My first post! :) Quick Q's about upgradin my v6 3.4L '95 maro

[superducky55]

hello everyone

i'm fairly new to the mechanical world, definitely still learning.. but i'm not quite dumb either.. Anyway - i just got a cosmetically perfect '95 camaro with a v6 3.4 in her.. the engine is in damned good shape, but has 236+K miles on it. It runs flawlessly, has new struts, tires, cat converter, alternator, fuel injectors, brakes and a few more things i cant think of tonight.. i'm pretty tired..
Anyhow, I really love the interior and exterior look and feel of this car, and i want to put some more money into it to make her last a while longer. (As of now, 3 mechanics have told me it's in "Perfect" mechanical order.. the motor should last 100+more thousand miles)
I want to start saving for a new motor to throw in there when this one takes a poop, my father works for a GM warehouse and can get crate motors at dealership cost..
What do you guys think? I'm thinking price range of 5,000 and i want to be able to destroy any 16year old ricerboy who tries to run up on me in his civic


These are some awesome forums you folks have here, i'm glad to finally take part in them (been clicking around for a few days)

[Savage Messiah]

1) HOLY CRAP if you break 300,000 miles... damn. hah im hoping mine will break 200,000. That alone can give civics something to chew on haha.
2) well... ill let some other people give you advice for what to do with your budget, they know more.

[89IROC&RS]

well, first and formost, welcome to the forums, always glad to have a new member.

now for performance from the 3.4L, look through the threads on page one and two, its probly on the first page, but its about sixers running 11's, im a small block chevy boy myself, so all this V6 stuff is pretty new to me too. however all the old school stuff still applies, but there is no easy way to make power, youll definatly have to pull the engine, and tear it apart and do internal modifications to get the power out youre looking for. the stock guts wont cut it. if youre looking to go that route, ill post what mods im talking about.

[superducky55]

Hey guys thanks for the welcome..
I was really thinking more along the lines of just ripping out the v6 and going with a bigger engine.. hopefully a Genuine GM one so i can get it at dealer cost.
I dont think i'm going ot have the mechanical skill necessary to do internal engine work anytime soon --- and having someone do it for me sounds expensive lol

What are my options for a reasonably hassle-free engine swap?

and about this car runnin still.. whoa. tell me about it. My uncle had the car for it's whole life, and he's very anal about maitenence.. i see why. those every 2500 mile oil changes have already paid themselves off eh? haha

[Savage Messiah]

haha some people would disagree... not sure where that thread about oil changes went. Goddamn recent posts now go onto liek 1/4 of page 2... we post too much lol

[superducky55]

LS1 into a F-body '93 - '02 Parts needed:

LS1 and V8 Transmission (none of the F-body
V6 Transmissions will work behind the V8)
V8 Front Suspension Crossmember $150
(Each engine had different motor mount holes)
V8 Heater Hoses $40


Will need '97 Corvette fuel rails or rails modified by Street and Performance
to hook up the stock lines or an external pressure regulator.

Due to electronics changes from year to year and difference in V6 & V8 cars,
it is impossible list all the different changes and mods that would be required
to be made to install the LS1 in a V6 or LT1 car.

http://www.hpsalvage.com/st.htm

Do you think that's fairly accurate? How hard would it be to change the engine mounts and all to put a ls1 like this one
http://www.gmpartsdepot.com/store/pr..._ID=2&src=gls1

What problems would i run into?

[Chevyracincamaro]

hpsalvage is a good site to get a general idea of what you need. they list all the major components, but you will also need a lot of little things that they dont mention. also, you will need a whole new driveline including driveshaft and rear-axle assembly. the suspension has to be changed and the fuel pump has to be changed. everything swaps out fairly easily, but the problem is catching everything that you need to swap. more than likely you'll get everything in and go to start the car and it cant cause you forgot to swap out one of the transmission cooling lines or something...

[superducky55]

thanks for all your replies!
Can i get a lil ball-park estimate as to how much it's going to cost in parts with a dealership cost crate engine V8 and all the stuff
~5k?

[Chevyracincamaro]

5k? try higher, much higher. if you want to do everything, and do everything right, than itll cost more up around 9-10...

[Joseph1082]

there is no reason to waste that money on an older car, hell, you can buy a v8 car w/ that omney and forget the hassle... sell yours, no matter how attatched you are, and get a v8.

[renzokata]

i used to have that same car... theyre pretty reliable even tho the head bolts like to break on them a lot. Whoever had the car last took damn good car of it it sounds like. The 3.4 is a respectable v-6-its not 1/2 bad. Personally, if you have 5 grand, i would upgrade to a z28... theyre much faster and the gas mileage isnt as horrid as people make it sound. Trade your car in and offer no less than 2 grand for it. Take the 7 grand to the dealership. Get yourself a z28-now your really working with something. If you wanna keep your car. Buy another 3.4 engine-(you can get them from junkyards cheap), fuck with the engine. Replace the camshafts with racing ones first. Then replace the lifters, gears, and fully balance the engine. Port and polished the heads and get a 3^ valve job. If you have the tools, bore it out and get bigger racing pisons and connecting rods. Check the inner components to make sure the crankshaft isnt scraping the journals. Its a common probem amonsts 3.4's. Take your engine out and sell it. Put your new one in. You got a fast v-6 now. Put tru dual exhaust on it-meaning it really has dual pipes from the engine back-now taht fake catback shit. get the stg 2 cool air intake(induction and air filter). Get higher flowing fuel injectors-they sit right under the intake manifold and are easy to replace. A bigger throttle body might work-a once peice driveshaft- and if your a good driver and can handle the power-get pazi trac rear end. the car wil burn out on 2 wheels now instead of one-and get better pickup. If your budget can suit it, bolt on a turbo kit... With the engine highly modified to handle the boost-you can throw in up to 16 pounds of boost. Still think you should go with a v-8-but thats about all you can do for a v-6-good luck!

[philly rs]

old old old old whats the deal with the old stuff???

[89IROC&RS]

hey guys, we try to keep from bringing back dead threads. if you look at the person who started this thread, he only has 12 or so posts, and that was back in 2004, so hes probly not here anymore. If you have an issue youd like to talk about, please feel free to start a new thread about it, but try not to bring up dead threads from a year ago. that being said, this thread is closed.