i'm planning on doing a engine swap into my 1990 camaro, from its current 3.1 to a 3.4. after reading multiple threads and posts about this swap, i know its a bolt in engine, so it will be really easy to do. i do have some questions that i could not find the answers to though. can i swap the transmissions out as well? my car currently has the 700r4 automatic with overdrive, but i want to make it into a stick. can i use the 5 speed out of a 1993-95 car, or do i need a third gen transmission. also, does anyone know the best way to boost the 3.4 in hp while fixing the problems with the engine, (such as its known to throw the rods)?

 

Welcome aboard thirdgen.org.

While technically an "engine swap", being V6 to V6, the guys on that forum are better equipped to answer your questions.

You might want to start by reading the sticky in the top section of the V6 forum, https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/v6/4...swap-read.html .

 

For a manual transmission, the swap should be no different than if you kept the same engine and decided to swap to a manual, so expect to have to do the same kind of work.
Far as more power while rebuilding...these engines aren't known to throw rods for one thing, you are probably thinking of the 3.8s, the 3.4 has forged steel rods that can handle 7k rpm, and I don't think I know of anyone that has broke one with too much power.
That being said, the bottom end can probably go to 200k if properly maintained, but I would do a top end rebuild with an aftermarket cam+new lifters, you could throw some higher ratio rockers at it as well, I would put new stem seals i the heads, stiffer valvesprings never hurt, could port them as well, could also port the intake manifolds(the 3.1 ones) that+ a good exhaust system(ie. headers, high flow cat, catback) and a decent air intake should do pretty good on it, theres also the hybrid swap but that's pretty in depth.

 

thanks guys, that stuff helped alot, but i still dont know if the transmission from the 95 will fit under my 90?

 

The 4th gens have an almost identical drivetrain, the differential is about 2" wider, driveshaft is the same, and they used the same transmissions, or updated versions of the same transmissions, as long as the transmission was bolted to a 3.4 you can put it in your car, a 3.8 or v8 one would have a 90 degree bellhousing bolt pattern though.
Idk how different this is for manual as I know autos, not manuals, but for an auto you would have to swap to that ecm as well as the autos are electronically controlled, however since you're talking about a manual transmission, I believe all that you really need to do is just the normal stuff one does when switching from an auto to a manual transmission, for info on that you should check the drivetrain section of the forums, I for one don't know what all it takes to swap to manual, but if I had to guess, you have to swap trans cross members, install a clutch pedal, theres probably a little more involved though.

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/v6/1...nul-trans.html

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/manualswap

those should answer most of your questions

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/v6/2...3-1-3-4-a.html
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/v6/3...ess-3-4-a.html
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/v6/5...y-3-4-car.html

READ!!!

 

If I'm understanding your last statement correctly in the original post, just want to clarify that these engines are not known for throwing rods. They last forever if you take care of them.

 

Yeah I mentioned that too, I think he might have been thinking of 3.8s or early year 2.8s, I've heard of a lot of 3.8s spinning the rod bearings and early 2.8s are prone to crank failures. Hell, I've actually seen one that had a rod shoot through the block, I'm guessing it was a crank failure since it was an 83 or 82.