3400 performance build, which direction?

[Bridgetown]

Well, I have got my 3400 fiero running pretty darn good now. It is pretty much stock, but it dynoed a solid 178 whp, which is great... for now. My plan has always been to get the setup running good, work out all the bugs over time, and in the mean time build a full out performance engine and when it is complete swap out the stock 3400 for a meaner version. I am looking for advice/opinions on how to build the performance engine. I am in the research stage now, and have aquired some new parts for the build (LX5 tb, poly engine mounts). My problem is that I keep going back and forth between going forced induction, or high compression/high rev NA. What I am looking for in the end is a reliable +/-300 crank horsepower engine. This is going in a sports car, I do short trips, occational road/autocross racing, but mostly Sunday blasts on good roads in the summer. So, keeping this in mind, I don't want a lumpy, drag racing engine that only runs good under wot. Or an engine with 2 weeks of turbo lag. I am planning on spending some descent coin on quality parts to acheive my goal. So let me hear what you guys can come up with.

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[mickaz]

then my friend, I suggest a 3500 hybrid a bigger throttle body, and if its not enough a cam And A TUNE!

[Bridgetown]

So, wouldn't, for the work, it be easier to just swap in the complete 3500 rather then a hybrid 3400/3500? Plus you would get the added displacement.

[mickaz]

yes but i said that because you already had all the bugs fixed and i was not sure you were interrested in buying naother engine. the job needed for a car that got a 3400 is very simple, like doing a head gasket but a 3500 would mean having to remove your allready good engine to put the other .

another point, 300 hp NA will give you a somewhat less interesting engine for everyday. a turbo is going to be your best bet.

[Bridgetown]

another point, 300 hp NA will give you a somewhat less interesting engine for everyday. a turbo is going to be your best bet.

Could you elaborate on this a bit?

[mickaz]

well there is a guy that as 300+ NA (superdave he will chime in sooner or later...) and I don't think he uses is car for everyday driving. the thing is he got a wild cam, and that,s the only way to achieve 300. with a turbo it could run like a normal car when you want and up the boost when you want more power.

[Superdave]

"redbird" has a 3500 swapped 5 speed Sunbird that's making right around 300 @ the crank. He daily drives it, even through winter. It's a stock bottom end, .506 lift cam and a ported top end with a good exhaust and intake setup.

Mine is not a daily driver however i'm going to try to use it as one once it's running again.

[Bridgetown]

Well, my car is not a daily driver by any means either. But I do want good useable power, throughout the rpm range. Not just all out wot power. Is there forged internal parts available for the 3400? If I go turbo I want to make the engine as reliable as possible. I would still stay below say, 10 psi, but forged internals would be nice insurance to have. Doesn't the 3500 have forged parts? How come nobody turbos those engines?

[mickaz]

look in the section of the forum called 'Boost' they will help you with that. and it's been done. the guy who tunes asylum car as a 3500 turbo in a cavalier, but the 3400 a lot of people have boost on them.

[pocket-rocket]

I think a few people are trying to find the limit of the NA 3500 before going with boost as well.