3.1 Performance/Modification Questions

[90Luminator]

Hey Guys,

 

I've got a 90 Chevy Lumina that's a rock. Never had any major problems with her. Could any of you other maverick mechanics give me some tips on performance mods. My goal is a street machine that draws back to a more retro styling/performance era. Thanks

 

-Andy

[Vegeta]

http://www.60v6.com

 

Check the site and search the forum. To much stuff for me to list but you have a ton of options.

[digitaloutsider]

I'll once again state this. There are no "bolt-up" performance modifications for the 3.1. If you want performance out of it, you can either drop in the LG5 (3.1 Turbo) or do things like a bore, bigger pistons, cam, etc. etc. Aside from swapping the N/A 3.1 for something else, there's not much else you can do to get peformance out of this engine without spending lots of money.

[Vegeta]

Yeah, gen 3 intake swap doesn't just bolt up...i mean, you gotta custom fab a brain or something. I dunno wtf you are smoking, but you can do cam, pistons, top end swap, use the TGP turbo setup on the stock NA 3.1 motor, nitrous, larger TB, 1.6:1 rocker arms, etc.

[digitaloutsider]

It's not exactly cheap. I'm comparing it to the ease of say.. the L67, which you just bolt a new pulley on and OMG have like 394739473 HP.

[GP1138]

AAAAAGHH!! Please don't let this turn into yet ANOTHER 3.1 vs. L67 monkeys-throwing-shit-at-one-another fight! Or I'll break out Vanilla Ice again!

 

The 3.1 has little small things that increase the "butt-dyno" factor, such as the removal of the airbox snorkel, and K&N drop-in filter, but aside from that, intake swap, and what Ben already talked about. I don't know if there's a U/D pulley for the LH0.

[digitaloutsider]

That was like the first UD pulley FFP made:

 

http://www.fastfwdperformance.com/ud.htm

[Vegeta]

There is also my chip that gives the 3.1 5-6 hp at the wheels. All the little things add up, but if you want to get some serious gains, the gen 3 top end is the only NA way to go with the 3.1 engine.

[GP1138]

That was like the first UD pulley FFP made:

 

http://www.fastfwdperformance.com/ud.htm

 

Sweet. I'd consider it if I really cared about making a beater any faster.

[Canada]

Lets see............a Warm Air Intake is just an Ebay auction away (good for 3-5whp, but ONLY ONCE YOU ARE MOVING....so you have underhood airflow), and it'd only take a couple of extra couplers, one 90 degree, and one 45 degree 3in madrel bends to turn it into a proper CAI (so that the airflow issue is nulified).

 

Then there is the afforementioned FFP UDP (~4-5whp at the power peak and 10+whp by the rev limiter).

 

Add in Ben's chip (3-4 whp at the power peak, the mentioned 5-6whp at higher revs).

 

Toss in a TB for an extra pony or so (TB's don't do much on near stock 60 deg V6's) if you want to spend the cash.

 

Some decent exhaust work (mandrel bent piping, straight through mufflers etc) can yield another 5hp or so.

 

Suddenly you have an LHO that's just as strong as a 3100 at higher rpm, and has a lot more low end grunt.........................

 

And we are pretty much out of simple "bolt ons"

 

 

But.

 

 

That's only if you don't A) go the forced induction route, or go internal/make it a hybrid.

 

Either of these options means a lot more cash (and you'll need some know-how), but the power gains are DEFINITELY there to be had.

[perfecseal]

There Is a site that offers almost anything 3.1 you can think of.. to a point .. Its based on the 3.1 in the cavy but will work in a lumi..

 

http://www.jbodyperformance.com/new/newIndex.php

 

Check it out ma have what ya want may not... but its a start.

[EurosportZ34]

for HP gains on the 3.1L first off I'd hit up FFP and get all their shit offered and be sure to get the former FFP chip that Ben sells. that will spice up your 3.1L a bit more.