Picked up a nice 88k mile 95 3.4 for my beloved Camaro. Going to get to work this weekend on the swap, and have her running before Monday. Payed $200 cash for it. GOnna do all gaskets, new water pump, dist cap/rotor, plugs, plug wires, coil, full tune up really. Few pics of the motor.








Working motor, full harness, not like I need it. I just wanted the block and heads. Thinking of putting my Comp Cams 260H cam in it. Not sure yet. And a pic of my baby its going into:



Don't mind those nasty turn signals, I put in a brand new GM NOS set. More pics to come.

 

Let us know how it goes!

 

cam it while ur in there

 

Should I just get a new cam, and go bigger? I don't know much about the cam I have, all I know its a 260H and its been in the motor a long time.

 

ahh theres already a 260 cam in the motor?
i wouldnt go bigger without porting the heads, and if that motor has a 260 cam talk to fast eddi and se eif he will sell u a tune for that engine

 

That's whats in my 2.8 now. I was gonna pull it from the 2.8 and put in the 3.4.


Another question, 2.8 heads on a 3.4, higher compression = more power? Or just a waste of time?

 

yeah put the cam from the 2.8 in the 3.4, no the 2.8/3.1/3.4 heads are all the same,

when u swap the cam over u have to make sure each lifter goes back in the spot it came out of or u will wipe out the cam

 

Should I use the valve springs, lifters. ect from the 2.8? I'm assuming the valve springs on the 2.8 are aftermarket to go with the cam.

 

u will have to pull the heads to change the valve springs

 

Yeah, I'm just wondering if the stock springs will be fine with the cam.

 

Well, I've gotten the 3.4 torn down for the most part. Just a few more things to take off. Gonna prep the 2.8 to come out. Hopefully will have it out later today. Will take pics.

 

Good progress today. 2.8 is almost out, and 3.4 is ready to get put together. Gonna have a buddy come by tomorrow to put my cam in for me. Here's some pics from today:

3.4:












New parts:







And a couple random shots.




2.8 is about 6 or 7 bolts from coming out. I'm getting close.

 

make damn sure when u move the cam from the 2.8 to the 3.4 that each lifter goes back in the same place i.e if the lifter comes out of the front hole on the driverside of the motor on the 2.8, it has to go in the same hole on the 3.4.

failure to do so will result in a wiped cam and it can very well destroy the 3.4


do u have headgaskets?if so pull the heads and do some basic portwork

dont forgoet to use the oilpan and front cover off ur 2.8 on the 3.4

 

almost forgot can u take some pics of the lower 3.4 intake and the 2.8 lower intake, want to see if theres any real differences in them ive never had a 3.4 lower in my own hands to compare

 

Already have the timing cover pulled, swapping that as well. No head gaskets, I would have had to wait till Monday, and I need to get the motor in this weekend.

Will do.

 

Good progress today, motor won't go in for this reason:



Flex plate is done for. That piece fell out shortly after this pic.

But here's the bottom of the 3.4. Looks nice I think.



I'll have my 1.6 roller rockers up for sale soon, not too sure what to ask for them.

 

Fired it and it runs good now, just needs final timing adjustments, and I need to figure out a new electric fan management system. I couldn't get the plug out of the passenger side head for the temp sensor. Any ideas?

 

I'm assuming you mean the backup fan switch by the lifting eye... It's not needed. I couldn't get the plug out of my 3.1 either and left the wire loose, never had any problems with the radiator fan. It's the one on the driver's side front you REALLY should worry about.

 

That's good to know then. That one is fine, but I may get a new sensor just because. Car has hit 220 while at idle for a long time and fan hasn't kicked on. So I'll double check all my connections.


I really need to get a more reliable second car so I can turbo this thing. Mercedes just doesn't cut it, too much to fail, and gas mileage is like 5-8 MPG.

 

Stock fan turn on temp is 235*...

 

That's good info to know as well, I always thought it came on before that.

 

Where do you find these engines so cheap...grrr

Want to build one in my basement for when I need it lol.

 

I drove an hour to get it, guy had it because he works at LKQ. He had it for sale for months and finally had it listed for $200.

Drove the car down the street today, boy have I missed it. I got a new TV cable ordered, some more timing adjustments, gotta fix a exhaust leak, need I new speedo gear for the trans, register and insure, and I'm set.

 

That may be what the "all hope is nearly lost" fan temp switch setting, but the normal operatonal fan temp is much lower, around 190*F. Setting a normal operation fan on temp to 235*F would cause many problems.

 

I've noticed that since first start up the fan came on very late, but once it was needed again it came on at the appropriate time, I'm guessing because the ECM is relearning everything. That or I'm crazy.

 

Drove it some more today, had a oil leak at the filter housing, fixed it, installed a new fuel filter, and adjusted the timing some more and I'm set. I insured the car, just gotta get it registered. I need to advance the timing a little more, add a quart of oil, and a little but of trans fluid and she's good to go.

I do need the piece that goes in the rear of the trans for the cable driven speedo, if somebody has one, I'd love to buy it as mine is broken. Speedo works, but the threads are done.

Once I get another car to replace the Mercedes, I'll put my 60MM on it.

 

And when was the last time you looked at a stock PROM calibration? Says so right in the FSM. And since the stock thermostat doesn't open until 195*F, that would be kind of idiotic...

RubberDucky, I have 2 of those bullets if you need one. One has a metal gear shaft in it and the other has no gear shaft in it (nylon gear with attached shaft).

 

I need the one with the gear, and the shaft for the cable. I got one off a 85 V6 car with a T5 thinking they would be the same, they were not. Lol.

 

I would be VERY suspect of a calibration that shows anything above 200*F for fan on temp. Very likely the calculation is wrong in the XDF. Last I checked the (stock) T-stat opened at 190*, you know, it's not like I haven't been around these engines for many years.

235*F engine temp would cause some serious damage if it was ran there all the time, oil would break down down quickly, and cause higher than necessary cylinder temps, that would be difficult to keep detonation at bay.

 

What kind of mileage did your 2.8 have? Doesn't make that much sense for an extra 20 HP with the 3.4, unless your 2.8 was high mileage. Guess it is preference.

My 2.8 has 84K, was going to build a 3.4 for when the 2.8 hits 200K or so. It's my DD so...that wont be long.

 

Not exactly sure what it had, but it was 175k+. It had a cam and roller rockers, that I was going to sell, but I dropped the box with the lifters and all on it, so at that point it was worthless.

 

Sounds reasonable, I'll be doing the same soon enough. Hoping to get 100-200K more out of my 2.8 it's been taken care of.

In the meantime going to look for a cheap 3.4 for a basement build..woot

 

These motors will last for ever if taken care of, last one, obviously wasn't.

I believe this 3.4 has been rebuilt in its life, it had a tag stuck to it saying warranty void if removed, which, I know wasn't a GM thing.

 

UGH... 87 FSM, Chart C-12, Coolant Fan Control Circuit, 2.8L "F" Series, Circuit Description:

"The ECM grounds CKT 335 (relay control circuit) when coolant temp is over 106*C (223*F), and/or when A/C has been requested and the fan control switch opens with A/C system pressure over about 200 PSI. Once the ECM turns the relay "on", it will keep the relay "on" for a minimum of 30 seconds or until the vehicle speed reaches 70 MPH."

I don't think the engineers who wrote the book lied.

RubberDucky, I do NOT have a gear for either bullet. The gear that was on the metal shaft is currently on the end of my VSS, and the other one is gone.

 

Meh, no worries. Speedo works for now, just isn't perfect. I'll find one.

 

Registered the car, and will be driving it when I get home from work. Pretty excited, now I need a T-5 and my 60mm on it. Lol.

 

pretty cool, I had a '93 camaro with the 3.4, It moved itself around pretty good and was great on gas, I just wasn't a fan of the 4th gen body

I'd love to have a nice v6 third gen like yours for a daily driver

 

Mine started out faded, with a blown motor, bought it for $900 in 09. And its as you see it today, some $2000+ later. Lol.

Its easy to find a good car to fix up.