i plan to get a 3.4 out the jukyard and doing a lot of work on it while i have the 2.8 in my car.

i need to know all the goood things to do to it like bore port and polish all that good stuff i plan to replace everything with better parts

i

 

major question, do you want to use a turbo?

 

First questions:
what is your budget?
smog inspections to deal with?
what kinda skills/tools do you have, or have access to?
Are you willing to hybrid or have a different ecm?

 

My budget is really not a thing to worry bout this will be my project car.

I'm really not sure how the smog inspections are in AZ.

I know most of my car and tools are always accesible to me.

I think ima use megasquirt but i dont know yet.

Yes i plan on using a turbo but after i get everything on the block replaced with better parts. I just need to know all the best things to get in my bird, like camshafts, pistons, headers, etc.

I'm also looking for the best 6 speed tranny also going for a carbon fiber drive shaft for the tranny.

 

Swap the top end to a 3400 or 3500 platform and use 3400 pistons....




then never look back! You have the provisions for DIS in a 3.4, and that will make a lot more room for the HUGE ports found on the late FWD cars. Get 2000 and up if you go 3400 (3100 after '00 are the same), and 3500's came out in 2004 in the Malibu. With a good cam and smoothing out the ports (and headers of course), you should be able to get over 200hp naturally asperated. If you have a running motor in the car, this would give you time to gather parts .

 

Are 3400 pistons forged from the factory or does someone make forged pistons for this application?

I admit I have done pretty well on factory Buick pistons but most cast aftermarket pieces suck. Exactly what pistons do you favor?

 

I will be using stock eutectic pistons at first, hypereutectic can be had for cheap, and forgings will set me back about $600 (unless all goes well and I make some in the shop). The problem with the 60* castings are they like to break the top ring land under boost.

 

All that you just said is why I asked. If he ever plans on a turbo, and he said that he does, then he needs forged pistons. Buick pistons do not tend to brake the upper ring land.

That being said, he needs to shell out the 600 bucks for forged pistons. That seems like a standard price from someplace like PAW. What company would you use? This guy needs this info. It's a shame to take so much time and put serious money in an engine and not have forged pistons in case you want nitrous or turbos later.

I have seen Hyperutectic pistons disintegrate easily under a slight lean condition. I will NEVER use those. I will just buck up and put the project on hold until I buy the forged pieces.

 

hyper pistons are not good for boost applications, they are too brittle. as far as I know, there isnt any one doing forged for our engines any more, except for custom jobs. (still about 600 bucks a set. i think keith black used to make them for our engines so I would get ahold of them.) but if you go with a 3400 top end i know that some one should be making forged for that. the rods and crank IIRC were forged from the factory.

How much boost/power you want from your engine? i've been told 5-7psi boost is safe on stock internals as long as you dont ring the crap form it.


http://www.pawinc.com/ great place
jegs.com
summitracing.com

you might even take a look over a 60dgreev6.com they are dedicated to these engines and have a section just for boosting them.

 

Yes, any cast piston is too brittle for a lot of boost. However, with a good tune and moderate boost, well it's up to the individual weather or not they want to take the chance. The pistons can be changed with the motor in the car, and I will upgrade (and so should anybody who wants to push the limits of stock parts).

I will show you guys what my piston look like after the kind of detonation would have thrown a rod through the pan/block, had the stock rods not been forged.

Want to see what 30psi can do to a cast piston?...
Click here and scroll down

 

budget in some thermal coating for the piston crowns, valve faces, & combustion chambers while your'e at it.

 

Like others said, go with the 3400 pistons, head, and intake. I'm banging my head against the wall because I didn't do all that when I built my 3.4. I might still do it someday, but now I'll need to tear it all apart again and need a second car to drive also.

 

Hey Project:85!!!!!

Turkey? eeeeeeeeeeeee

Nice to see you are back again!!

Oh, and I agree about the coatings...

 

yes, Turkey.

i'll be stateside probly next sept, and don't really have a whole lot of time to spend online

I'also heard a lot about cryo treatinig parts, but that'll also start to add up, along w/maybe having the piston skirts teflon coated, and some some dry film impregnation.

 

okay so i get the 3.4 from the junkyard, then get the top end of the 2004 malibu engine, and forged pistons.

Any thing else i'm missing?

 

You are going to need the coil packs, and a way to control them.

 

should be able to score a harness at the j/y