v6-3.1

I have a 1990 camaro RS 3.1L v6. I wanted to swap in a 3.4(people say its a simple swap),I was wondering if I have to swap in the computer of a 3.4??

wicked 88 cam

No, actually you use your same 3.1 computer, and strip all of the sensors off your 3.1 block and put them where the 3.4 ones are, on the rear pass. side of the 3.4 block is a plug (have fun getting that out, i grinded down a chisel drove a 9/16 socket on the end, then took it out w/ a 1/2" breaker bar) anyways, try to recreate your 3.1 using your COMPLETE intake manifold, all accessories also make sure you use the 3.4 INJECTORS(19lb), its not that complicated at all, all of your 3.1 wiring will fall into place,,,i did this to my 88 2.8 and i'm still in the process of routing the wires, to my knowledge this works the exact same with the 3.1,,if it doesn't then someone needs to tell me now,,,but if it does,,do exactly what keds 85 post says, him and pods are who got me through my swap....

v6-3.1

I have looked at other topics and they claim that you need the computer or you will not be able to use it for its full potential?

is this true?

v6-3.1

also what other items other than the 3.4 engine would I need? I searched other topics and all they do is contradict themselves

v6-3.1

also, would any 3.4 bolt up or do I have to use a RWD 3.4?

KED85

Haven't you read my thread on the swap?
What good is a student who doesn't study his assignment!
FROM MY LEARNING,
I used all the components on my 2.8 injection system.
I swapped the 2.8 injectors for the 3.4 ones.
My system runs fine. I have ever so slight ping, going up a hill, I need to use colder range plugs and get more air nto the car.
That'll cure it.
AGAIN...
BECAUSE YOU ARE RECREATING EXACTLY WHAT YOU STARTED WITH, (ONLY USING THE 3.4 BLOCK), THAT IS WHY ONE IS ABLE TO USE THE CURRENT COMPUTER SYSTEM IN YOUR CAR.
DEVIATE FROM THIS RECEIPE AND YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY THE PIPER.
Follow the suggestions lessons from others & you'll be ok.
Oh, it is a simple swap. Detailed but simple.


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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

KED85

https://www.thirdgen.org/messgboard/...ML/001462.html

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

AlexJH

Needs to be RWD.

v6-3.1

KED85, is the performance the same as complete 3.4 or is there any diffrence?

v6-3.1

thank you KED85, I decided to do the same thing you did, those directions are pretty good, I plan to do this swap myself, I got a 1990 camaro RS 3.1L V6.

I was planning on changing the camshaft, timing chain (sice the engine is already apart) at the same time, along with headers, K&n , cat back, porting the heads and nitrous

#1- what is a good cam to get for the
3.4 block?
#2- what is a good timing chain for the 3.4 block?
#3- can I safely run nitrous?
#4- is all of this stuff too much for this swap, can the 3.4 block with 3.1 heads handle this?
#5- can I use the 3.1 instead of the 2.8(is there a diffrence with the heads and the computer?{I dont think so but I want to make sure}
#6- what can I do to increase torque?
#7- would this give me a good amount of power, not including nitrous?

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME

TechSmurf

In response to the last reply..

1) Crane Compucam would be my reccomendation.. summit PN: CRN-254112 or 254122 depending on desired powerband (if you've got an auto, your torque converter would probably dictate the 254122) 1.52:1 or 1.6:1 roller rockers and larger valve springs would also be reccomended along with this to take full advantage of the port work you mentioned.

2) Never looked into timing chains.. sorry

3) Well.. that depends on the condition of the long block you pick up. From what I've heard a 60-75 hp shot shouldn't hurt anything, but if you want to go higher you'll need to rebuild the engine with strengthened components.

4) You're leaving the 3.4 heads on, not putting the 3.1 heads on. 3.4's heads flow alot better than the 3.1's, plus their combustion chamber is better suited to the 3.4's bore. The only issue you'll run into with the heads is a plugged sensor port, as previously mentioned in excess if you'd read closely.

5) Everything you do will use your 3.1 components EXCEPT for the 3.1 fuel injectors. Just pull the 3.4's fuel injectors and put them in place of the 3.1's. This is what makes everything work. The 3.4 injectors have a higher flow rate than the 3.1. Since computers gauge how much fuel they're dumping by injector pulse width (the amount of time the injector is fired), using the higher flow injectors will increase fuel feed to almost exact specification for the 3.4 to work with the 3.1 computer. All other calculations will be made just fine when in closed loop.

6 and 7) There are numerous archived posts on this.. search and read.

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'86 Camaro SC, black /w silver racing stripes
2.8l MPFI/700r4 /w special 2nd gear delete option
In search of new v8 engine & transmission, now contemplating t5 swap to get me out of this mess.
MSD coil, Accel 8mm wires, SplitFire plugs, Gabriel hijackers, possible performance chip I don't know about.. gotta crack open the ECM and check sometime

v6-3.1

now I feel a little bit confused, do I use the 3.1 heads or do I use the 3.4 heads?

Is there alot of modifications I got to do in order to make the 3.4 heads work(please explain the process step by step)?

TomP

KED85

Let's make this real simple.
WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS?????
Ya wanna racer?
Don't waste your effort, go get a V-8
That is so simple a solution.
Chains, call Northern Auto parts. Their prices will stun you , SO low & such high quality. I think I got a SpeedPRo chain (TRW).
ALL THE OTHER STUUFF.
Look, what I am suggesting is to run it right outta the yard.
You will be very surprised about the extra amount of power.
SEE how strong the RUNNING LONG BLOCK you got from the yard is. Then go forward.
The current cam in the 3.4 is a stunner.
It revs!
The heads that come with the 3.4 are great.
Dont' mess with them yet. Don't even remove them from the engine you get.
Why waste good head sealing gaskets?
Don't remove the current exhaust manifolds that come with the block you get.
Why waste good manifold gaskets?
You want headers, go get a V-8.
I am still awating to hear back from Edelbrock about the idea I presented to them about street legal 2.8/3.1/3.4 headers.
Honest, why are you trying to complicate this simple engine swap? This engine swap gives you a total of 200 Foot Pounds of torque & about 160+ horespower.
If you played with your current engine, all you want, you'd get the same results as just slamming this mill under you current hood.
The results will stun you!
How to make this swap better?
Simple.
Tranny, beef it up to handle the 1-2 shift
Gears get 3:42 & posi.
I have 3:42 gears. My car can go sideways changing lanes. IT LEAPS
I do not have posi, so I only can do peg leg burn out of about 25-40 feet. I love that!.
My 1974 Corvette only does about 25feet+ burnouts!
Let it be. Be pleased with the installion ease and then decide to do the gears & tranny.
You do need Hi-Perf ignition to totally take advantage of the great engine.
How is your current ignition?
Rebuild it with ALL NEW STUFF AND GET A REMOUNT MOUNT HI PO COIL
Make your current platform bullet proof, then take those same parts & put them in the swap.
It's so simple.
Nitrous...if ya wanna, after.
Oh, I used the lightest weight car platform, too.
I removed about 100Lbs from my nose of my Firebird.
That helps alot, too.
Cam & stuff, you'd be surprised how GREAT THESE HEADS ARE! Why do I say that, Right now I am porting & polishing heads for my LT-1 for my 1967 RS/SS Camaro Convertible 4-speed. I am using 186 heads (Z-28 1969 vintage) They are full of so much casting crap, it's not funny. That's why one did that misson, back then. I am using 487X heads on my 1974 Corvette. Best flowing smog era head, ever made, in a special drag racing class by NHRA.
FLOW is where it's at. Not porting & polishing these NEW DESIGN HIGH PERFORMANCE HEADS! Honest, these 2.8/3.1/3.4 heads are so great! Not a single thing can be done to them, to make it any better.
You can play all you want, but, in the end, you should have sold your current car & gotten a V-8.
Get the engine, beef up your igniton, lighten the car, increase gearing to 3:42, beef up tranny, go get a high flow exhaust system, (better flow cat & muffler, etc) and go play.
Then try to add Nitrous, after. You may decide, NOT TO. Me I just go to my Corvette for more torque. And it's only a L-48 1974 w/Auto tranny. That's only 200+ HP. I'm content until I get the Camaro LT-1 engine running.
CALL 1-800-831-0884 for all parts, to your door step.
I love driving my Firebird in LA traffic. It's fast, responsive, easy on gas & FUN!
And it'll fool the smog police, this summer when I test it. That was my end result goal.
letithis be a real answer for you.
Get going on what you have, then go get the engine. YOU WILL BE VERY PLEASED!

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

sgtpanther

Tell him how it is done Karl.....I am a student.

mrzud

I am doing a 2.8 to 3.4 swap. The engine i got was from a 94 firebird and came with the computer. I am going to use the complete engine... i am not going to take the 2.8 stuff off and put it on the 3.4. I am also going to replace the computer. Anyone advise against this... if so, why?

Vortex_89rs

I don't think there is anything wrong with that. It would take a lot more time, and there could be some issues with wiring and such...?

Vman

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1969 Camaro Sport Coupe
383, 700R4, leather, everything black but the lights

Previous owner of an 89 RS Camaro
2.8L V6, 700R4

87CamaroLT

Well, you'd have to fabricate some way to make the throttle linkage.... hmmm... Find somewhere to mount the DIS box... Wiring would definitely be a pain in the *** ... It's just so much more simple to swap everything from the 2.8 to the 3.4...

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-Steve-
--'87 Camaro LT --
Successful 2.8->3.4 swap...

TechSmurf

I wouldn't advise against it, per say, but I would like to send my condolances to your family since you won't be seeing them for a month while you rewire the thing 20 times.

KED85

ROTFLMAO !

You know, the real drag part is that the newer style intake looks so cool!
The drag part is...
making it work right!
I mean, more power to ya, if ya can pull it off.
And I'm sure it can be done.
BUT
Just swapping the intakes and the few other items equals real quick driving pleasure. I did my swap with a bunch of BS in between under 1 month.
If ya really want what ya are saying, don't waste your time with the swap. Just sell the car & go buy the 1994 Firebird.
Save yourself a lot of aggrivation.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND, not putting ya down,
I did this swap. I stand by my method of simplicity.
I drive the results ever day.
It's such a blast, as is. Yea, I miss seeing that very cool intake, etc, but BFD


Thanks Chad!

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

mrzud

The 2.8 is a mpfi and the 3.4 is a sfi. Do you think that would propose a problem if i was to put all the 2.8 stuff on the 3.4?
Also would using the 2.8 stuff on the 3.4 decrease its performance... the way i see it is if use stuff from the smaller engine including the computer then it will perform like a smaller engine. That makes sense, doesnt it?

KED85

NO, it doesn't.
Using the 2.8 stuff makes the swapped engine work under your hood.
I ONLY INCREASED PERFORMANCE.
Why do you think I've said this thing runs like a freight train?
Read my replies and the link to the swap thread.
I haven't lost a thing. I gained my car, back.


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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

mrzud

So there wont be a problem with the mpfi and sfi thing I asked last reply?
Also the 3.4 has pollution control on it and the 2.8 doesnt. I'll probably be able to bypass it.
You say to use the 2.8 distributer. On my 3.4, the distributer is controlled by the computer and the 2.8 is controlled by the engine. The 3.4 has a cap on it where the 2.8 could plug in, do you know if it is possible to plug it in if i removed the cap or would i have to buy something for it?
I was talking to my dad about all this and he told me to make sure you guys know that i do have all the wires from the 3.4. From the computer there are only 20 wires going through the firewall to the guages. All the other wires go to the engine and sensors and are obvious where they attach.

Techsmurf, why do you say i would have to rewire it about 20 times? Quite frankly, it doesnt seem to hard... well as long as i have a wire diagram for both cars on hand.

KED85, what problems would i have trying to keep the 3.4's intake? To your "Just sell the car & go buy the 1994 Firebird", I would have loved to find a 94 firebird with no engine or tranny but i found the 89rs first and for a good price of $500 (engine was bad. never really found out what was wrong with it). Got the 3.4 engine and tranny for $500 too.

I dunno what to do... i am debating it with my father right now. He thinks that we wouldnt have too many problems with not using any of the 2.8 stuff, as opposed to me leaning toward the swapping of the 2.8 parts.

Thanks for all the help

KED85

By using the MPFI 1985 intake system, you retain all working hooked up wires, already in the car.
By attempting to "marry" both intake, exhaust systems, fuel, electrical computer systems, well, people get paid real well to get people outta the jam. At about $65 per hour.

Keep it simple.
Honest.
It's the easiest way, out of creating what is needed. A great running engine in your car.
I can only help ya, if you follow my receipe.
If you deviate, from it, I cannot assist.
It will have to be taken to an electrical expert in your area.
You will have to fabricate, alot, to make the SPI system work.
Fuel Lines
Ignition
Tranny linkage
Water routing
If ya wanna tackle those, be my guest.
You'd be the first and we'd all learn from you and your Dad.
I've coached 12 people so far, all very happy with the results and why I suggested what I did, in my thread.

Ya wanna go your own way, we will all learn from you.

Distributor, all you do is pull out the oil pump cam drive and insert your 1985 distributor. Hook up every part of system. It is totally to your benefit. Everything can work, real well. And it does!!

It all becomes very clear, when both engines sit, side by side.

Honest.

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA