Update,

I got a call from Action yesterday letting me know that my 2006 Uplander 3.5 engine had arrived and was ready to be picked up, unfortunately I will be in Charleston on business until Late Friday after action is closed.
They are not open on the weekend so I will have to wait until Monday to pick it up and confirm 100% that this is indeed a forged crank, wish me luck…

I also have an update on the Megasquirt side of this project, as some of you may remember I plan to use Megasquirt for my fuel delivery.
My brother and I just got finished tuning his v6 Turbo Mustang and let me say it was both easy and pain free.
We loaded the parameters of his engine in the MS software and it gave us a base tune, we loaded it and it started on the first couple of cranks.
A quick ride through the hood while data logging and back to the garage we input the data log into the MS software and it gave us a revised tune, we loaded that tune and took a drive for a couple of miles pushing it to about 7 lbs of boost and data logging the whole time, back to the shop and one more dump of the data into the MS software to get a revised tune.
With the new tune we hit the street for real… Holt sh@t this pony is fast and smooth.
Time to remove the 7 lb spring and step up to the 14 and get a new tune from there it will be both springs for 21 lbs of boost.
I would like to say for all you guys hating on MS, it is awesome and took less than a day to get it tuned in. I’m sure going to the Dyno will merit a few tweaks to the curves but all in all you could drive it like you stole it like it is now and never touch the tune again.

Megasquirt is F#@king awesome.

Checked my email today and found this…

I am still abroad. I will be home in 2 weeks. I'm not sure what you would like to do. Are you planning on waiting for me to return or would you rather take a look at it prior to. I'm not sure what we discussed. Thanks for your continued interest.

Subject: RE: 1996 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP Needs Trans - $250
To: dmellinger@XXXXX.com
From: louis.a.barnette@XXXXX.com
Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 12:58:18 -0500

I hope to pick the car up new years day, it has been a long wait but well worth the preferred 96 engine. I chose 96 because the 96/97 engines have the best intake, make slightly more HP, the 96 uses the 35mm lifters vs the 97s 33mm pieces.

The importance of this is that aftermarket lifters are available in the 35mm size, more importantly 35mm is a common DOHC lifter size, finding a taller one will allow for more of a choice when the cams are reground as the taller lifter adds material to all lobes of the cam that then need to re-ground allowing for specs that could not be achieved without expensive custom camshafts.

In other news I go today to pick up my 3500 engine at Action, hopefully I should be able to get the crank out and down Lewis at The Shop this weekend and get some real measurements and advice on how to proceed.
Before the crank can be ground I will need the block to take some hard measurements so I can get the final numbers.

I will post my Action adventure when I have the 3.5 in hand.

Finally got the 3.5 to the garage for inspection.



Put it on an engine stand, I was a little worried as the aluminum pan and intake had some oxidation on them.



Note the oxidation on the pan.



Upon opening my worries were over, the bottom end was immaculate, no trash, sludge or any other imperfections to worry about. This engine looked to have 42k as stated by action when they sold it to me.



It goes to show that you can get a decent used engine on the cheap if you haggle some. This engine listed for 500$ and I got it for 175$ with a little tom foolery.

If Joe Upson is still watching here can you tell me what 3 digit casting number you have on your crank???

No more time now I have to be in Charleston for the week, but when I get back I will remove the crank and get it to the machine shop.

Thanks for looking.

What happened to this?

1 year later *BUMP*

This guy is one of the most random ever on Pennocks... He has another thread about supercharging the 3500 with a custom manifold... Good luck, he hasn't posted for a while.

[This message has been edited by carbon (edited 12-02-2010).]

Hi, this is Scooby's brother. I bought the Fiero and the 3500 from him and plan to do the swap. I have another project in front of this one that needs to be done first. I'll start a new thread when I begin the swap. In the meantime I've tried searching this forum for information on what I need to buy or modify/fabricate to physically put the engine in the car but haven't had much luck. Could someone provide a link or where I could look to find that info? Thanks.