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93, 3.1, Grand Prix Performance tricks


sindersblue

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Hi all! I'm new to the board but have been lurking for a while now and have to say thanks for all the great tech.

 

The car is a 93, GP SE with a 3.1 and the auto. I'm looking for some cheap tricks to wake her up a little bit, In fact, i'd like to keep the motor looking as stock as possible.

 

I heard I could use a throtle body from a 3400(?) as it's allegedly bigger and looks and fits like factory. I'm not sure about it though. I can also get a bigger rad from a Monty as per a recent thread I saw.

 

Saddly, this is all i know, LOL, I just wanted to bounce the question off of your heads and see what you've done and how it worked out.

 

Any thoughts or ideas would be great!

 

Thanks!

 

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Cheap performance tricks? Non-existent, sorry bub :lol:

 

Highest gain you'll get sort of turbocharging it is swapping heads/intakes from a newer model 60* V6. A 3400 topend is your best option, but '00+ 3100 is the same thing. These flow MUCH better than our crappy heads/intakes and also have roller fulcrum 1.6 ratio rockers instead of our 1.5 stamped stud/ball setup.

 

http://www.3400swap.com and http://www.60degreev6.com will be big helps.

 

If you don't want to go that far, the cheapest options are FFP underdrive pulley (if you can find one, not sure if they're made anymore), a chip from the 60degreev6.com store, and swapping 1.6 ratio stamped stud/ball rockers from a '95ish 3100. Don't bother getting a K&N cone filter or anything unless you plan on relocating your battery and actually piping the filter into the fenderwell for a cold air intake, the factory airbox (as is) is going to be better than a warm air cone filter intake.

 

Maintenance is always your first step, make sure all your fluids/filter are fresh (fuel, air, tranny and oil filters, oil and tranny fluid), change your spark plugs, identify any driveability/running problems; make sure it's running at least as good as it was from the factory. As far as ignition stuff goes, plugs, coils, ICM and all that- AC Delco is the only way to go. Anything else, and you're wasting money on something that will probably break or perform worse anyway. There are some better aftermarket spark plug wires out there, but you don't have to overdue it, and you probably wouldn't gain anything over new Delco wires anyway.

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Thanks for the replies all.

First off, those sites are great! Thats a lot to take in without having the motor apart to see how it all works.

 

I take great care in the maintainence and tune of this car and have had great success all in all. I would buy all Delco parts (it even has a Delco battery and oil filter) but it hasn't given me any problems yet. I have had some success with the Seafoam in other cars/trucks of mine but have never had a need for it in the GP.

 

Sooo. I gota know, does the 3400 TB fit? If so, dose it amount to any power increase? I have one on hand but have'nt tried it yet.

I will be going out this weekend and finding the 1.6 rockers for sure.

Thanks, Dan

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there is also one small trick that i picked up on the way.Throttle body heater bypass.It is a basic procedure of looping the two hoses underneath of the throttle body to make it run cooler.Never tried it but i heard it helps.

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there is also one small trick that i picked up on the way.Throttle body heater bypass.It is a basic procedure of looping the two hoses underneath of the throttle body to make it run cooler.Never tried it but i heard it helps.

 

Hardly does anything, it's more to make it easier to remove the TB.

 

I don't think the 3400 TB will fit without using the 3x00 intakes, which means using the whole 3x00 topend. A bigger TB probably wouldn't help without the new topend anyway, you'd have to port the plenum quite a bit I think.

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there is also one small trick that i picked up on the way.Throttle body heater bypass.It is a basic procedure of looping the two hoses underneath of the throttle body to make it run cooler.Never tried it but i heard it helps.

It helps keep the plenum cooler but you need the proper hose from the dealer to do it.

 

no the 3400 tb will not bolt up to a stock 3.1 plenum. if your interested in ported and ploished 3.1 heads let me know, I have a set for sale!

 

another good bolt on is to get 3400 exhaust manifolds from a 99+ n-body or from a venture/montana van!

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there is also one small trick that i picked up on the way.Throttle body heater bypass.It is a basic procedure of looping the two hoses underneath of the throttle body to make it run cooler.Never tried it but i heard it helps.

It helps keep the plenum cooler but you need the proper hose from the dealer to do it.

 

no the 3400 tb will not bolt up to a stock 3.1 plenum. if your interested in ported and ploished 3.1 heads let me know, I have a set for sale!

 

another good bolt on is to get 3400 exhaust manifolds from a 99+ n-body or from a venture/montana van!

 

 

Throttle body bypass does absolutly nothing. The problem with the 3400 exhaust manifold is that he needs to change his exhaust since the rear manifold is not a log style manifold. So unless he wants a new exhaust he cannot put this on.

 

 

There are no cheap performance "mods" for this motor. Best thing you can do is USE THE SEARCH! this topic has been beaten to DEATH

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That was good :lol:

 

The 1.6 rocker arms are the only semi-quick semi-easy bolt on thing to do for it. It's about the equivalent of putting in a mild lift mild duration camshaft. That and my old motor responded good to a larger 2 1/4" exhaust and that includes getting a larger downpipe made up. Maybe bell-shape the throttle body since that's essentially free.

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I think that we scared him off

 

Naw, been bussy as hell.

Mountains ect. are fun but I need the power to get up to the top.

I'm probably gona just run it stock.

Heres' why. I only race this car in 6cyl. dirt enduros. It dosen't see asphalt unless it's in the driveway.

I run these LHO GPs because thier tough, cheep and finnish races. You can't win if you can't finnish. The cars must be stock but EVERYONE bends the rules.

 

I did do the search and read some good stuff, I just wanted to see/hear first hand what everyone did to these things and what was gained/lost.

 

Thanks all!

 

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