a massive rust hole in it lol its to loud

[Superdave]

Welcome to 60v6!

I'll be the first to say (and i've done lots of these in Jbodies), don't sink too much money/time into the 3.1. The ROI is terrible. With all of the mods listed you'll still be well below the power of a stock 3100/3400 swap.

It's very easy to drop in a gen 3 engine and have tons more power plus great reliability. There are hundreds of gen 3 swapped Cavaliers running around, most are DD's.



BTW, we have a V6Z24.com bash in Eastern Iowa every year.. you should stop out, there is usually lots of nice cars there.



You can use the stock 1.6 rockers from a 94/95 3100, they are a bolt on to the 3.1 and add maybe 2-3 HP. They are stamped though, not roller. there won't be a bit of difference in power gained though since the cam profile is so mild.

WOT-Tech sells the only headers that fit your car any more, stay far away from JBP. If you've got the skills you can make your own but you'll break even on price after ceramic coating.

Ben also sells a good performance chip for the stock 3.1, it'll gain you a little bit of power.

Walker Quiet-flows are good mufflers, they flow decent and are pretty quiet. The 60v6 is a loud engine, especially without a cat. you may want to add in a resonator if you want it to be super quiet. Take a look at the factory system on a 3100/3400 Grand Am

[geoffinbc]

Agreed. A 3400 swap is so easy to do now and the difference is amazing even if you leave it all stock. I did one with a friend years ago when 3400's were going for $2500 used. No I can get them for $175 all day long.

And I agree stay far away from JBP if they are still in business. Nothing but overpriced junk. If it ever shows up at your door that is.

[robertisaar]

3400 for ~$250 = 180HP/205TQ out of the box... you really can't beat that since it damn near bolts in with no mods/fab.

except for the TB and crank trigger issue, the 3500 is pretty cost-effective as well.

[englundjd]

thanks for the muffler tips!

I'm not much on swaps, if i was to swap this what all will i need to get besides the engine?

[geoffinbc]

You need to buy of fabricate one engine mount. An exhaust shop will have to take care of the down pipe and thats about it. Everything else is simple parts store stuff like coolant lines and some minor wiring adjustments. It will run quite well on the stock 3.1L ECM.

[englundjd]

just out of curiousity would you be able to cost effectively just swap a 3100/3400 top end onto a 3.1?

[Superdave]

You can, but there are a few small issues there. You'll need custom length pushrods, a different power steering pump, a few coolant lines and some other things here and there. People used to do that quite a bit years ago but full swaps have pretty much taken over.

Where are you at in Nebraska?

"Daveycav90" is in Omaha and i think the only guy that sells the 3x00 swap mounts anymore. He's also got a few swapped Z24's, one that runs mid 11's. If you are close i bet he'd take you for a ride in one.. lol

[englundjd]

unfortunaty i live about 3 hours from omaha. i may have to do some research into how much a full swap would cost. i have the tools and if i can find a good guide and enough ambition i could do it myself... how long does it take to swap the engine and will it run on the 3.1L computer/tune

[geoffinbc]

If you are prepared you could do it in a weekend. But if parts stores are far off I would book a week. Yes you can run it of the stock computer and injection system. You even use the stock 3.1L injectors.

[Superdave]

I did my first one in a weekend on my 91 Z24 5 speed, it's not too bad.. and in your case you can leave the auto trans in there to save time.


It will run on the stock 3.1 tune but just be aware that it will not perform very well at WOT, the gen 3 engines need their stock bigger injectors and a good tune to run right.


This is the old install guide from "The Domestic crew" (guys who did the first swaps many years ago). Most of it is still relevant but there are some improvements. http://www.sdsgarage.com/Misc/installguide.htm


v6z24.com will have tons of specific info, here is a link with a bunch of completed swaps that you can check out.. http://www.v6z24.com/jbodyforum/geni...in-t55641.html

[englundjd]

thanks for the info dave! your quite the v6 genius haha

[TGP37]

Exhaust drone in the cab can be reduced by using rubber spacers between the exhaust hanger and the frame. Do not let the exhaust ever come in contact with the frame, that will produce some nasty drone while cruising.

[Superdave]

Agreed, also about 4-6 coats of a good undercoating will help too.