I'm gonna build that 3.4 this spring/summer it looks like, and I want to hear input on what mods I give it. So far, I've got:

Crane Cam
Crane 1.52 roller rockers
NRT cheap heads, port and polish myself
porting intake
headers (thanks 3.1 Firebird!)
50 shot NOS (completely hidden)
painting block and heads
using 3.4 injectors in 2.8's manifolds

And of course cleaning all the reused parts and porting.

all mated to a performance built, B&M shift kit, trickshift fluid, B&M deep pan TH700R4.

Exhaust will be a Dynomax 2.5 catback, stock cat, and the headers and a custom Y-pipe. Lots of suspension mods to keep the power on the ground, and probably a custom chip to handle the NOS. Formula wheels too, for a wider footprint. Any additions?

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Reno
'88 Firebird LB8
"Cerberus"
Now: rusting on a side street til I get out of college

Plans: BUILT 3.4 motor with B&M racing tranny, Hotchkis suspension all around, lowering 1", Accel ignition all around, Splitfire plugs, 88 front bumper, ASCD Ram Air I hood, 91 GTA spoiler, formula wheels, Firehawk tires, restored interior (first on list)

 

sounds good to me. Hey, why not drop it off in St. Louis for a weekend, so once it's finished, i can take it around town for a test race... i mean test drive.

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the 85 firebird, the first firebird that doesn't burn out....

It eats the pavement!!!

KILL LIST: (SHORT BUT GROWING)

Dodge Daytona (think a 2.2),Honda Acorda (2.0L),2000 Camaro (3.8L),1992 Mustang (V6),1987 Firebird (2.8L),80's probe (4 banin'),90's malibu,90's 4 door Saturn, (wow, that was a slow ride, even slower than me.),91 Celica GT conv.,Acura Integra, 5speed DOHC 4 cylinder.
---came close----
1979 camaro (5.7),1981 camaro (5.7),1982 firebird (5.0) my tires spun, I coulda beat em!!! ,79 El Camino (350, lost by a door),96' Mustang, 3.8L stickshift. (caught him after my car downshifted.)

 

Tell you what, when I'm done, if you can catch me, I'll let you do one run at the track in it. How's that?

-Reno

 

Tell you what...Rent me out a NOS setup and Ill beat you...Then you can give me the keys and Ill take that joy ride ok?

 

I accept your challenge Reno, let the firebreathing v6's roar! be fearful of my kill list too!!!, haha.

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the 85 firebird, the first firebird that doesn't burn out....

It eats the pavement!!!

KILL LIST: (SHORT BUT GROWING)

Dodge Daytona (think a 2.2),Honda Acorda (2.0L),2000 Camaro (3.8L),1992 Mustang (V6),1987 Firebird (2.8L),80's probe (4 banin'),90's malibu,90's 4 door Saturn, (wow, that was a slow ride, even slower than me.),91 Celica GT conv.,Acura Integra, 5speed DOHC 4 cylinder.
---came close----
1979 camaro (5.7),1981 camaro (5.7),1982 firebird (5.0) my tires spun, I coulda beat em!!! ,79 El Camino (350, lost by a door),96' Mustang, 3.8L stickshift. (caught him after my car downshifted.)

 

heres what im working on right now in my garage..oh what joy! finding a 100 dollar running 3.4...love it

3.4 v6 from 95 camaro..
3.4 headers y-pipe..
1.6 Rockers
CAM
MSD HI-6 Digital ignition for the DIS ignition
.030 over bore
Vortech supercharger 9 psi
forged pistons (i found some i think)
K&N fipk kit
NRT Heads, full port heads (1300 bucks...)
3.4 Grand Am intake (larger and has a fuel rail)
i think thats all the mods except for No2

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I've got the Accel 300+ DIS, so that will just carry over. The FIPK is a good idea I'd not thought of. Watch out for those 1.6ers, I've heard that high of a ratio will cause all kinds of problems, that's why I'm sticking with machined 1.52's. It's really the rollers that help, not the ratio. What will the boring make the total displacement, about 3.7 or so? I might get to the blower in another year or two, and only 6 psi, preferably a Powerdyne though. I should have this engine built and in by mid June. Let me know in email the name of your guy that does superchargers out there and some contact info.

-Reno

 

I believe the info you have obtained on high ratio rocker arms is only a concern on V8 heads, most V8 heads require some machining to accomodate the pushrod angle change. The only issues with using a 1.6:1 ratio arm on the 60 degree V6 heads that I have heard of was a rumor started by complete morons that they may cause premature valve guide and seal wear. The change in ratio is accomplished by an increased angle/length on the "pushrod" side of the arm, therefore, rocker arm ratio has absolutly no ill effect on the valve angle, guides or seals. A 1.52:1 ratio rocker will not result in any appreciable performace improvement, it is little more than stock ratio with a more precise tolerance. For about the same price you can get a 1.6:1 ratio arm which will have nearly the same effect on performance as installing a higher lift cam. Sorry for having to put my .02 in here, but it seems that these rumors have proliferated to a point that it has got out of hand, and all it takes is a call to Comp Cams and Crane to get the accurate information concerning this.


[This message has been edited by mta227 (edited September 23, 2000).]

 

Actually, I heard nothing of clearence or of accessive wear, and I've heard they're great on the V8's. To my understanding, the 1.6's make the engine run VERY rough, intolerably so, especially on computer-controlled models, and this was from a guy who installed them, and took them out to go for the 1.52's, and said that between the rollers and the more accurately toleranced ratios, they made a world of difference from stock.

-Reno

 

Obviously, if you already have a higher lift cam, an increase in rocker arm ratio could increase valve lift to a point where it is no longer computer friendly. On a motor with a stock cam they work just fine. To determine if the 1.6:1 ratio arms will provide too much lift, multiply your currently rated .50 valve lift by 1.2. Then compare that number to the maximum computer friendly lift suggest by the aftermarket cam manufacturers. At any rate, a custom chip would likely compensate for it. Sounds like your buddy just didn't know what he was doing.

 

hey reno, are you getting that 3.4 from tacreationsusa.com????have you already bought the engine?? is tacreationsusa.com a reliable source???

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Dan
100% stock 1990 RS 3.1L
and VERY slow

 

I've heard they're very reliable, but I haven't actually ordered yet. I won't be doing so til the end of the spring semester, I'm just doing all the research now so I can start budgeting. I'm going as cheap as I can, but as long as I've got everything torn out, I'm not going to cut any corners. By the time it's done, I should be looking at about $1500-2000 in the engine, and about $1500 in the tranny. The tranny I'm having done this winter, cause this quick fix one I bought is on it's way out already. The tranny alone will make my life beautiful once again, because I know my little 2.8 is a ballsy engine, it's just been pushing through a bad trannie for a long time now.

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Reno
'88 Firebird LB8
"Cerberus"
Now: rusting on a side street til I get out of college

Plans: BUILT 3.4 motor with B&M racing tranny, Hotchkis suspension all around, lowering 1", Accel ignition all around, Splitfire plugs, 88 front bumper, ASCD Ram Air I hood, 91 GTA spoiler, formula wheels, Firehawk tires, restored interior (first on list)

 

good luck reno. my 3.1 is starting to run like *** but i can't afford to rebuild my engine and have my (only) car out of commission for a month. so i figure i could buy a used engine, slap it on a stand and just take my time building it up. anyway, thanks for the info.

------------------
Dan
100% stock 1990 RS 3.1L
and VERY slow