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3100 engine swap


fat4t8

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The engine in my 1996 Grand prix acting up seriuously with low compression in #5 and poor oil pressure. I am considering swaping in another GM 3100. I have replaced and built several V8 Ford and Chev motors, but I am relatively unfamiliar with the differences in these 3100's. I would be just replacing the long block and using all my current electronics, accessories ect. I would like to find a newer/low milage used engine to swap in place of mine. I know these came in a bunch of differnt GM cars. Which ones and years would I be able to take the long block assembly from. Are there any significant differnces I should be aware of?

 

Thanks

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Any 3100 should work without much problems. The newer ones (2000+?) have better flowing intake or something and a few other things, and rated at 175HP vs. 160hp. Personally, I'd find a 3400 for extra power.

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... I'm gettin' tired of hearing about "just do the l67 swap" if you haven't done the swap yourself, and have no knowledge of what it would take to do the swap, please stop recomending it to EVERYONE who says they need a new engine.

 

the L67 is NOT the best engine on the planet, if you're really going to go thru the trouble of putting the L67 in there, why not just get the adapter plates, and put in a smallblock chev motor - you'll get more power, for a LOT less money.

 

--Dave.

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... I'm gettin' tired of hearing about "just do the l67 swap" if you haven't done the swap yourself, and have no knowledge of what it would take to do the swap, please stop recomending it to EVERYONE who says they need a new engine.

 

the L67 is NOT the best engine on the planet, if you're really going to go thru the trouble of putting the L67 in there, why not just get the adapter plates, and put in a smallblock chev motor - you'll get more power, for a LOT less money.

 

--Dave.

 

Would it fit?

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I think it fits, I measured my 88 Regal, and size would have allowed it to be in there, but we didn't know how it'd like being against the steering rack, and what we'd have to do for custom headers and such - I had some strange ideas, but no money.

 

--Dave.

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you can use the FWD trans that comes in the car stock, but you have to use the adapter plates supplied from http://www.v8archie.com

 

I never tried to install one, so I don't have the expirence, I was just saying, if you're gonna go thru the trouble of cramming an L67, why not cram a SBC in there, hell a built 383 will put nearly ANY L67 to shame (I say Nearly, because there's exceptions to every rule)

 

--Dave

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you can use the FWD trans that comes in the car stock, but you have to use the adapter plates supplied from http://www.v8archie.com

 

I never tried to install one, so I don't have the expirence, I was just saying, if you're gonna go thru the trouble of cramming an L67, why not cram a SBC in there, hell a built 383 will put nearly ANY L67 to shame (I say Nearly, because there's exceptions to every rule)

 

--Dave

 

I don't know if theres much "cramming" involved in swapping in an L67...I thought they bolted right in, but the main issue was wiring.

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you can use the FWD trans that comes in the car stock, but you have to use the adapter plates supplied from http://www.v8archie.com

 

I never tried to install one, so I don't have the expirence, I was just saying, if you're gonna go thru the trouble of cramming an L67, why not cram a SBC in there, hell a built 383 will put nearly ANY L67 to shame (I say Nearly, because there's exceptions to every rule)

 

--Dave

 

Hmm.... I bet this swap would be somewhat easier than the L67 swap. No wires. Custom motor brackets, but that not a big deal.

 

I like your thinking!

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Yep, if you "cut the wires" to go with an SBC, you'll probably want to switch back to the vacuum-shifted trans as well :wink: ...

 

 

IMHO, doing the L67 swap is best left for someone with a ton of time on their hands, and plenty of money to fund the project. I've seen what some of these guys spent to get their cars fully functional. We're talking upwards of $4000 (sometimes more!) Swapping a 3400 in place of a 3100 makes the most sense to me. You get an instant jump in HP (not much but every pony counts!) Not to mention you can get a low-mileage 3400 complete for under five bills. As mentioned previously, it bolts directly in place of the 3100 and you can use the same PCM, Trans, wiring, and all of the accessories. When the 3100 in both my Lumina and Grand Prix go off to the big boneyard in the sky, I'm stuffing 3400's in their place for sure! After, of course, I replace the Intake Gaskets first :wink: ...

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I'd replace the head gaskets and timing chains too, if I were to swap in a 3400, not because those parts are bad, but because it's out of the car, so it's gonna be a WHOLE lot easier to get those things outta the way to help assure a long life engine.

 

--Dave.

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I'd replace the head gaskets and timing chains too, if I were to swap in a 3400, not because those parts are bad, but because it's out of the car, so it's gonna be a WHOLE lot easier to get those things outta the way to help assure a long life engine.

 

--Dave.

Makes perfect sense seeing as the intake manifold will already be removed. I'd go with FelPro Head Gaskets for sure. I put a FelPro HG on my old 93 Cavalier 4 1/2 years ago when the HG went out at 146K (it was a GM replacement installed at 72K.) I sold the car to a friend of mine 1 1/2 years ago, and he has it up to 252K presently, and that HG hasn't popped yet! 106K+ out of a FelPro vs 74K out of a stock part...
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you can use the FWD trans that comes in the car stock, but you have to use the adapter plates supplied from http://www.v8archie.com

 

I never tried to install one, so I don't have the expirence, I was just saying, if you're gonna go thru the trouble of cramming an L67, why not cram a SBC in there, hell a built 383 will put nearly ANY L67 to shame (I say Nearly, because there's exceptions to every rule)

 

--Dave

 

383 stroker!

 

I like the way you think.

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Yep, if you "cut the wires" to go with an SBC, you'll probably want to switch back to the vacuum-shifted trans as well :wink: ...

 

 

IMHO, doing the L67 swap is best left for someone with a ton of time on their hands, and plenty of money to fund the project. I've seen what some of these guys spent to get their cars fully functional. We're talking upwards of $4000 (sometimes more!) Swapping a 3400 in place of a 3100 makes the most sense to me. You get an instant jump in HP (not much but every pony counts!) Not to mention you can get a low-mileage 3400 complete for under five bills. As mentioned previously, it bolts directly in place of the 3100 and you can use the same PCM, Trans, wiring, and all of the accessories. When the 3100 in both my Lumina and Grand Prix go off to the big boneyard in the sky, I'm stuffing 3400's in their place for sure! After, of course, I replace the Intake Gaskets first :wink: ...

 

if i would have spent 4k on a L67 swap it would have been less then what this car has in it for repairs and what it need also.

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