What can I do to this engine.....?

[PerfectCreature]

I know. I always get that. Always on my own
Oh well. So pretty much none of these mods I could safely do all by myself?
Thanks.

[bob442]

intake and TB

[PerfectCreature]

Well, intake I did already.
That just leaves throttle body....
Well, not much to do by myself. Any estimates on labour that the stage 1 package might cost to be installed?
I can do the throttle body soon, winter is fading away. Today was a warm day, the snow we got just melted into slush Then refroze for night time....but one can hope anyway.

Okay. So, labour? How much estimated would it run me?

[bob442]

Was the opening bored out for a 65mm tb? I'll do you a favor tomorrow and look up the r&r to do the work involved with the kit.

[PerfectCreature]

Everything is still stock so I assume not.
The only thing aftermarket is my short ram intake. Which, would I need a larger coupler to attach to a 65 mm throttle body?
Hopefully it won't cost to much more than the kit, even though I was once quoted $400 for labour excluding parts to replace the heads in an old Buick skylark I had before my Grand am.

I could take it to any regular mechanic? Should I be looking for say, a mechanic specialized in engine rebuilding?

[bob442]

Your going to need a basic mechanic to pull the motor, and it will need o be stripped down (heads pulled and timing cover removed) then sent out to a machine or engine building shop to swap the springs, lap the valves, change the cam and r&r the cam bearings, possibly deck the heads and pressure check them. If the machine shop can give you a good price to button up the motor to the heads or and intake, I would have them do it, and just get the motor pulled for as cheap as possible from a mechanic. It's just a better piece of mind to have a engine shop to put the motor together and chAnge the springs then a mechanic. More experience, and if something goes wrong the machine shop will be reliable, not the mechanic who tells you, it was your parts that failed because there aftermarket, for instance like a valve dropping.

[PerfectCreature]

So it would have to be sent away then?
Hmm. This is my daily driver not sure I can afford to have my engine sent away....

Well, alright. We will put the stage one kit on the back burner. All options considered.
3500 top swap kit, or 3500 engine replace.
Which would be better? I would assume swapping a 3500 engine correct?
Same amount of effort and work as the stage one kit or less?
Thanks.

[pocket-rocket]

There are some differences between the 3400 and 3500, so there is a different type of work to be done. Plus the crank trigger on the 3500 isn't in a format the 3400 PCM can understand, so you need to buy an external crank trigger sold by WOT-TECH so the computer knows what to do. Exhaust manifolds are different, so exhaust work has to be addressed. Since this is your DD and it can't be down long, I would buy a 3400 and have it worked on, then when it is done take it to your mechanic along with the car and have it swapped in. For you and your DD, this would be the easiest solution.

[PerfectCreature]

That is a pretty decent idea.
Never thought about that.
I will have to poke around maybe.

[pocket-rocket]

I forgot...

www.car-part.com and http://www.lkqcorp.com/search-inventory.aspx ftw.

[PerfectCreature]

Well. I checked the local junkyards. Nothing in working order. No 3400s or even 3500s.

[bob442]

as long as you order all the parts ahead of time, turn around should be about 2 weeks unless the machine shop is wayyy backed up. the only thing that youll have to wait on is journal bearings, car pool with someone lol

[PerfectCreature]

Hmm, I think I have decided to just add to the 3400 motor, and not swap in the 3500.
I think the 3500 would yield most results, but seems most expensive as well....since I cannot do it myself do to lack of tools and mechanical skill....
Unless something thinks otherwise?

Eitherway, I am gearing more towards low end torque.
Plan on buying the Pacesetter exhaust setup in a by the end of the month, money has gotten tight since prices one everything is raising.