Ok so after having numerous problems with my firebird and then finally blowing the head gasket, Ive decided to do a 3.4 swap on it. Im not doing the tradition block swap. I plan on swapping the whole entire system over, computer harness, the works. I already have bought a 3.4 with 4speed auto from a 95 camaro. I basically got everything I need, engine, trans, wiring harness, radiator, compressor, computer, new belts, and condensor. Im also swapping in a 93 camaro dash, so the whole car will be stripped. Only question I have right now is, do I need a new fuel pump or will the 2.8 fuel pump work for the 3.4 engine. Pics soon to come, cheers.

 

fuel pump should be fine...im using a 3.1 fuel pump on a boosted 3.4

 

No it won't, that pump sends metric fuel and that motor uses standard!

 

huh?

 

That was a joke. Or rather an attempt at a joke. Wah wah.

 

haha well i laughed then i couldnt decide if you were serious

 

Thanks thats all I really needed to know. I just about gathered all the parts I need to do everything. Will post pics tonight, Im at work right now and cant post pics.

 

Please post your progress. I know there are other threads out there but I am interested in seeing your progress.

Kevin

 

Oh I will, Car is still complete, still old interior, engiene, everything. Im gonna have to basically strip the car clean, so expect this to be a LONG project with lotsa pics . Also gotta do a bit of bodywork and paint before the new engine goes in. I also plan on doing a lil bit painting on the engine to improve the way it looks.

 

Well heres a couple pics of the car right now and the engine I plan on putting in it.

 

A lil update. Been busy with exams lately so not too much work. I took the engine apart for cleaning and panted some parts. Also does anyone know where I can get aome new valve covers that would fit? If not Id just use the current ones. Also what do you guys recommend for getting the old gasket material off for the valve covers?

 

Looks good. I had to look at your car twice with the Camaro front end. I was thinking of do this too. I know Edlebrock made or makes valve covers for the 60* V6. I used to have some.

If your ever looking to sell those lovers, hit me up, I need the hardware for my set lol.

 

Try Fiero Valve covers, They look sweet.

 

oo I might hhave to look into the edlebrock valve covers, thanks guys. Also Im gonna keep the louvers. I actually had to make the hardware for it myself. Suprisingly I got the louvers from the junkyard, for 10 bucks LOL.

 

LOL! I got mine from a guy for 70 no hardware. Would you mind PMing me how you made the hardware?

 

Oh no, a firemaro! It's a hermaphrodite! You need 2 hands and patience to get the gasket stuff off.

 

its going to take more than 2 hands and patience to get that hermaphrodite off

 

LOL!

 

Damn that's some funny stuff!

 

LMAO you guys are funny. Actually the reason its got a maro front is cause it was wreaked and I got a front end CHEAP. plus I hated the flipup headlights, they never centered correctly. The firemaro is starting to grow on me though. I will get pics of how I mounted the louvers tomorrow if I have time. I also started painting the intake today and also got most of the old gasket off. That has got to be one of the hardest gaskets Ive ever had to try to get off.

 

Ok I know this is an old thread but Ive finally found time to pick this project back up. I took out the engine yesterday and today I started cleaning and painting the engine bay.
Here it is yesterday.

 

I painted the engine bay today with bedliner so its a bit more durable and wont be red when I decided to paint the car. Also started disassmbly on the old engine and putting some of the old parts on the new engine.





(decided to do a hybrid swap boogie) Figured it was too much trouble to make the 3.4 harness work. Also found out I had to swap the top manifold since the 3.4 didnt have the correct sensor hole. Also had to relocate the knock sensor and change out the oil filter tube.



Also forgot to mention the car now has GFX. I wanted some to match my front camaro bumper so I got some off a trans am at the junkyard. These were put on like 2 weeks ago.

 

I hope you remembered to replace the water pump on the 3.4... If you didn't, the one that came on there factory either needs to be matched with the 3.4's accessories and brackets or you need to get a pump for your 85 (they spin in reverse directions... Serpentine pump won't flow in the V-belt direction and you'll overheat). Also make sure that if the donor car was a manual and the one you have now is an auto (or the other way around) that you get the proper driveplate for the 3.4 as the 2.8's plate won't work due to the fact that it's not neutrally balanced and will shake the lower end to crap.

You can't use the knock sensor with the 2.8 ECM... If you want, replace it with one of the 2.8's coolant plugs. It's supposed to be on the passenger's side in the coolant jacket drain hole. Also, sand the paint off of the gauge sender/idiot light switch terminal, or the gauge or light won't work right.

BTW, your car looks almost as bad as mine does . But, at least yours has and is on wheels .

 

Ah thanks for telling me about the water pump. I wasnt aware that they spun in different directions. I will be using the waterpump from my 2.8 then. Also the flexplate will be from the 3.4. Both were automatics in fact I got both transmissions also but will be using my original one. When I got the 3.4 it came with everything still attached. I wasnt going to use the knock sensor I jsut had to move it out of the way cause the sensor was int eh way of the engine mount. Also anyone know what the best way to get the plug out the rear passenger side head? I need it for the fan sensor. Also the bolt holding the pulley on the crank is also a b***ch to get out (damn thing keeps spinning) any tips for remove those bolts would be nice also. Hopefully I can get more done on the engine tomorrow.

And yes she looks bad but shes my first car and I dont have the heart to sell her. Im determined to finish the project and drive her again. Just trying to get the engine all good to go and running good then ill deal with bodywork and paint.

 

You can leave the damper on the crank... It's the same as the one you have except that it's got the 24x ignition reluctor ring on the back. Whichever pulley you want to use will just bolt onto it. However, if you want to pull it to replace the seal and possibly the timing set, hold some pressure on the bolt as you turn it in the reverse direction... You'll probably need to rethread the threads in the crank snout when done.

I didn't remove the plug from that head when the 3.1 was dropped in my car (had thought of using the fan switch and then decided against it because the switch was a pain to replace when I replaced it and there was no way to get at the plug with the engine in the car). Maybe someone else can chime in on that... Personally, though, my car originally had the fan switch, but hasn't had it since 2004 and doesn't need it.

 

Hm ill see if anyone else chimes in for the fan sensor. If not I might jsut leave it in there if I cant get it out.

 

Ok after trying to get it out for the past 2 hours I still cant get the lil plug out. I think Im just going to leave it in there and wire up a manual switch. Does anyone know if this may be a problem? Itll basically be on the whole time during the summer anyways.

 

Will the ECM have any probs without the fan sensor? I can just wire a manual switch to the fan myself. Trying to get an answer here before I drop the engine back in.

 

If your still trying to take off the bolt holding the damper on what I do is take an old serpentine belt (DON"T use the one that's going on the car) wrap it around the pulley and take vise grips and clamp it down as close as I can get it the I push the vice grips up to tighten the belt and use the breaker bar with the other hand to get it loose works every time for me.

 

I was able to get the bolt off. Today I swapped the timing chain cover and water pump. I also swapped the lower intake. Everything is ready to drop in basically except for the stupid fan sensor which at this point I give up. I stripped the snot out of the plug. Im just gonna run a manual switch for it now. Gonna try to get the engine in tomorrow. Pics are in order backwords.

 

Let me put it this way... I haven't had that fan switch in 7 years... And my radiator fan works just fine .

 

I just want to be thorough since this is my first swap and Ive done everything by myself. Im pretty **** about trying to get it right. So far everything has gone very smoothly other than the stupid sensor which Im just gonna say screw it. As it sits shes ready to drop back into the car. Hopefully I can get her running by Friday, I really miss driving the car now. The jeep just isnt the same.

 

Hi, just wanted to say this is looking awsome mate, keep up the work, i like watching people gettin beasts back on the road. Are those rear louvers GM parts of aftermarket ones ? anyone know ?
bit of a madmax look going on here :-)

 

Thanks, I do miss the 70s and 80s era cars. New cars just arent the same anymore. The louvers are crager aftermarket ones I believe. I got them from the junkyard for 5 bucks or something like that.(lucky find) Its gonna look a bit more madmax after its running since I cant afford a real paintjob right now and refuse to go to macco. Still on a tight budget due to school. It will be stripped down further more and then primered by myself. Im just going to drive around with it primered for a bit till I can afford to get a real paintjob or attempt to do it right this time.

 

Engine is now in the car! So far its gone pretty smooth. Hoping to get the car to fire tomorrow once I install the accessories, belts, and hosts, etc. Trans is bolted but the flex plate isnt bolted to the trans yet. Still got to do that tomorrow.

 

Just uploaded a pic of the engine sitting int he bay. Still got a bit of painting to do on the radiator brace.

 

A lil update, trans is bolted up and ready. Started adding the accessories. Progress has been real good so far. Heres a pic so far.

 

Quick question: What did you do with the oil pump drive (that goes in place of the dizzy on the 3.4)? Would you be willing to sell it?

 

I stuck it on my parts 2.8 engine thats sitting in the garage for now. If you need it I would sell it to you for cheap. No point in me keeping it around really. Lemme know boss.

 

I need it to plug the big hole that's going to be in the back of my engine once I get the main bearings and head bolts I ordered last night to reassemble mine... Going hybrid 3100 and can't use a dizzy with the upper intake. Heck, I'd trade you my almost new rebuilt dizzy if you wanted it...

Also, did you get any accessory brackets?

 

Yea ill trade you for the dizzy. Also I have all the stock accessory brackets from the 3.4 if you need those. The only one I do not have is the power steering. I bought the engine complete without the power steering from a guy that kept it. I basically have any 3.4 part you may need cept the power steering and injectors. So just lemme know.

 

I'll PM you... Got to dig the dizzy out of the junk 3.1 parts box (I'm literally a hop skip and jump away from putting that box out front with the other one that's full of scrap metal for scrappers to take since I can't sell the parts...). They're not junk parts, but the heads need work (valve oil leaks)... And the PS bracket would be the one I need for the DIS coil pack mount .

 

Ah dang if I had known I would have pulled the one off the JY maro I saw last week. I even remember thinking I MIGHT need it but decided I wasnt going to get to since I was doing the swap using my 2.8 parts. But yea I will still take the dizzy if you can find it.

 

Oh, I know it's in there, but how far down is anyone's guess... LMK if you need anything else as I have every top end part except the power steering bracket (mine broke and I'm going to have to get one from a J/Y I guess). Even have an EGR solenoid and parts if you want them...

 

I may need the EGR if its a vacuum one. I remember mines possibly being bad. I'll see tomorrow once its running. So I got a bit more progress today. I hooked all the connectors and sensors. I just need to double check and finalize wiring tomorrow. Install the intake and a couple of coolant hoses, dump the fluids in and start her up.

 

I have both EGR valves, the vac one and the digital one, but the digital one is broke... Also have the solenoid and bracket if you're looking... I only need to fake that I have one as I'm deleting it with the ECM change.

 

Wooo ok so I got my car fired today YAY. The timing is off by quite a bit but she runs. Gonna fine tune the timing tomorrow and hook the driveshaft and drive her around a bit. BTW maverick do you have an extra intake manifold bolt? Im missing a 12point 10mm bolt. Also when do you want the oil pump drive?

 

That looks pretty nice I can't wait to finish my rebuild and fire it up short block will be finished tomorrow now I'm waiting on some valve locks from summit. I like the black plenum look I was going to polish mine but am waiting on whether or not I can get the DIS kit so I can just put a 3.4 intake on there.

 

So I really didn't need the fan sensor in the back. My fan still comes on just fine. Anyhow I got it to run ok. I might have to take it to a shop to get the timing done or buy a light not sure yet since I have a buddy who owns a shop I can use. Atleast it starts up. Going to hook up the exhaust tomorrow and drive her around to see how it does.

 

can anyone chime in on what the fan sensors for on the head?? i cant get the plug out myself so i can get the sensor in...