Alright, so correct me where I'm wrong, please? After spending the last few hours reading the sticky and the swaps, I think I've got it.

A 3.4 swap is by far the easiest swap to do, and probably best for my goal of 250-300whp. From a 3.4, I can modify it into a hybrid, most likely using 3500 head and intake, yes? But with the 3500 comes the problems project 3.4 listed.

If I swap in a 3.4, say next weekend, I should look for 3.4l performance parts, as opposed to 3.1(what i have now), right?

 

whew! 250-300 is a heck of a stretch for a 3.4

Let me know how that works out for you. unless you do something superhuman to it, I bet you're going to wind up closer to 200hp with a 3.4

somebody correct me if I'm wrong

 

300hp out of an iron headed 3.4 is a strech, but no problem for a hybrid motor. Most anything is interchangeable between any 2.8/3.1/3.4 or 3x00 excluding 3500 heads on a 2.8/3.1 block. Frankensteining a hybrid motor together isn't difficult as long as you know what needs to be done and what you plan to do. Look at the tips on this thread.

 

Thanks guys. haha I love the skepticism. I want to go for a hybrid motor, but for now, I just want to swap in a 3.4l that runs, as opposed to my 3.1 that jogs(hahaha get it?)

How hard would it be for someone like me to do a hybrid? This would be my first engine build/mod, and I've got plenty of time, and kinda sorta plenty of money. I can make more when I need it, yknow? I'm gonna be taking automechanic classes next semester at the CC but I'd like to know a bit before I start the classes.

 

well since you don't appreciate skepticism, I'll tell you it's the easiest swap in the world. Probably easier than the dredded "alternator change"

you should be able to knock it out in an hour, tops.

have fun, and let us know how it works out for you

 

haha you read that wrong, I love it. I prefer to work under conditions like that, cause it's more gratifying if i succeed, and if I fail, I'm more willing to listen to my errors and try to fix it for next time

edit: on my old stratus, I had a brake change take 2 days because of sheered bolts. Nothings ever easy until it's done =D

 

Be certain of what you're doing beforehand and research what others have done first. If you're confident with taking measurements, a grinder and wrenching you should have no problem putting together a hybrid, if not start with a 3.4 swap and keep working your way up. Ultimately you need to put you hands on the motor to guage your own abilities and the 3.4 swap is a good place to start. Young folks need to label everything to be certain of what they're doing but with more experience you realize that identical connectors are rarely in the same place and the shape/length of hoses, wiring and other stuff hints at it's original location and a good memory lets you reassemble everything quickly.

 

you've got guts, I'll give you that.

read bl85c's thread about a million times before you drop any money on parts, and if you still feel like you want a challenge, go for it.

I was serious, let us know how it works out for you

 

I've noticed that with the connectors. I don't think i've seen too many of the same connectors anywhere near eacchother in any of my cars.

Hopefully, after I get the car street legal, I'll see how the swap is looking for me. I want to buy the 3.4 and slowly clean/rebuild parts of it as i work up to the swap. kinda like keeping it in my room and each time i can afford a new piece, buy it and add it on. that way, in a few months/year I should have a hybrid to drop in.

edit: 58mark I thought you were genuinely being sarcastic with that comment, but since you were serious, I'll gladly fill you in on all the details. I'm just doing as much research as I can while I wait to get this on the road. I've got a picture happy girlfriend who's more than happy to help me take pics, and as soon as I can start a build or swap, it'll be posted.

 

well I was mostly sarcastic, but if you're actually going to do it, best of luck, and post your progress

if you're going to start with a 3.4 and work your way to a hybrid, that's the smart thing to do.

 

that's what i planned on. smartest idea I've had all day, other than drinking a V8...haha not. I'm still reading bl85c's thread, but I think i'm getting it. what about this link right here? http://www.domesticcrew.com/hybrid.html what do you think of this info?

 

The hybrid swap is not as bad or difficult as people make it to be. It's usually the people that haven't built a hybrid that say it's difficult.

I was one of the first to build one, 1st one to be turbocharged from what I recall, about 9 years ago.

Anyway, the most difficult part is getting ignition system to work. Since the genIII top end doesn't clear a dizzy, you need to use DIS. This scares a lot of people. The easiest way to get this working, is use the 3.4 block, that already has provisions for the DIS, and an ECM an MEMCAL from a 2.8L or 3.1L FWD vehicle from 1987 to 1991. (1992 and 1993 can be used, but there are some vehicles that used different ECMs that are more difficult to use an without listing specific vehicles.) This will have proper settings in the tuning to run the DIS effectively.

The rest is just finding the right parts to match up, like throttle cable, intake duct work, some plumbing, etc.

Exhaust is the only other "scary" part and is where I suggest using headers for your particular vehicle and slotting the holes to match the FWD bolt pattern and to be even more thorough, you can match the shape of the primary to the exhaust port.

 

That information is accurate, but realize that most of the information in that link is for J-bodies. There is a lot of chassis specific stuff that is different between the Domestic Crew hybrid guide and the RWD applications.

 

if i may, and this is where my naivet comes in, what do you mean by slotting?

and for some of these things, such as using the intake manifolds and headers, I would have to custom fabricate them, would I not? or did I miss the memo? I'm gettin slightly confused again, so I'm gonna go reread the stickies

 

Slotting - To elongate a hole or create a "slot".

Like I JUST said, you can use aftermarket headers and modify them to fit the heads.

You can use the FWD intake manifold without a problem, there have only been a couple of hybrid builder I know that made intakes, and that was mostly to use carbs.

 

so the literal meaning of slotting, gotcha. Wasn't sure if that had another meaning when it comes to this stuff. and I didn't fully catch the aftermarket portion, I'm gettin groggy from sitting in front of the pc all night.

there are no aftermarket FWD intake manifolds? With the vast array of cars these engines seemed to have been used with, i would have guessed there would be. If one were to exist, would it be a bolt on as well? I would presume yes, but I haven't found much on here about that

 

No chance of just transplanting in a 5.3 ls ?

 

I'd rather not. I like keeping gas mileage low, and the fact that i'd have such a unique motor is quite appealing. I plan to hopefully use this car as a sort of portfolio for potential jobs to see.

"got any mechanic experience?"
"yeah, got my certifications in school and in my spare time I built that firebird's engine to my likings."

know what i mean?

 

The 5.3 will probably give you close to the same mileage in the bird and weighs about the same and is worth a lot more hp.

 

I'm still likin my v6. Like I said, I want it to be a sort of portfolio. Like artists and writers have.

I mean, look at bl85's signature picture. Sure, lots of people have big ole v8s under their hoods, but how many people have a hand built hybrid frankenstein? I mean I just iprefer the v6

And finding a decent ls engine for any price near how much a hybrid build, plus a tranny, and accessory parts would be waaaay to much

 

The 5.3 is heavier and also futher foreward which makes for worse polar weight distribution. Look at what vetruck did with his wife's car and you'll see the advantage. Won't argue on power because nearly 2x the displacement will always make power, but the head flow on these motors is great which makes for a killer turbo motor. Mileage will still be better with the v6.