94 transport loud engine

[paudashlake]

I have a 3.8l 94 pontiac transport which I love so very much. I can't decide one thing though. The engine is becoming loud and is very embarassing at times. Should I find a fix for this to make it run like new or would it just be cheaper to buy a whole new engine for it? Would putting a different engine in it work? As in nothing from the origional transport. Something like a montana or something newer? Also, where would I find an entire replacement engine? please help me! I am stuck on this decision!!


any more infop needed, just say so....:ice slolan

[PDESORM]

We need a bit more info.
What kind of sound and from where?
Is the performance the same as it was?
Any smoke coming out?
Any change in color of oil or antifreeze?
Any loss of oil or antifreeze?
And... how's the muffler system (exaust manifold to tail pipe)?
There are some knowledgable people on this site that can probably find an asnwer. They've always helped me out!
Phil.

[kb0nly]

Exactly, we need a better idea of the noise here.

Clicking
Tapping
Loud Exhaust

What?

Exhaust problems are easily solved. Other noises can too, but to varying degrees of course.

How many miles?? Does the noise change with engine speed?? Cold days, warms days make it more noticeable??

My 97 TP has a nice lifter noise on cold mornings until she wakes up, kinda tick tick tick tick, and then once the oil is warmed up i don't hear it again all day. I put in some treatments in the oil and they helped to varying degrees. The only real fix will be pulling off the valve covers one of these days and adjusting.

[Jrs3800]

Originally Posted by kb0nly

Exactly, we need a better idea of the noise here.

Clicking
Tapping
Loud Exhaust

What?

Exhaust problems are easily solved. Other noises can too, but to varying degrees of course.

How many miles?? Does the noise change with engine speed?? Cold days, warms days make it more noticeable??

My 97 TP has a nice lifter noise on cold mornings until she wakes up, kinda tick tick tick tick, and then once the oil is warmed up i don't hear it again all day. I put in some treatments in the oil and they helped to varying degrees. The only real fix will be pulling off the valve covers one of these days and adjusting.

You can't adjust the lash on a 3400 V6.. You have Roller lifters and 1.6 rockers that are non adjustable... Chances are you are hearing the famous 3100-1400 V6 Piston slap.. They all do it... But most will give good service regardless..


The 3800 is a bit different.. But it would be nice to know what the noise really is... Also A cracked exhaust manifold on these are common..

If the motor has issues, and we aren't sure it does yet..

Mine has oil pressure issues ( well had, the engine is out ) and as much as I can figure the main bearings are tired.. So I am replacing it with a 3800 Series II Longblock using the series II intake parts.. I like the van too much to get rid of it...

[kb0nly]

Ok, interesting, a couple shops told me they were adjustable...

Anyway i'm not worried about it, during the summer i never even hear this noise. During the winter when its cold and sat all night i will hear it until the engine comes up to normal temp.

I have heard about piston slap on these, but with a mechanics stethoscope the sound definitely sounds like its in the heads, listening to the side of the block its not as loud. No bother, its got 40k on it since the motor was rebuilt and doesn't seem to hurt anything. I know a few other people with nearly the same van, same year or one year newer, and they all seem to sound the same as mine in the winter when they are cold, a tapping until they warm up. Plugging in the block heater helps to some degree as the engine warms up quicker so the noise doesn't last as long, etc..

[Jrs3800]

Yeah its common for all of the 3100 and 3400 Engine to do this... Even the newer 3500 make a bit of noise cold..

Its very common on the Chevrolet 60* V6's 1994+, and the newer 90* V8's... They all have piston slap to a varying degree.. More than most of the time if you replace the intake gaskets before 100K you'll see 200,000+ miles from the motor... They do run good and for a long time.. with eh piston slap once the pistons warm up and expand they take up the gap between the piston and cylinder wall and the engine will be quiet... GM has tried to correct for the issues by using oil squirters for the piston skirts as well as using a teflon coating on the skirt.. Either way they still last a long time...

The 3800 is a different story as Piston slap is really not an issue..

On my 3800 the real problem is going to be the #1 Main and #1 cam bearing causing the lower oil pressure... I have had issues with a couple of lifters on the front of the motor... And for the 92-95 3800 Vin L the #1 main does have issues with clearance and wear... But at almost 179,000 abusive miles its hard for me to complain about it..

1992-1995 could be had with the 3800... 96-04 was 3400 V6...

[kb0nly]

Thanks for that explanation!

Nice to hear from someone else that its pretty common for them to make this noise. Makes sense why i don't hear it in the summer, everything is already warm.