First start-salvaged 1992 Z34 5-speed *PICS*

[Aaron]

Hey

 

As you all know, I recently bought a 1992 Lumina Z34, factory 5-speed. It has 106,00 miles, great outside, PERFECT inside, for $900. The motor was trash, and that is an understatement. I'd post pics, but you'd puke. So it gets torn down, and built up for Fiero. The tranny was good, real good, and it was swapped into my white Z34. We were going to part it out, but then I got to thinking. So I searched around some, and found GM crate 3.4L DOHC, for $1100. A lot yes, but it was the right item at the right time, so we bought it. A month later I found a Getrag 284 from a GM test car, with only 9,000 miles on it. I bought it for $1000. So I swapped the two in, and made everything for the 94-95 work.

 

Tonigh we started it. The old battery was bad, after being submerged badly, but we hooked it to a charger anyways...It cranked, took FOREVER to get fuel pressure, but oil pressure was instant. FINALLY it started, and it sputtered, coughed, and ran. Idled at 2300, the IAC was stuck wide open. So we let it run, replaced the IAC, and wow. I never knew a 3.4 could run so smooth. I thought it had died at a stop sign, cuz I couldn't hear it, feel it, or anything. I am amazed. Power is smooth and linear, with no bucking. Seriously, wow. I broke in the cams first, 15min at 2500rpm, and then drove it some. I kept the rpm changing constantly, with up to 75% throttle, and up to 4000rpm. Power is normal I guess, you can feel it want to come on at about 3500-4000, so that was cool. It is sooooooooooooo quiet, and smooth. The 2 Z34s are night and day. Thie white car is louder, you always hear the engine, and it isn't as smooth. But the throttle resonse is sooo much better, and at 3500, it just kicks, while the red car the slowly comes on. The white car would rape the living shit out of the red one, like total ownage. 1+ seconds at the track, EASY.

 

I love it overall, the tranny is perfect, A/C works after being in a lake, heater works, cruise works, clutch is good, motor is AWESOME, no complaints at all, except it felt like it had a dead spot in the rpm at about 2000, like nothing was there.

 

Overall I'm happy, we made out well, and will have a wonderful daily driver. Honestly, if it were for sale, 4500 MINIMUM, and trust me, after driving it, anyone would pay that. Now if only power came on like it does in the white car...

[slick]

So, did you guys have to swap anything else than the stuff we both knew about?

 

EDIT: Seen the other thread about the oil level sensor. Totally forgot about that one!

[5speedz34]

Looks good Aaron!

[Aaron]

Question-Our car's alternator is not charging, but it is good. The wiring to it, with the modified connector, is not the problem I don't think. THe 91-93 alternators had a stud in the back, where a single wire, like a ground, attached to. Do the 94-95 alternators have the same thing?

 

Our modified connector should be working fine, but my dad did not attach that ground line, so I think that is the problem. It is also causing the ABS to not function.

 

On another note, we blew out the heater core feed line, from the LIM. I pushed it back in, and this time bolted it down to the plate coming off by the throttle body, and it did not leak anymore.

 

Thanks

[z34_nut]

you definatly need that ground circuit.

 

as for the ABS it could be a totally different problem and more then likely it is.

[slick]

I'll get the wiring diagrams up tomorrow.

[Aaron]

We bought a new Optima red top, and it works great. But the alternator is still not charging. We are almost sure it is bad, we have power in the wires, the dash light has come on, etc. So our brand new GM AcDelco alt is bad, and now the 7 hours of trained GM labor that I have to perform is their fault.

 

Thanks a lot GM, and oh yah, go fuck yourselves.

 

The wire is the battery terminal feed, and it was connected.

 

Edit-I took the car up to 6000rpm at WOT today, and the line blew out again. I said fuck GM, and I replaced the quick-release line with a 1/2" npt to 5/8" barbed hose adapter, and then just put in a 2" piece of heater hose with 2 hose clamps. Works great.

 

ABS was workign with the new Optima battery, I assume that battery has enough juice to power it all.

 

btw, the car HAULS ASS. It sounds mean to, like quiet, yet powerful. It really does sound like a Ferrari. It is damn quick for stock 200hp, but no where near my white car still.