The kid (14 years old, good kid)next door got a good deal on a 95 3.4 5 speed with a blown head gasket, I been wrenching for years on trucks but I am out of the loop on cars. I want to help him get it going, what options has he got as far as should he fix this engine 1,12000 miles or swap for other size? I don`t know the 3.4 rep. I can get a 3400 02 grand am engine 39,000 miles, but don`t know if it will fit. Thanks for any info or advice.[/align]

 

no it wont, junk yard you can get motors for cheap

 

Ok Thanks for the info, so if the 3.4 is a good engine, we could put on head gaskets and go from there?

 

welp you could prolly find the whole motor for 500, just drop it in, or get a haynes manual and put a head gasket in. 3.4 is a great little motor, just leaks a little...

 

Thanks, he`s got 2 years to work on it before he can drive, so he can learn alot if we rebuild this engine,and I already picked up a Haynes manual he is reading it now.Thanks again for your advice.

 

If it is just the head gasket, that's not really that bad. the worst part will be working in the engine compartment. I did head gaskets on my Fiero 2.8 recently (practically identical mechanically) and while it is fairly involved and took a while, it's not impossible either. At least the accessories will be easier to take on and off on the 'maro Get the gasket changed and it should run a good while, my 2.8 has 176,000. They are tough motors. I only changed the head gasket because when I was installing headers I broke an exhaust manifold bolt and pulled the heads so I could extract it.

My biggest problem(s) were the "last bolt that you didn't notice" when it came to taking the lower intake manifold off. I fiddled and tapped and pried for a good 15 minutes or so before I noticed *one* more bolt. Unscrewed the last bolt and it came right off. Just a warning for him if he's not a big individual, those iron heads are *heavy* -- but you probably guessed that already .

Oh, and if you decide you want to swap out motors and need a place to dump the 3.4 (and you happen to be reasonably close to IN) PM me and I'd be more than happy to take it off his hands (you know, buy it). If it's a minor enough problem I'd probably rebuild it over time and install it in the Fiero.

 

Ok thanks for the info guys, we will do the gaskets,valve job,etc...thanks for the warning on the heavy heads squisher,he is kinda small but I will take the heads off, I did not want to tell bluovlh8er I work on blue oval trucks for a living, I was afraid he might hold it against me. with a name like that it says it all, I just don`t know much about bowtie V6`s. but willing to help a young motorhead of any brand. Thanks bluovlh8er