GP1138 Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 So, through my work (Chevy dealer) I'm getting a free 3400 that is purported to have a broken rod. It came from a Chevrolet Venture van. Now, I have a few choices, though I'm not sure how deep I want to get.. 1.) Attempt to rebuild the motor and swap it into my GP - this option is attractive, but I'm wondering how good the block is if it's got a broken rod. Note that I won't know exactly what's wrong until I tear it down. 2.) Swap the parts from the heads up onto my 3.1 block - this is very attractive, the exhaust manifolds are still with the engine, and they are otherwise unmolested. Hell, they're still shiny. The motor only had 65k on it. I know this has been done before, and DBTK2 is the person I know that has done it. I have no accessories on this motor, but other than the broken rod, the heads and intakes are intact. Now I know why I had Ken buy me a 3/8" torque wrench at Sears' Black Friday sale. BTW, if it wasn't obvious, my current car is a '92 Pontiac Grand Prix SE with the 3.1/4T60 combo. I'd probably try to get ahold of a 4T60E and possibly a 3.4 computer. I'm not really interested in doing a manual swap along with everything else I'm doing here. I like my slushbox fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19Cutlass94 Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Well first start by tearing it down and see whats good and what isnt. When you have the block by itself, look at the cylinder walls and see how bad it is. I would opt into swapping the whole 3400 in as opposed to just the heads-up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Obviously the entire 3400 swap will net you the most gains, but if your going to have the heads off anyways, why not pull the pistons while your at it, and check for damage. If there is damage, i'd say go to town on your 3.1 block. Now if you will need your car during this swap, then pick up a spare 3.1 bottom end (or hell, the entire thing, as the 3.1's are pretty cheap anymore) and build it all up outside the vehicle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1138 Posted December 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Obviously the entire 3400 swap will net you the most gains, but if your going to have the heads off anyways, why not pull the pistons while your at it, and check for damage. If there is damage, i'd say go to town on your 3.1 block. Now if you will need your car during this swap, then pick up a spare 3.1 bottom end (or hell, the entire thing, as the 3.1's are pretty cheap anymore) and build it all up outside the vehicle. That's a good idea. I now have to invest in an engine stand. And a space heater. And a garage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chancho Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Obviously the entire 3400 swap will net you the most gains, but if your going to have the heads off anyways, why not pull the pistons while your at it, and check for damage. If there is damage, i'd say go to town on your 3.1 block. Now if you will need your car during this swap, then pick up a spare 3.1 bottom end (or hell, the entire thing, as the 3.1's are pretty cheap anymore) and build it all up outside the vehicle. That's a good idea. I now have to invest in an engine stand. And a space heater. And a garage. Lol, yea if your new 3400 is in pretty bad shape a top end swap would be the best thing, and would net you some pretty good gains to go along with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1138 Posted December 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 I suppose another question to be answered is, will my 4T60 stand up to the 3400's MONSTER power? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chancho Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Yea im pretty sure it would, now it depends on how well its been taken care of but i think it wont have a problem taking it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19Cutlass94 Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Im sure it will. The 3400 is only like ~185hp/205tq. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockfangd Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 I dont foresee many problems wit hthe power because gm trannys are pretty tough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chancho Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 I dont foresee many problems wit hthe power because gm trannys are pretty tough LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HillmanZ24 Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Whoa, hold on there. We first got to see if we're allowed to take this engine away from work. We're going to have to ask the Parts Dept. Manager first just to be safe. The higher ups in managment just fired the service manager yesterday morning after coming back from a week long vacation, and I don't want to have us risk our jobs over this free 3400. If Larry says yes, I'll might run home during my lunch break and get my truck to transport it to your house. I'll talk to you about it more at work later this morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 the trans should hold up fine. engine stands and heaters can be had for fairly cheap, think Harbor Freight. definitely do what Chris said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangeStang Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 I would recommend if you can not use the whole 3400 and have to swap the whole top end on a 3.1L to get some 3100 pistons to bump up the comp. ratio. I might have some I will look this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick1234 Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 didn't you do the 3400 top end on your grand prix? wasn't it not worth the effort and time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1138 Posted December 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Whoa, hold on there. We first got to see if we're allowed to take this engine away from work. We're going to have to ask the Parts Dept. Manager first just to be safe. The higher ups in managment just fired the service manager yesterday morning after coming back from a week long vacation, and I don't want to have us risk our jobs over this free 3400. If Larry says yes, I'll might run home during my lunch break and get my truck to transport it to your house. I'll talk to you about it more at work later this morning. Well of course we don't want to risk our jobs.. I was under the impression it was a done deal and everyone was OK with it. We'll deal with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangeStang Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 didn't you do the 3400 top end on your grand prix? wasn't it not worth the effort and time? Who are you talking to? me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RYS Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 If there's a problem with the block JB Weld it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19Cutlass94 Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 It takes a little more to JB weld a cylinder wall where a rod has broken........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangeStang Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 I just snorted orange juice up my nose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick1234 Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 didn't you do the 3400 top end on your grand prix? wasn't it not worth the effort and time? Who are you talking to? me? no, john. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian P Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 It takes a little more to JB weld a cylinder wall where a rod has broken........ Labmetal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IRONDOG442 Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Scrap it ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1138 Posted December 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Scrap it ! Its not a Northstar! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IRONDOG442 Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 exactly my point ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19Cutlass94 Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Well if you do get to bring the motor home, take it apart and see what you have to work with. At the very least youll have a top end swap. Then you can get a few bucks for selling parts or money for scrap! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.