3100 questions

[monte805]

I need a couple of questions answered. I have a 98 monte carlo ls 3100 which is dead as we speak. Now what performance tricks can I do to the replacement motor to get close to 200hp mark and pass emissions. I'm replaceing the trans too. I plan to get a remanufactured engine...better heads...cam...lifters and have it bored .030". I want a throaty exhaust note...like 3.1 berettas. Mine was REAL quiet when I stepped on it! Also...is the transmission given different gear ratios??? My friend in his 96 cutlass 3100 seemed to have a better take-off gear. And my 88 Z24 definatly had more balls off the line. Any suggetions?!?

[Azrael]

Go to www.3400swap.com from there you can use just about any mod the 99+ grand ams/monte carlos use. Upgrade to a 97 PCM (it should just swap out with your stock one) and get a DHP or HP tuner setup. After that a good cold-air setup should get you close to 200BHP.

The 4T60E has a few different FDRs depending on what chain drive gears and differential you have. Stock you should have 2.95 but with the right parts you can go up to 3.73. More info here: http://60degreev6.com/showthread.php?t=25035 Changing the FDR requires custom PCM tuning otherwise you'll trigger a code when the PCM detects that the engine RPM isn't matching axle RPM the way it expects.

[monte805]

Appreciate the reply. As for the trans...I think 2.95 is too sluggish. Is there any shop around that will sell a trans already modded for about a 3.07 ratio?? I already know about that 3400 swap...but just want to keep it 3100 because of money/hassles. I would hate to trigger engine codes!

[darkfox]

you could always consider doing a swap from a wrecked lumina LTZ or monte Z34... 3800 v6, 200 hp out of the box. swap the entire drivetrain, harness, ecm, & electronics...

Originally Posted by monte805

just want to keep it 3100 because of money/hassles. I would hate to trigger engine codes!

you can install 3400 intake manifolds on the 3100, a 3400 or bored 3100 TB (56mm), do exhaust, intake, and underdrive pulley mods. pnp on the heads will give you a decent gain on any engine. i haven't read about how effective this is on the 3100...

don't know of any aftermarket cam grinds for the 3100. you may be stuck with the stocker cam.

you may also be able to get different ratio rocker arms... perhaps roller rockers too. my 97 doesn't have roller rockers (i don't know if this is a fluke or what, i thought they were supposed to have them past a certain year) but if you're engine doesn't, get them. may help with a few hp.

[darkfox]

Originally Posted by Azrael

Go to www.3400swap.com from there you can use just about any mod the 99+ grand ams/monte carlos use. Upgrade to a 97 PCM (it should just swap out with your stock one) and get a DHP or HP tuner setup. After that a good cold-air setup should get you close to 200BHP.

a cold air setup will give you 20 hp on a 3.4?? even with a tune, i dunno... a cold air setup doesn't even give me that much hp on my 6.0L v8!!!

[Azrael]

Originally Posted by darkfox

a cold air setup will give you 20 hp on a 3.4?? even with a tune, i dunno... a cold air setup doesn't even give me that much hp on my 6.0L v8!!!

It's been noted that a good tune can net 10-15HP (if you tune for 91 Octane with slightly advanced spark timing), and that a cold air setup can give another 10. A good flowing exhaust would help get it up there and I should have added that before.

You can get custom cam grinds through www.60degreev6.com/store along with a few other performance parts. We're stuck with 1.6 ratio rocker arms unfortunately.

I don't know of any places that sell pre-modded transmissions. At least not for us. Just about any shop that works on transmissions should be able to change those parts out as they're all OEM parts. Just swapping the differential is supposed to be fairly easy for a shop to do. A 3.33 differential would give you a 3.21 FDR and looks to be the cheapest option.

[monte805]

Thanks for the tips Azrael & Darkfox. Yea I kind of wish I purchased a z34 from jump...but everyone I test drived had something wrong with it. But the 3400dohc had alot of balls compared to my 3.1!! My car body is in great shape...only thing wrong is the blown engine and minor trans slip>>lol What would I have to change to put that 3400dohc in my ls?? 210 horses N/a!!!

[darkfox]

later year model z34's and LTZ's had the 3800, which is just as powerful and torquier besides. not to mention more reliable.

[Shadyman]

Only problem with the 3800 is it isn't as easy a swap as the 3400 is.

[darkfox]

yeah but we're talking swapping a 3800 into a car that it came in. shouldn't be that hard considering all the parts are already available to make it work.

[mallard]

The 3800 (L36) swap should be easy for you, as your battery is on the left (passenger) side of the car. It is a fairly well-documented process. My L36 swap left me with a more reliable motor, better fuel economy, and more (perceived) low-end torque. Just do plenty of research before you start the project.

[Azrael]

There's one problem with an L36 swap. The L36 and it's supercharged brother weigh noticeably more (50-100lbs, don't know the exact figure) than the 3100/3400's. That extra weight on the front end is going to make an already front-weight biased car handle worse.

[monte805]

Gotta update on my situation. I think I'm gonna just get a rebuilt 3100 to drop in. It's lighter than a 3800...and more reliable than the 3.4 dual cam. My question is does anybody know any info on a.r.i. engines?? They say I can get a 3100 performance engine with about 200horses. And it should run off my stock computer. Is this a good deal???

[mallard]

Just stay away from the dual cam 3.4 and you'll be fine. The dual cam motor is for people that enjoy taking their motor apart and tuning it. How much would the A.R.I. 3100 cost? Link?

[kris3.1]

does any one know if i can put a 3.8 supercharger on a 2000 3.1 engine