aaron7 Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 At probably near 200k on our 92 LE it's time for a new motor. I can get a ~100k motor for around $250 locally but was wondering, since I'm going through all this work, how hard is the newer-style 3.1 to swap in? What about the 3.4? (not the twin dual cam) And the 3.8? Any specific series that'd be easier, if any? All are cheap and readily available so if it's just the matter of some rewiring I'm down! I'm sure there are threads about this too but after a quick search I couldn't find any Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l67ss Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 3.4 is a drop in you just have to rewire 1 or 2 sensors. 3.8 will bolt in but youll need wire harness pcm cv axles heater cores tranny lines radiator hoses and fuel lines and tb cable At probably near 200k on our 92 LE it's time for a new motor. I can get a ~100k motor for around $250 locally but was wondering, since I'm going through all this work, how hard is the newer-style 3.1 to swap in? What about the 3.4? (not the twin dual cam) And the 3.8? Any specific series that'd be easier, if any? All are cheap and readily available so if it's just the matter of some rewiring I'm down! I'm sure there are threads about this too but after a quick search I couldn't find any Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaron7 Posted November 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 Ok, 3.8 is out! What years 3.4 works? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l67ss Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 99?-05 i have 2002 gm replacement 3.4 in my 97 monte Ok, 3.8 is out! What years 3.4 works? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaron7 Posted November 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 97 yeah, but that's much newer than our 92! haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l67ss Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 Still same headaches mite have to get a harness and pcm $60 at picknpull. Get it out of a 95-99 monte 97 yeah, but that's much newer than our 92! haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19Cutlass94 Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 Replacing a 3.1MPFI with a 3x00 is not exactly "drop in" theres alot of work that needs to be done. Not to mention youll need it tuned to make it run correctly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaron7 Posted November 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 Why would I need a tune if I'm running the factory ECU? I was more curious if the mounts, axles, tranny, etc were the same. Then just rewire the 3.x harness in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l67ss Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 19cutlass94 would kno more about the swap than me, hes done the swap, mine was swapped when i got it Why would I need a tune if I'm running the factory ECU? I was more curious if the mounts, axles, tranny, etc were the same. Then just rewire the 3.x harness in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nas Escobar Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 Why would I need a tune if I'm running the factory ECU? I was more curious if the mounts, axles, tranny, etc were the same. Then just rewire the 3.x harness in. Throughout the years, GM tinkered around with the engines. The 1992 3.1 is not 100% the same as the 2004 3.1 that was in the Malibu, or where ever else you wanna get it from. The most notable differences are the switch from mpfi to sfi, different compression, and of course... the emissions crap they attach to the engine, (or in later years, remove or re-engineer.) Now, you want to swap from a 3.1 mpfi to a 3.4 sfi. Even though the engine is basically the same, at the same time it is vastly different from the 3.1 mpfi. You gotta realize they mess around with the emissions controls and the fuel/air mixture and I think they also mess around with the compression ratio. My point really is that the ECU controls a lot of things and you can't really make a 120hp engine from 92 be a direct drop in for say a 150hp engine from 2002 since the technologies used change, although the block may be literally the same one. Truthfully, asking 19cutlass94 would be a lot of help for you. He used to have a build thread floating around here... don't know what happened to that, but I do remember it isn't a simple thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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