Upper Intake Manifold Conversion

I was just wondering if anybody has tried this. Replacing the 3100 Upper Intake Manifold with a 3400 one???? They seem Identical in both engines. hmmm:naughty:

Will not fit,the rocker arms hit.I know about this,did one and the heads had to be switched with the 3400 heads

Heads? Hell with that, If your going to swap the heads, might as well drop the whole damn LA4 in there! giddy up!

Ditto, HyperFox.

Any chance a 3.8 could live in a Malibu?

-Mark T.

I do remember it now,put the intake on and no clearance between the rocker arms and intake.Customer brought in a 3100 to put in a Pontiac transport minivan with a bad 3400.The heads had to be changed to the 3400 heads.

3.8l would fit physically, but you would require the transmission, ECU, mounts, and other garbage.

The advantage of the LA1 (3400SFI, 3.4L 60' V6) is that it will bolt up to the 3.1L's transmission and motor mounts with no major headaches. Plus there are lots of people whom have done this on other forums such as www.malibuclub.ca (http://www.malibuclub.ca), and www.unitedmalibus.com (http://www.unitedmalibus.com) should you run into any glitches. I belive United malibus runs a detailed how-to. This is also a common swap with the Pontiac Fiero and older Chevy Z24's.

Some malibus can use thier stock PCM, if its reprogrammed with HPTuners. Lvemy3400 in www.unitedmalibus.com (http://www.unitedmalibus.com) is somewhere in the states and will do a perfomance tune for you pretty cheap, and Ive heard it works wonders.

The 3400 is also fairly cheap to aquire as it was used in:

1996 Chevrolet Lumina APV (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Lumina_APV)/Pontiac Trans Sport (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_Trans_Sport)/Oldsmobile Silhouette (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oldsmobile_Silhouette)
1997-2004 Chevrolet Venture (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Venture)/Pontiac Montana (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_Montana)/Oldsmobile Silhouette (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oldsmobile_Silhouette)
1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oldsmobile_Alero) GL/GLS
1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_Grand_Am) SE/GT
2002-2005 Pontiac Aztek (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_Aztek)/Buick Rendezvous (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buick_Rendezvous)
2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Impala)
2000-2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Monte_Carlo)

This swap will inprove power from 155-170 (depending on your year) to 185-200hp.

The acheles heel for this engine is the lower intake manifold gaskets, which id advise you replace with the felpro or gm updated ones while the engine is out of the donor car. Much easier.

HyperFox,

Very good, informative response!

I figured as much. I remember seeing an acticle in pop mechanis or some other magazine years back about a 3.8L, 5-speed Malibu project car. I guess anything is possible with enough resources, knowledge, and patience. IIRC they took the motor/transmission from a Chevy Venture. I wish I could find that article on the net somewhere. I'd love to see the engine bay arrangement. Custom work would surely include motor mounts, modified half shafts, and one hell of a mess with wiring.

BTW.. Do you know what year, make, and model had the 200hp 3400? Would that be a later-model impala?

-Mark T.

Whoops. I stand corrected.. Maximum power is 185, from the Montana/Ventures. However while the 3400 is out you can always port the heads for more hp..