Question about larger motors and swapping

i am hearing that a Lumina engine would fit in my 89. its a 3.1 MPFI i think. i also hear that its an aluminum block and extra sensitive to heat. now if i were to make that swap i'd probably rig my fan to be on always or by a switch controlled by me. also would check my cooling system weekly. but i was wondering if theres a 3.1 chevy block i could put in thats not aluminum? or should i even want that? is 550 a good price? is my transmission gonna co-operate with it?

i don't know why i thought j-body heads would know about a lumina engine... i'll repost this in the nonspec..

seems like all people can be good for is help painting your interior or what kind of pipes to use or how to remove a fuckin dashboard... you people and your toy cars..

you should know that by now..... and we can also tell you which exhaust setup to get

you should know that by now..... and we can also tell you which exhaust setup to get


thats what i meant by pipes.

but damn, at least somebody point me in the right direction...

I really dont think many people here have attempted engine swaps, especially with an '89.

I really dont think many people here have attempted engine swaps, especially with an '89.


wasn't there a cavalier that came with a 3.1?

i know i've seen it before...

There are several long and short 3.1 blocks that aren't aluminum. The closest one I found to the year of your car ran for about $450. Being its GM, most parts should be interchangeable. Now, if there was a 3.1 in a Cavalier, I would have to say it must've been a Z24 in the years 87 - 89. It does sound familiar, and I strongly think some 88's had one but not for certain.

~Crazzzyj

There are several long and short 3.1 blocks that aren't aluminum. The closest one I found to the year of your car ran for about $450. Being its GM, most parts should be interchangeable. Now, if there was a 3.1 in a Cavalier, I would have to say it must've been a Z24 in the years 87 - 89. It does sound familiar, and I strongly think some 88's had one but not for certain.

~Crazzzyj


FOUND IT

1990 Cavalier Z24 V6 3.1 FI

*on a mission*

my God! SUCCESS!

Thank You Lord!


http://i5.tinypic.com/20q01h2.jpg

wow what a sig this would be:

http://i5.tinypic.com/20q04sk.jpg

Young Chuck D, please let me(us) know how the swap goes. I have an 87 with a NFG 2.8, sounds like a spun bearing and was wondering about putting in a 3.1. Besides the tranny, I was also worried about the computer hookup, would I have to rewire or could it be just plug and play? But a 3.1 turbo, wow. Please keep posting on how it goes.

The 3.1 Turbo from a TGP has been done before, but you'll run into trouble. The motor doesn't want to fit all the extra hardware into the engine bay of a j-body, but it can squeeze into a grand prix just fine.

3.1 Iron block, aluminum head was a 1990-94 thing. Before that was the 2.8 w/ iron head.

As for your lumina engine, it should fit just fit with the proper mounts, though it would be easier to just steal a Z24 motor and swap that. You'll know all the hardware will be matching up that way. And the biggest reason its kinda hard to give you a straight answer on the lumina was b/c I didn't see a year mentioned. Those things could have a 3.1 or a 3100, and while very VERY much the same motors, there are some differences.

If you still have various questions, consider doing a search on www.j-body.org in the 2nd gen forum. Most of this has already been covered.

Young Chuck D, please let me(us) know how the swap goes. I have an 87 with a NFG 2.8, sounds like a spun bearing and was wondering about putting in a 3.1. Besides the tranny, I was also worried about the computer hookup, would I have to rewire or could it be just plug and play? But a 3.1 turbo, wow. Please keep posting on how it goes.

check back in a month and a half, i sorta got fired and re-hired and don't start working until early august and then will need to save up 2 paychecks and i'll get it going.

The 3.1 Turbo from a TGP has been done before, but you'll run into trouble. The motor doesn't want to fit all the extra hardware into the engine bay of a j-body, but it can squeeze into a grand prix just fine.

3.1 Iron block, aluminum head was a 1990-94 thing. Before that was the 2.8 w/ iron head.

As for your lumina engine, it should fit just fit with the proper mounts, though it would be easier to just steal a Z24 motor and swap that. You'll know all the hardware will be matching up that way. And the biggest reason its kinda hard to give you a straight answer on the lumina was b/c I didn't see a year mentioned. Those things could have a 3.1 or a 3100, and while very VERY much the same motors, there are some differences.

If you still have various questions, consider doing a search on www.j-body.org in the 2nd gen forum. Most of this has already been covered.

i thought 3100 and 3.1 were exactly the same? 3100 cubic centimeters and 3.1 liters are the same amounts in different measures

seems like all people can be good for is help painting your interior or what kind of pipes to use or how to remove a fuckin dashboard... you people and your toy cars..
If you don't like it, go to Jbody.org. You should know by now this forum isn't full of professionals and geniuses. And I guarentee you, being a smartass won't better your odds.

3100 is a newer version of the 3.1. all of the 3.1 ohvs are the same. You need to buy older then 95 so it's an OBD 1 motor.

The 3.1 was fitted to pretty much every gm car j-body to w-body.

The 3.1 I believe only make more torque than the 2.8 but no more power.

you're probably best off with a 3.1 fomr a cav so that the pcm will work with your guage cluster. Or you might have to swap that also!

3100 is a newer version of the 3.1. all of the 3.1 ohvs are the same. You need to buy older then 95 so it's an OBD 1 motor.

The 3.1 was fitted to pretty much every gm car j-body to w-body.

The 3.1 I believe only make more torque than the 2.8 but no more power.

you're probably best off with a 3.1 fomr a cav so that the pcm will work with your guage cluster. Or you might have to swap that also!


so you're saying a turbo designed by mclaren isn't much better than a regular 3.1 designed by general motors?

i mean really, they're the same price and as long as fitting it won't be A HUGE hassle, i would rather say that i have a turbo. but if you do know, tell me how much the turbo changes.

If you don't like it, go to Jbody.org. You should know by now this forum isn't full of professionals and geniuses. And I guarentee you, being a smartass won't better your odds.

actually i just signed up over there, and the first thread i opened i saw KustmAce in it lol...


lances i'm sure you're not angry.. when i said toy cars i meant that most of the members here have newer j's than me...