Alright, so for my summer project i've decided that i'm going to swap in a 3.4 block with all the SFI goodies out of a 94 Firebird thats sitting in a junkyard about 50 miles from here. They want $600 dollars for the complete engine, if I pull it myself.

My question is...How do I go about this process? What exactly do I need to hook up and where? Where do I wire in the ECM and wiring harness?

Basically...What do I need to get out of that Firebird...And what exactly will I need to do to get it running?

Car is a 1984 Berlinetta.

 

WOWSA! Another 3.4 swap question. Go do a search in the tech articles for the 2.8->3.4 Swap Boggie. Answers all your questions...

 

Problem with this swap is i'm going from an old, worn out carbed engine to a brand new, barely has a spot of grease on it SFI engine. Thats not your normal 2.8-->3.4 question.

 

All the wiring harnesses, Fuel Rail w/injectors, in-tank fuel pump, computer...that's a start.

All you have to do that's special is install the new pump, computer, and wires. i don't know if anyone's done this, but depending on where you are, it might not even be legal because of smog stuff. I know that here in cali, they put your VIN into the computer, and it tells thm what kind of motor you should have, and if it shows that you have a Carb, but the guy looks and finds a FI motor, no pass for you.

 

Yes, thats a start. But I need more than a start. I need an exact parts list of all the parts I need to pull from the Firebird. After that, i'll figure out where everything goes myself

 

I just did this swap into my s10 truck. I Started and drove it for this first time this weekend.

Needed, all the accessorys off the engine (alt, ac, pwstr, etc.)
ECM
Engine harness
If you can get it cheap, dash harness to. Will help trace out wiring
Best bet is grab the tranny too!!!


Go to Gm dealer, or alldata.com and get FULL wiring diagrams for both old, and new.

Haynes, chiltons both helped, but didn't have all my answers.

Go to http://www.fuelinjection.com/, give them a call. Tell them your installing a 9? 3.4l into another ride, and need a vats bypass module. Will cost you 90'ish bucks.

Depending on $$, start searching your fuel lines out. I did cheap fix of napa mpfi fuel line for now. Will cost me 160 bux for stainless/aluminum AN fuel lines.

Your best bet is to get a fuel rail from a 90-92 3.1l, and the little block up top. The fuel rail on the 3.4l would be hard to adapt.

Grab oil pan from a 88+ 2.8/3.1l camaro too.
Find the timing chain you want. Replace it while its between cars.

Go to dealer, order the throttle cable for that engine. You may have to buy some bicycle parts to make it work. It may slide in like 50yo french *****.

Dont forget a fuel pump, the one on the 95?? camaro wont swap. May need one for a 92 350.

 

<img src=http://www.boomspeed.com/twix69/P4140070-50.jpg>

 

What was your total cost on all of that?

 

More then I prob wanna know :sillylol:
I was honestly trying to "fix" my old engine, and do something to make people go at car shows CHEAP. I get the looks, not sure about the cheap part.

Engine, shipping,ecm, wireharness w/o tranny $900
Harness's manual(in and out) $300
Ecm 1 $50
Ecm 2 $75
Vats $90
Temp fuel lines $45
2nd oil pan $25
Timing chain, performance $105
Full gasket set minus rear main (I know KED) I belive was $35
Fuel rail $15
O-rings for injectors $8
Wiring Diagrams FREE I love parents with connections
Haynes/Chiltons Books $30
Fuel pump $80
Going in and repairing my f**kup in tank *priceless*
O2 Sensor Bung $12
Modify old headers for EGR *Many hours of cussing*
High Voltage Alt (not needed) $90
I needed fan spacer (you may not) $13
Throttle Cable *think* it was like $19
Bike parts for make cable work $5
Plumbing for heater core *not sure*
Dipstick I broke $9
Misc fuse holders(4), fuses, connectors, etc. Guessing $30

I THINK thats the main things. I did some other piddly stuff along the way.

I know for fact I still have.....
1. Proper VSS, and whatever to make speedo work. Got tach working tonight.
2. Whatever to make my AC work (new lines MADE)
3. Perminate Fuel lines.
4. My starter is about had
5. May need some Other AC sensors
6. Clutch peddle switch.
7. Air intake

 

BTW, I did have several things swap over from my old engine. And I am attempting to sell the rest to get the new stuff I need.

 

For what I suggest for you.
SERIOUS
GRAB THAT MILL
GRAB ALL YA CAN INCLUDING THE "Y" PIPE & TRANNY!
SELL IT!
SELL IT TO SOMEONE THAT CAN DO A MPFI SWAP
YOU
GO
BUY
A BITCHIN
V-8 running a carb!
AND
Matching 700R4 TRANNY
Stick under your Berlinetta hood.
GO HAVE FUN
IT'S SO MUCH EASIER TO CONVERT YOUR OLDER V-6 carb RIDE TO A V-8 due to lack of MPFI STUFF!
OR go buy the 1994 whole car & return it to the street!
My suggestion.

 

Don't forget that they switched the speedometers from cable driven to electronically driven sometime in the late 80's to early 90's. My 1992 has an electric speedo. The new tranny will too, so you will have to swap the speedo out of a newer car to get it to work. If you get a 700-R4 out of a late 80's early 90's car instead of the new tranny out of the 4th gen, you can take the electrical sender out and replace it with a mechanical one. I have done this to a tranny out of an 88 GTA. I don't know if you can do that on the newer trans or not.

I also agree with KED, if you have a carbed car already, it will be much easier for you to perform a V8 swap than it will be to change your carbed car to a MPFI unit. You'll have to change the transmission out, and probably get a V8 radiator and V8 front springs, but the fuel system, exhaust, and wiring will be much simpler. That's what I would do if it were me.

 

I would love to return that 94 Bird to the streets...It's such a sweet car. I've already got the seats out of it, and have a deposit down on it's rear end. Unfortunantly, it was t-boned to hell and theres pretty much no way to return it to drivable condition. Guy wants $1500 for the whole car though.

 

Ok, as Dennis Miller would say: "I don't mean to go off on a rant here but..."

Here in Cali YOU CAN put a FI motor on a carbed car and pass smog as long as:

1) You keep all the smog gear that came with the engine you are swapping in functional.

2) You keep the exhaust setup the same way it was configured by the factory for the FI motor. IE- if the motor was originally configured as a single cat, single muffler, single tailpipe exhaust, that's the way you have to install it. (Would not be allowed to run 2 cats and mufflers / dual tail pipes, etc, etc.)

3) You have to install the FI motor with whatever trans options were available for it from the Factory. IE- if the motor was not available with a 5 speed trans, you can not install it on a car that has a 5 speed, by the same token, if said motor was not available with an auto.... get the picture?

4) The FI motor (the type of induction actually doesn't matter) has to be of the same year or newer than the one you are replacing.

5) Basically it boils down to this: You can not replace your engine with one that pollutes more and you have to keep all of the new engine's smog and electronics hooked up and working properly. (Here in Cali)

Now all that being said, your proposed swap would be very sweet indeed. A lot easier if you don't have to sweat the smog stuff. However (take this from the voice of experience, I'm sure others here would concur) if you don't have the time, patience, money, mechanical skills, tools, a friend or two to lend a hand once in a while, money, a garage or at least a covered porch to shelter you from the elements, patience, money and DETERMINATION. I could not honestly encourage you to do this.

I realize that this is a relatively straightforward swap and you are not trying to re-invent the wheel here, but just sorting out the electrical/electronics part of the swap could be a very daunting task if you've never messed around with that kind of stuff before.

Again, more than anything you'll need: Time, Money and Perseverance.

If you pull thru and finish the swap, if you do it correctly and don't Mickey Mouse anything you'll experience the absolute best form of self-accomplishment that you can ever imagine.

 

Here in Cali YOU CAN put a FI motor on a carbed car and pass smog as long as:

YOU GO DIRECTLY TO THE CALIFORNIA SMOG STATION REFEREE STATION TO HAVE IT APPROVED BY THEM.
THAT MISSON COST IS STARTING AT $300 & RISING.
AND basically all they do is approve your work.
THEN, AND ONLY THEN, AFTER THE CALIFORNIA SMOG STAION REFEREE APPROVES YOUR WORK, ARE YOU ALLOWED TO GO TO A SMOG TESTING PLACE, AT ANY CORNER IN CALIFORNIA, TO GET SMOG APPROVAL FOR OBTAINING THE VEHICLE REGISTRATION.

That statement is the 100% reason why I disguised my 1985 Firebird & my 1985 S-10 Blazer to look as it does. I retain the look of a 1985 MPFI or Carb vehicle and "I KNOW NOTHING!"
I LOVE SGT. SCHULTZ!

I go directly to my smog guy, NOT SAY A WORD & my vehicles pass with ease.

I save $300+, aggrivation, appointments to visit someone else whom I donet care to have invade my life & I just go on my way.

How you accomplish this mission in other states?
RESEARCH THE SMOG ENGINE SWAPPING RULES/ANSWERS BEFORE YOU LITERALLY PICK UP A WRENCH or even bother to open your hood to dream of the end result.

What ya don't know will bite you in the end.
EVEN IF you try to sell the finished vehicle, the lack of correct engine swapping will haunt you in selling price, as ya may loose alot of moola.

PS the previous post does contain many many correct answeres, tho.
BUT My statement is the final word on the swapping in CA.
I know
I checked my facts for my final engine swapping game plan.
It works like a charm.
My Firebird due very soon. It'll pass so easy again, too. This'll be second time for smog testing of that vehicle in CA, too, strictest smog testing in the nation.
My Blazer, I haven't finished yet due to making money on fixing a house I own for selling for big money.
Yet, I follow same game plan & all is ok fine.
Know the engine swapping rules of your state backwards & forwards as ya come out way ahead.

Yes, the VIN gives away your original underhood engine.

 

KED85, your statement is 100% correct and accurate (your whole post actually). The most painless way to do a swap here in Cali (and other states which enforce smog rules) is to make the swap invisible. IE- just swap in a larger displacement (within reason) long block under your original induction and use your original exhaust. However for those of us that have the time, patience, time, time, time, money, money, (ooops, whadaya mean my money is all gone?? ) legally replacing a carbed motor with a FI one is a worthwhile project. You have to admit that FI motors run much nicer and have more HP, torque and look much cleaner (specially the ‘90s and newer) than carbed ones.

But is it worth it you ask? Well, as I stated above, the painless and rational way to do it is to do it “KED85’s way” buuut if you are looking to legally take advantage of 5 to 18 years of G.M.’s improvements in performance, electronics, smog and drivability then…(just don’t ever plan on selling your car and being able to recover all your money from the swap.)

 

That is why I promote this swap of a 3.4.
It's not truly painless but it is nearly seamless & invisible.
That former friend that helped me do this original swap said I should sell my knowledge
NOPE
WHY
EVERYONE HAS A BILL
I'd rather help anyone have spare change to give themselves a smile.
Yeah I researched many options for the original swap.
I personally thank Mike Knell of Jaguars that Run for the knowledge I gained from reading his swap books.
That V-8 swap I was gonna do to my Blazer.
I may one day.
I have "all parts" for a smog legal V-8 swap, but this 3.4 swap is so easy to pass under the radar.
By the time my `85 Blazer is "30 years old" I'll do a V-8 swap for easy!
I have promoted the 2.8/3.1->3.4 Long Block Swap boogie because it is a great cost effective option that uses everything ya currently have on the ride, right now.
No swap is easy nor is earning a living for new car payments!