1995 Cutlass Supreme Engine swap?
exitRooster
08-12-2007, 10:43 AM
Hey all.. I've got the 3.4l Cutlass Supreme Convert. and as most know, the 3.4l is the devil.
Awhile back (almost a year) my alternator seemingly died. Went through two batteries (gotta love the battery warranty) of course before actually figuring this out. But (again) as you know just about nothing is easy to work on with this engine.
I can do work, replaced several parts on my Jeep around the engine, but there is room to access things there. On the Cutlass, seems the only way to really do this is to pull the engine, something I can't do. Well, to be honest, another forum has a guide describing how to do it with some jacks / jack stands and removing the passenger wheel assy., but it's too cloudy/confusing for me to figure it out, and the pics they offer don't assure me enough that I'd not totally trash my car trying that "hack" so to speak....
So I find myself pretty much in the position where I'm going to have to suck it up at some point and pay someone to do this. However, I'm wondering if it might just be as feasible to completely remove said engine/xmission(?), and replace it with something else. A neighbor claims he used to have a Firebird that had the 3.4l and said he dropped the 3800SC series II (same era, 1995'ish I believe) in it, said I should look into the same.
Has anyone actually done this? Not known somebody who did, no urban legends, I'm looking for people who ACTUALLY either paid to have this done, or did it themselves. Wondering what was involved, what had to be replaced, did everything still "work" as normal, did you have to make anything custom to make it work, pretty much anything and everything ya know about the experience. Thanks for your time,
Rooster
Awhile back (almost a year) my alternator seemingly died. Went through two batteries (gotta love the battery warranty) of course before actually figuring this out. But (again) as you know just about nothing is easy to work on with this engine.
I can do work, replaced several parts on my Jeep around the engine, but there is room to access things there. On the Cutlass, seems the only way to really do this is to pull the engine, something I can't do. Well, to be honest, another forum has a guide describing how to do it with some jacks / jack stands and removing the passenger wheel assy., but it's too cloudy/confusing for me to figure it out, and the pics they offer don't assure me enough that I'd not totally trash my car trying that "hack" so to speak....
So I find myself pretty much in the position where I'm going to have to suck it up at some point and pay someone to do this. However, I'm wondering if it might just be as feasible to completely remove said engine/xmission(?), and replace it with something else. A neighbor claims he used to have a Firebird that had the 3.4l and said he dropped the 3800SC series II (same era, 1995'ish I believe) in it, said I should look into the same.
Has anyone actually done this? Not known somebody who did, no urban legends, I'm looking for people who ACTUALLY either paid to have this done, or did it themselves. Wondering what was involved, what had to be replaced, did everything still "work" as normal, did you have to make anything custom to make it work, pretty much anything and everything ya know about the experience. Thanks for your time,
Rooster
3100MPFI
08-12-2007, 08:20 PM
I swapped out stock 2.8 out of my 1988 Cutlass Supreme with a 2000 3100 SFI.
Everything works, and it was pretty much a drop in.
The thing is, I did a swap from one engine to another that was offered in my car. That made it a lot easier.
If you are going ot pull your 3.4 DOHC, and replace it with an engine that was never offered in your car, you will find that there is a LOT more work involved.
Personally, I have a 1995 Cutlass Supreme with a blown 3.4 DOHC, and I am going to replace it with a 3400 SFI.
As far as my 1988 goes, after I was done, everything worked, I had a LOT more power (custom built high compression 3100), and it also passed emissions with flying colours.
Everything works, and it was pretty much a drop in.
The thing is, I did a swap from one engine to another that was offered in my car. That made it a lot easier.
If you are going ot pull your 3.4 DOHC, and replace it with an engine that was never offered in your car, you will find that there is a LOT more work involved.
Personally, I have a 1995 Cutlass Supreme with a blown 3.4 DOHC, and I am going to replace it with a 3400 SFI.
As far as my 1988 goes, after I was done, everything worked, I had a LOT more power (custom built high compression 3100), and it also passed emissions with flying colours.
exitRooster
08-12-2007, 09:45 PM
Well one of the reasons I felt the 3800SC was a good choice was because of the power output. The Cutlass Supreme chassis alone is big and bulky, not to mention all the additional weight that the Convertible portion adds!
I know where you're coming from, I had a winter beater that was a 1989 Cutlass Supreme with a 3.1, and I'm tellin ya, that thing would squeal tires with the slightest touch of gas, even being a piece of junk. I used to have accidents (burnouts) all the time whenever I'd switch rides for work or something, because I can floor the 3.4 and not get a hint of a squeal). Now side by side, yea that 1989 3.1 might take the lead, but the 3.4DOHC would pass it soon after and leave it in the dust (so to speak). However.... Back to current day issues for me :)
Unless that 3400SFI is packing a ton of power equal to the 3.4DOHC or a 3800SC I just don't see it happening. Course I could be totally wrong, let me know! Heck, if I knew it could feasibly be done, I'd not be afraid to stick a LT1 or Northstar eng'y up in there! But that's the trick - Finding someone who has done it.
On/off-topic one of the coolest/wildest engine swaps I saw was a 1988 Chevy Cavalier who's 4cyl was ripped out (along with the tranny I'm sure) and a Chevy small block 350 was dropped in. Ouch!
But yea, how would that 3400SFI rate against the others? There a chart or anything to compare, so to speak? Won't turn my head away from any idea, long as it could work.
I know where you're coming from, I had a winter beater that was a 1989 Cutlass Supreme with a 3.1, and I'm tellin ya, that thing would squeal tires with the slightest touch of gas, even being a piece of junk. I used to have accidents (burnouts) all the time whenever I'd switch rides for work or something, because I can floor the 3.4 and not get a hint of a squeal). Now side by side, yea that 1989 3.1 might take the lead, but the 3.4DOHC would pass it soon after and leave it in the dust (so to speak). However.... Back to current day issues for me :)
Unless that 3400SFI is packing a ton of power equal to the 3.4DOHC or a 3800SC I just don't see it happening. Course I could be totally wrong, let me know! Heck, if I knew it could feasibly be done, I'd not be afraid to stick a LT1 or Northstar eng'y up in there! But that's the trick - Finding someone who has done it.
On/off-topic one of the coolest/wildest engine swaps I saw was a 1988 Chevy Cavalier who's 4cyl was ripped out (along with the tranny I'm sure) and a Chevy small block 350 was dropped in. Ouch!
But yea, how would that 3400SFI rate against the others? There a chart or anything to compare, so to speak? Won't turn my head away from any idea, long as it could work.
3100MPFI
08-13-2007, 10:20 AM
Personally, I am not a good person to ask. I am biased towards the 60 degree V6's. Yes, the buick engine makes power, but it is a bad design, and weighs a LOT more than your twin cam.
The 3400 can be made faster with just a little work. Like I said, I had done a little work to my 3100, and I could hand a twin cam its ass.
There is a site you can go to for more information on the 60 degree engines, but I must forewarn you. It is a site dedicated to the 60 degrees, so topics about the buick engine (90 degree) are generally not welcome.
A lot of it has to do with the attitudes of the people that have the buick engine. They tend to think that the buick engine is the end-all of all engines. The only way I would have one is if it came in the car.
For me, I am considering doing an LS2 swap for my 1995 Cutlass Supreme, but it is an extreme swap that will take a lot fo work. It is NOT a drop in.
There is also a guy that did a northstar in his Grand Prix, but he basically just cut the entire front end off of the car and built it from scratch.
If you want more info on the 60degree engines, go to www.60degreev6.com
They can answer all of your questions there.
The 3400 can be made faster with just a little work. Like I said, I had done a little work to my 3100, and I could hand a twin cam its ass.
There is a site you can go to for more information on the 60 degree engines, but I must forewarn you. It is a site dedicated to the 60 degrees, so topics about the buick engine (90 degree) are generally not welcome.
A lot of it has to do with the attitudes of the people that have the buick engine. They tend to think that the buick engine is the end-all of all engines. The only way I would have one is if it came in the car.
For me, I am considering doing an LS2 swap for my 1995 Cutlass Supreme, but it is an extreme swap that will take a lot fo work. It is NOT a drop in.
There is also a guy that did a northstar in his Grand Prix, but he basically just cut the entire front end off of the car and built it from scratch.
If you want more info on the 60degree engines, go to www.60degreev6.com
They can answer all of your questions there.
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