I have a '91 Firebird / 3.1L / auto tranny / minor mods / 270,000 miles. It still runs great, but its getting a little sluggish. I have been considering rebuilding the engine. I want to put as many performance mods in as possible. I have rebuilt engines before, but they were all 70's model Trans Am's (carbbed v-8's). I know very little about the computer systems in these cars . Does anyone know where I can get perf. parts for this engine? And what can I do that wont screw with the 'puter too bad??
Also, another option; I have a '90 Astro Van with a 4.3L. I have been thinking about stealing the engine out of this, building it, and sticking it in my bird. Where can I find perf. parts for it?
And, it has a carb. If I put this in my car, what all will I have to do to take the computer out? And will it affect other things?? Or, could I possibly put the injection system from the 3.1 on the 4.3?
I am completely open to suggestions here. Like I said, i know next to nothing about computer cars, any help you can give me will be extremely appreciated.

 

Oh yeah, by the way, emissions isnt really an issue. Hell, it wouldnt even begin to pass a test as is. I deleted the catalytic converter and other stuff years ago....

 

before you get yelled out, do a search. many parts available, & the more power you want, the more $$$$$ you'll need to spend.

As for the 4.3, maybe look to how the Syclones & Typhoons were done :rockon:

just about anything that can be done to the small block ch*vy can be done to the 4.3. This swap has also been covered, check the engine swap forum for details.

And remeber, the 91 & 92, being the lst years this body stylewas made means that they are the tighest versions done.

 

I have searched for months for parts for the 3.1, and have found many. My main thing about them is that i dont know how they would affect the computer. And I read about the 4.3 swap too, couldnt really find any info on what I would have to do with the computer stuff if I switched it to a carb.

 

He ment search the message boards. The button in the top right, click and search for Mods, and perfomance parts in the V-6 board.
There will be lots of posts.

 

Well KED85 will be along shortly to tell you to get a 3.4L out of a 1993-1995 Camaro and slap it in your car with a cam and some roller tipped rockers and port and polish.

 

You will need a v8 tranny for the 4.3L engine because the bolt pattern is different form the 3.1L and you will have to go CARB for the 4.3L because our emissions stuff won't bolt up. I would go with the 3.4L engine, it's the best and quickest choice.


Hey you have 270,000 miles on the orginal motor, how many tranny rebuilds did you have to do??

 

Hey, thanks all. But if i got swap the tranny, shouldnt I go ahead and put in a v-8 while im at it???
And to answer your question, 270,000 original miles with no tranny rebuilds. The only thing I have EVER done to it is 2 starters and 1 fuel pump. Oh, and 1 water pump. It will still light the tires up, but not like it used to. Its been a great car. Really reliable. (Great looking too)
Im thinking i will probably just build the 3.1. Seems the easiest way to go. And, as mentioned, its been a GREAT engine. Does anyone who has rebuilt one know the best cam I can get for it that wont screw the computer? Or, can I do something to the 'puter to match it??

 

I hear the 2030 Compitition Cam is good. Suppose to be a little hotter then the CAM in a 3.4L if I remember right.

Wow that something no tranny rebuilds. how many A/C units and how many altnators?? just really wondering for fun!!

 

Original AC unit. Had it recharged once. Still super cold. Hardly ever use it. I normally have the windows down and tops off. (unless the wife is with me)
I think I am on my third alternator. The first one completely broke in half. The housing just split one day while I was driving.

Its been awesome.
When I stomp on it hard now, there is a big "clunk" coming from underneath. I'm pretty sure it is just the tranny mount.

 

270,000 on the original tranny??? Slowpoke.. If not, what in the hell kind of super-tranny are you running in there? Who wants to bet he has a tranny cooler the size of his radiator??

 

hehe, no, its totally stock. I still peel out a few times a day. I no longer do tire smoking, power braking burnouts though. Havent really raced it in years, other than the occasional street light races. Its just been a tough car. Really tough.:hail:
I am gonna go ahead and rebuild the tranny when I pull the engine. Anyone have suggestions on a rebuild/shift kit??
Im trying to buy all of the parts I need before I pull the engine...

 

I still don't believe it hasn't been rebuilt/replaced in some way.. I mean....for the tranny to survive that long, even with grandma driving it, is otherworldy... I haven't heard of 700-R4's lasting much past...eh, 150,000? Mine's at 104 and ticking, and is showing it....hard, delayed shifting, bad cable adjustment, yadda yadda. Stupid thing was missing a tranny mount ENTIRELY when I got the car! Everytime I stepped on it, I heard a really loud THUD... Me being the dummy back then, I knew something was wrong but I didnt have any idea and just kept hitting the gas until I had it repaired a few weeks later.....

 

hard, delayed shifting, yeah you can try giving the TV cable a little more. But the thing that fixed somewhat was a new O2 sensor, don't ask my why just did wonders for that dam hard, delayed shifting between 1st and 2nd.

 

i have a 91 rs with 176,000 miles with the original everything and no mods. i am currently rebuilding a spare 3.1 i acquired by doing some favors for a kid, by taking off the doors and hatch so he gave me the engine with 75,000 on it. i'm going to get a crane cam and put it in but i'm going to try to get a energizer cam with .6 roller rockers and a complete lifter kit. i'm going to talk to some performance buffs around here and see how much HP i pound into it.

 

Ryan..you must've knocked just the right spot with the wrench getting at that O2 sensor! Heh...I already replaced mine. Turned my rough vibrating idle into a normal, slightly out of tune idle...car runs great and gets at least another 5 mpg I'm estimating. 1991rs....sounds like a wicked plan.. I was going to get a cam before I realized I had to do the lifters with it..that kinda shot down my plan. Now I'm just going with roller rockers and a timing chain..for now! The Crane Energizer roller rockers are so cheap, I could barely believe it! I might have to ****** those up soon...

 

Now it you want to fix up that idle get a blaster 3 coil like me that way it won't miss and cause that ruff idle when it leans the fuel out for emissions.

 

Blaster 3 coil huh....if I remember right, you have to fiddle with it a little to get it to hook up right? And the regular Blaster coil isn't much better than OEM... I'm going to do my ignition sooner or later...depending on how much money I'll be able to save. I'm getting the pickup coil, the new coil, spark plugs, and ignition module at once.

 

No you use HALF of the GM 6a blaster adaptor and some slide on terminals from radio shack . No cutting involved.

 

Sounds simple enough...

 

the harness is expensive but worth it if you don't want to cut or if you want to go back.

Jegs has it but summit doen't. I get mine on tuesday so I can finish my setup.

 

Yeah, I definitely don't want something un-doable..because if I sell this car, they definitely aren't getting my good parts!

 

Cool. I put in a new tranny mount yesterday. Now i can do them super cool take-offs again!!!

 

Heh, super cool takeoffs? Ohh, you mean slamming the pedal and counting the seconds as the car hesitates, then opens up completely and spins the nearly completely bald drive tire? Yeah....those are neat. Lol...that's a pretty good reason for my losing races now... I remember when I had a broken...er, actually, a MISSING tranny mount. Everytime I went half pedal or more I heard a terrible thud/clunk noise... Very not cool...