I am impressed at the amount of detail you put into this swap. It really shows on the final project. Great Job. I did notice that you have not installed your coolant crossover pipe. You probably are already aware of this but just in case you aren't, make sure you install that coolant pipe before you install the engine. In order to install the pipe you have to remove the upper A/C compressor bracket in order to get the pipe in place. If you don't do it now you will mess up the great job you have done on the engine. I just finished replacing my leaking pipe with one of Rodney's SS units. It took me over 18 hours of work to get the pipe in on an installed engine. It would have been easier to drop the entire drivetrain. If you get a replacement unit from Rodney make sure you ask him if the bracket needs to be bent on your application.
I like the colors you chose. I just go buy tractor paint when I paint an engine. I mix half a pint of aluminum with a quart of any color and get a really nice looking metallic. Last time I did it, it came out powder blue. Don't try that with red. it looks pink no matter how little aluminum you use. =P
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01:31 AM
Fierobsessed Member
Posts: 4782 From: Las Vegas, NV Registered: Dec 2001
As Im finishing up my 3.4 swap (3 days!) I can attest to the detail he went into about this swap. EVERY DETAIL IS TRUE. Take my word on it. Not one issue that he stated did not become just that, an issue. I have one detail I must add. If you plan on putting a 3.4 in any 85-86 Fiero, you have to use the Fiero's oil pan as well as the Fiero's timing cover. Or else. Also, be careful not to tighten the starter too much or it will break the casing off the starter. I'll let you know what the performance is like tomarrow, The 2.8 Is still fresh in my mind, I hope the 3.4 friggen boogies, these past 3 days have been hard work.
Took it out for a spin today. WOW. thats all I can say. This engine was a HUGE improvment over the fully match ported 2.8 w/compucam 2030 with ported exhaust manifolds. This Stock 3.4 motor is a Torque monster. Idling in first at 1000 RPM's, you just bury the throttle and it takes off like crazy. I LOVE it now. The only thing that is modified is the lower and middle intakes are gasket matched to eachother and the exhaust manifolds are hogged out. The torque is great, but the engine STRUGGLES to get air in after 4500. I think a custom manifold is in order. The Camaro injectors seem to be perfect for the 2.8's computer so far. I was debaiting on putting in the Compucam 2030 into the 3.4, but after driving the car with the stock cam I realized that that would have been a BIG mistake. The engine has a hard time breathing at 4500 with the stock cam, so at least the performance is good from 3K-4K. The compucam attempts to shift the power band up to where the engine actually can't breathe well. But now I am ecstactic. Again, thank you for this thread. Its like a master refrence for 3.4 swapping.
BTW, 5 quarts with the PF52 Oil filter. ;p
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09:57 PM
Fastback 86 Member
Posts: 7849 From: Los Angeles, CA Registered: Sep 2003
3.4 is pretty cool huh? I thought about a cam too, but KEV and I talked about it and came to the same conclusion as you as well as some other conclusions. Now we just need to get it more air. I'm counting on Francis T coming through with a replacement middle/upper plenum that flows better. Or maybe I'll just save for forced induction...or maybe both
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10:53 PM
sardonyx247 Member
Posts: 5032 From: Nevada, USA Registered: Jun 2003
I did install the coolent crossover pipe, and yes I found out that the front bracket had to come off after the exhaust manifold was on.
I forgot my camera today so no pics as to the progress. I got most of the exhuast, heatsheilds, wireing harness, alternator, coolent crossover pipe, coil, cap, rotor, wires, plugs, egr(including the metal disk for the egr) done today. It takes a little longer to assemble when everything is painted, as not ot scratch it.
I'm glad to see that all of these pics have helped out. I was trying to get as many as I could of different things, so people could use them as a reference, to compare the 2.8L stuff to the 3.4L stuff, to see if your missing a bracket, to see where one goes, etc.....
I just wanted to compliment you on a great write up you definetly get a + from me and I think we should all give you a + for this tread. Keep up the good work and please keep posting pictures. I know we all want to know your experience on the first drive.
Thats gonna cost you points at the WestFest show, not having you're axles powdercoated!
Looking very nice! Hurry up and get it back in the car, only a week and a half till WestFest!
Do you know how much a PITA it would be to powdercoat axles? First you would have to get an oven BIG enough, then strip EVERYTHING off that could not withstand HIGH baking temps for extended periods of time. I also did not paint anything else on the car either. Besides my axles will be spinning so fast that I don't want paint flying off.
Last Pics before being taken out to my waiting Fiero.
Being taken out of the shop
Going in. This went about a different way. with the cradle on a pallet instead of just the forks, it didn't fit. As you can see in the next pic. So instead we set the cradle on the ground, picked up the back of the body with the forklift, slowly wheeled the body over the engine(2nd pic down), set it down over the engine on jack stands, picked up the pallet and slowly lifted the cradle into the Fiero.
As it sits tonight. With just hooking up hoses, wires, etc...left to do.
Looks good Vegas! Almost done! You're gonna love that 3.4. Get any bugs worked out quick and get that registration, WestFest is only a week and a half away!
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03:21 AM
sardonyx247 Member
Posts: 5032 From: Nevada, USA Registered: Jun 2003
IT'S ALIVE It took a little while to get started. The distributor was 180deg and one tooth out of phase, the starter had to be reshimed (added a couple), and I need a new battery. The paint on the exhaust manifolds and the anti-seize compond sure smoked off. Here is a video of the first run and all the smoke. It is a 10meg file, but if you loaded all of these pics you should be OK http://www.lasvegasfieroclub.com/3.4L_swap/FirstRun.AVI
I won't get to drive it untill tommorrow. but hey it runs.
IT'S ALIVE It took a little while to get started. The distributor was 180deg and one tooth out of phase, the starter had to be reshimed (added a couple), and I need a new battery. The paint on the exhaust manifolds and the anti-seize compond sure smoked off. Here is a video of the first run and all the smoke. It is a 10meg file, but if you loaded all of these pics you should be OK http://www.lasvegasfieroclub.com/3.4L_swap/FirstRun.AVI
I won't get to drive it untill tommorrow. but hey it runs.
Yes!
Always glad to hear a success story!
When I first started mine, my distributor was one tooth off. The timing was greatly retarded. Lit the manifolds up, nicely.
[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 07-11-2004).]
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01:29 AM
PFF
System Bot
sardonyx247 Member
Posts: 5032 From: Nevada, USA Registered: Jun 2003
I just wanted to compliment you on a great write up you definetly get a + from me and I think we should all give you a + for this tread. Keep up the good work and please keep posting pictures. I know we all want to know your experience on the first drive.
Don't get me started. I can set TDC with my eyes closed and one hand behind my back now.
Congrats! Glad to have another 3.4 on the road. You got lucky, yours didn't take 2 weeks to it to start. Now double check your flywheel and you'll be ready to go! And speaking of going, how goes it with the DMV? Are you gonna make WestFest?
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03:06 AM
Spyhunter Member
Posts: 1254 From: San Francisco, CA Registered: Feb 2002
Well after a new fuel pump, a new clutch release bearing, and much fighting with the DMV it is on the road.... DMV being the longest. ah the DMV sucks soooooo bad.
Should paint your distubuter cap and your new battery before you install them. And get new plug wires. Just friendly advice, it looks great and it's easy.
Also Thank you sincerly for all of the pictures. About the colaboration on this thread.... I want to thank everyone comming together on this to make this thread a great one. This will be THE thread to seach for on how to do a 3.4 swap. This is definately "STICKY" material, if there is such a thing on this forum. With all the pictures and real world advice here and the 3.4 write up from this thread...https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/053814.html no one should have any problem with this upgrade.
Also swapping cams and pushrods/rockers and all that stuff isn't for everyone. It's a good size gain in torque just doing the 3.4 swap. And it's a hell of lot easier just to swap intakes and such and go. Going to this extent isn't for everyone, not everyone has the money... and the TIME! to go to this level of detail takes major amounts of time, and if you're not doing the labor yourself.... forget it. You better have plenty of money.
GREAT JOB!
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05:44 AM
Aug 31st, 2004
sardonyx247 Member
Posts: 5032 From: Nevada, USA Registered: Jun 2003
Thanks, It did take a great deal of time in cleaning, degreaseing, painting, polishing, powder coating, tapping everything, and research. Hopefully I cut down the reaserch time part of it for everyone else. The swap itself souldn't take much time at all. Just be sure to have all of the gaskets, seals, etc. that you are going to use/replace. And I added the little tricks I ran across to boost HP, make things easier in the future, and a stronger mount.
One last word of advice: If you are going standard and got an auto 3.4L make sure to use flywheel bolts and not auto flexplate bolts. The flywheel bolts are longer (just under 3 cm vs 2.2 cm for the flexplate) If you tap out all of the holes like I did, make sure to use thread locker of some kind, or you will tend to start loosing bolts.
After doing this swap it was well worth it, great sounding exhaust, quick, clean, and most of all..... IT'S A BLAST TO DRIVE
I just started another thread dealing with the automatic swap details to add to this thread. It can be found here 3.4L 93-95 camaro engine swap pics auto It also has a few more starter relocation pics too.
