Do you want to do a 3900 swap? whats stopping you

[robertisaar]

why no 3900?

two reasons:

i was able to pick up a well-maintained 100K mile LQ1 and 4T60E for $100 within an hour drive
because the latest 3500VVT is looking more impressive

even then..... the next time i need an engine, the HFV6 lineup is on the table.

[Forgotten User]

anyway to get the timing cover side to have a mount for a FWD setup?

I had a deposit on one at the wreckers years ago when basically the first one that ended up at the local wreckers showed up, I then saw a great deal on a truck at the time (at the same wreckers) and bought that instead.

I didn't go with the 3500 this past summer in my car due to having most of the parts already to go LX9, RWD timing cover, and other related parts that make a longitudinal swap easier. I had limited time to perform the swap in, so I went that route. Going 3900 would have meant that I would have needed to figure out other aspects, like belt routing and cam phaser control (though I have a plan for the cam phaser, that retains the functionality of the variable cam).

I'm still looking at it in the future when I get bored of the LX9, but that will be a few years off, I would suspect. The planned 500+ HP in a 2300 lbs or so car I have is going to be plenty ridiculous as it is, I don't see me needing more.

To summarize the issue is more of a fitment and control aspect that lays squarely on the variable cam aspect being the reason to have not gone that route, yet.

There's a 3900 at a semi local wreckers I can get for about $200, and might do so so that I can put it on a stand and start working out the details that I haven't yet.

These 3900 engines are getting pretty cheap now. You can find low mileage ones for under $1k now, and medium mileage ones for 5-600.

I know a couple of mgb guys browse here as well as Fiero guys as well as other fwd setups.

If you had contemplated a 3900 in the past, what has stopped you from moving fwd with the swap? Is it the fitment issues you are worried about? The cost of the motor? Computer controls? Cost of the add ons to get it work with an obd1 setup?