I picked up a 95 3.4 auto one week ago on a trade for a 79 dodge ramcharger. He got the better end of the deal with all that I had done to it but i needed something that got good fuel economy, and on that front i could not be happier Im avging 30 mpg with it. Only thing is it could use some more power, Im tossing around the idea of turboing it or building a hi compression motor by throwing 3x00 heads and intake on it and running it on e85. Ill put some pics up soon to show you guys my new heap lol.
Jake

 

30 mpg? Jeez. I get like 19. I think my foot is heavy.

Would love some pictures of it.

 

Keep in mind that doing 3x00 heads is a much bigger undertaking than you may realize. You're better off with 3500 heads, because with 3400s your compression will be so high you'll need to run race gas. With 3500s, your compression will be about 11.5:1, so still doable on premium pump gas.

For the swap, you will need:

3500 heads
3400/3500 lower intake manifold
3400/3500 fuel rails
3400 upper intake manifold
3.1 V6 pushrods
hot cam
one heck of a tune

That's probably not even a complete list. Just beware, it's more complicated than just tossing on some parts and calling it good.

 

My car gets 19 on highway and like 13-15 in town

 

^+1
Pretty much the same here. I have yet to get 300 miles from a full tank but, to be fair, I haven't done any long, non-stop highway drives. I'm sure I'd go 325, maybe 350 during pure highway driving.

FWIW the window sticker I found in a 93 5-speed says the city mileage is supposed to be 19 and highway 28. Must be all downhill where they did the mileage testing.

 

^That's impossible. I don't see how these cars are getting that much when mine is lucky to get 20 on the highway.

 

With a low mileage car, and someone who doesn't do 90 mph *chaotic*, I can see it being possible. I can get mid-high 20's ont he highway with my 6 spd LS1, so it should definaelty be possible for a smaller V6 with a 5 spd to get similar results. Hell, in my auto 3.8 Camaro I could get high 20's to low 30's.

 

EPA #s for that car are 1995 3.4 Auto 17/26

I'd start out with Cat-back, Headers, high flow cat, and intake, and move on after that. Suspension will really improve your enjoyment for a daily driver. Start with shocks -- SLP Bilsteins are a good choice, but not if you lower the car with something other than Eibachs.

 

I dunno. I can always go over 300 miles on a tank with local driving with my 3.8. And even went near 450 with all highway miles this Spring. And that's with an aftermarket cam and an auto transmission. I'd hope a 3.4 in good shape could do near equal to that.

 

Thanks for all the input guys. I do realize that the 3x00 swap is a very large undertaking. I was going to put 3400 heads on and tune it to run on ethanol which is around 102 octane (I work at an ethanol plant so I know this for a fact) As for the naysayers on the fuel economy that i get i can go take a pic right now that shows 357 miles and i still have 1/4 tank left. Yes i know that would be easy to manipulate by not reseting the trip. Honestly the worst ive gotten so far is 26 mpg. as soon as i figure out how to put pics up on here ill post some.
Jake