The official 3500 thread. pics.

[camaroman1181]

Ok, you might have stated this and i just missed it, but will any of these parts work in the older blocks? like would the crank and rods fit in a 95 3.4 rwd block? If thatd be the case, hell, id be more than happy to toss custom pistons in the thing to make it work... just curious if you got around to checking out things like that yet... also, you mentioned that the crank is forged? are the rods forged as well?

[bszopi]

The crank issues are discussed about halfway through the first page (Shaun discusses it first). Most of the topend would bolt on, BUT you'd need to use from the heads up to get everything to match. The plenum will bolt to the 3400 manifold. But since you are RWD, only the internals would really matter to you. In which case, the crank would need to be ground down in order for it to work.

[CodeRed]

There is also the I5 in the colorado that is labled I5 3500 rather then 3.5L (definitely a very nice motor though for being an inline 5).

yeah i love my I5 in my colorado

colin looks like u've been having fun there

[v6h.o.]

colin looks like u've been having fun there

I try Geeds.

[Manitcor]

so with heads from this "older style" 3500 it would be possible to do a 3400/3500 hybrid if I am reading this correctly

or perhaps even swap in a 3500 all together with only needing some sort of adapter plate to get an old style throttle body to work.

[Doubt_Incarnate]

read again, there is a slight difference in the block on the first page. i belive it concersns the front mont.

[Manitcor]

yeah I see the mount issue which is most likley rather minor as that bracket for the most part has more bolts in it than it really needs to hold on. From the looks of it its just a change as far as the AC compressor mounting is concered so you can either try to make it work with your old mount or just swap in the AC system as well. Or loose AC all together. Theres also the possibility of fabbing a mount up, you can do alot with access to a machine shop.

Though even more important, im not seeing anything that would stop me from putting a 3500 topend on a 3400 block or am I wrong? I would most likely need to change up to the newer style PS pump becuase the 3500 plenum I think goes into the area where the 3400 style pump is now.

[96mcls]

so with heads from this "older style" 3500 it would be possible to do a 3400/3500 hybrid if I am reading this correctly

or perhaps even swap in a 3500 all together with only needing some sort of adapter plate to get an old style throttle body to work.

just slap a 3400 UIM and TB and save your self ALOT of time, and then people will think you just have a 3400

[Manitcor]

i dont think the 3400 UIM will line up with the 3500 LIM, but its an idea.

[bszopi]

It will. Just the same as people swapping the 3500 plenum onto a 3400.

[Manitcor]

good to hear, I had talked to someone who looked at this and was told the PS pump would get in the way, am I hearing this insnt a problem?

[v6h.o.]

good to hear, I had talked to someone who looked at this and was told the PS pump would get in the way, am I hearing this insnt a problem?

The montana SV6 vans use PS with this engine. It fits fine. As did my 3500 plenum on my 3400 top end on my 3.1L block :P

The new 3500heads will swap over onto a gen3 or 2 block.

[Manitcor]

good deal, now when I go hunting for a top end Im guessing I need to get one from one of these earlier 3500s that is more like the 3400. If that is the case what cars was this engine in and how would identify the engine from the one that is more like the 3900?

[onefastV6]

Any word on the cam yet or word on the valve size difference.

[bszopi]

Cam uses the same trigger as the 03+ 3x00s. Cam lift is the same as previous, but the profile has changed. I don't have any numbers on it, but I was told by GM Powertrain that the profile changed.