| THE BUILD UP To increase performance, I followed the template and trend set by the 3.2. This engine had high compression Sealed Power pistons (unavalible coated) which put it roughly the same compression as the 3.2, maybe higher, 12.5-13:1, Sealed power moly rings were also used, the roller cam had a performance regrind by Crane, this time to note the static compression. Parts to make the engine work consisted of a brand new special 3400 intake '03 spec, Felpro valve seals, head gaskets, and timing cover gasket, GM upper, lower and TB gaskets, 3300 fuel injectors, EGR block off plate for the plenum and pipe plug for the exhaust(due to the later style egr system the egr cannot be used with the '89 computer), Clevite77 rod bearings, main bearings were reused because they were literaly mint, RTV around the coolant passages from the heads to the lower intake, RTV around the oil pump drive, RTV to augment the oil pan gasket GEN3 torsion damper. All '89 sensors, DIS mounting plate with BorgWarner componants and spark plug wires. Colder AC Delco Double Plantinum plugs were used as well. I also got ahold of the neat "duckbill" oil filter gutter drain, this prevents oil from getting on the subframe when changing the oil THE INSTALL Installing the 3400 was easy work, making note that the transmission dipstick tube was the 1st problem. You must get a curved one from a '94+ car, chop the bottom a little and fasten it to the canister purge solenoid. In a pinch it stays put, but I would have prefered to have it welded some where. The 2nd problem was using the TV cable. I was able to install the TV cable for the transmision, using a universal cable kit, I was able to hook it up to the throttle body lever. The 3rd problem was the \wiring of the DIS. My car harness had more than enough wire, I just insisted on making a plug so it could all be disconnected when need be. The 4th problem was the rewireing of the Engine, which only the TPS and IAC need to be lengthend. The Coolant temp sender wire had to be rerouted to the the coolant temp sensor harness because the new sensor is a 2 way setup. Then 5th the P/S return line needed a molded rubber elbow line to connect to the reservoir fitting. 6th was the heater return line to the thermostat housing. A piece of curved hose fixed that. Exhaust cleared too, thanks to the special W body rear manifold and down pipe. All in all it was mostly mild wiring, otherwise everything in the car stays with car. All the wiring was done by solder and shrink wrap, long lasting and durable. Also used color coded conduit, so that I know which harness goes where when and if I need to diagnose a problem. Red for power, Yellow for Acuators, and Blue for Sensors and system electronics. I was also able to use my hard rubber solid engine mount that was used with the 3.2, thanks to the W body mounting bracket. Dog bone torque struts can also be used but I chose to go with the stronger, more quieter Pitch fork torque strut mounts. |
| Service Duty To put it mildly, 3 days of usage I was in love. After getting it somewhat stabilized and getting the down pipe welded to the rest of the exhaust system, I was rewarded with a refined sounding, quiet operating, supremly fuel efficent, super easy to maintain/low maintenace engine. In fact the whole car became effected by this motor, the car drove different. In a good way! There are plenty of tuning bugs to work out but what I had was somthing potentially powerful. From a dead stop on asphalt the engine would spin the tires slowly, as the tach rose the cam kicks in and the tires would go up in smoke! The bad thing is that due to the tuning once the transmission shifted the engine would be put out in a bad spot where it would have to recover. One thing I noticed this engine likes open intakes. I tried to use the stock air box from a '94 car but my chassis doesn't support the whole unit. I used part of it just so I could have some genuine filtration. Further test are needed on this engine. |