Evening guys.

I have an opportunity to pursue the hybrid route with my car, but I want to do my homework first.

I can get the top end of a 3100 from a 98 monte carlo for the best price ever (free!) and am wondering if this will work in my application. I have an '87 Camaro with the 2.8 but am looking to swap in the 3.4 from a '94 Camaro.

So, in short, my question is "Will it work and what all parts do i need to strip off of the 3100 to get it ready?"

 

That's a small port top end, it's better than what you have but if you are going to go through all the trouble i'd use large port stuff. Any 3400 or 2000+ 3100 has the better parts.



Keep the whole 3100, there are always people that need random parts from them.. hell, i might even buy the pistons/rods if they are in good shape.

 

If you start with a 3.4 you can go with a 3500 top end which is even better, though I am noticing they seem to be harder to find and more expensive.

 

I had the small port top end on my 3.2L and thought it was fine. I was also running turbo at the time that helped, not tuned though, which didn't help.

Anyway, I would likely grab it and use it. Swapping on the 3400 top end later would be a cinch, since you'd already have it together and running. I planned to upgrade mine to the large port, but then ended up parting out the engine and I have new power plant plans for that vehicle.

 

The flow difference between the SP and LP gen 3 heads isn't huge, it's the LIM and UIM that suck.


the good news is that you can use the large port LIM and UIM on the SP heads.


Project 3.4 Camaro, we're still finding them for dirt cheap out here in the midwest.. 3400's are really going up in price though.

 

I have at least two large port lowers I could part with, I probably have an upper as well.

 

So, to check my understanding:

Yes it will work, but there is better stuff out there?

And I'll be needing essentially everything from the cylinder heads up?

Thanks in advance.

 

In a nutshell, yes, that is correct.

You will also need to convert to DIS ignition.

 

1. Yes, there is better stuff out there... 3100 (2000+)/3400 large port heads and intake. Only way you can step up to the 3500 parts is with a 3.4 short block. If you're going to get a 3.4 anyways, I would wait until I had it and buy the 3500 top...
2. Everything above the block deck... Except the wiring harness and the cam position sensor. This includes the oil pump drive where the dizzy would be, the ignition module/coil pack assembly and wiring connectors, and all vacuum tubes.
3. You will need a different ECM as the 302 is considered untuneable. bl85c is currently selling DIS ignition kits that include a replacement 165 TPI ECM with chip. You will need to replace your MAF sensor since ours are of a different type than pretty much everything else on the market and the 165 and pretty much every aftermarket ECM won't support it.
4. You can't use the 3100 pushrods without converting to a roller lifter system. Get a set from a GenII 2.8 or 3.1 FWD, which are longer. I got mine from Rock Auto.