What to do?

[Bobby-Venture]

Hey guys, I made a new user, forgot both user and pword for old one, and I'm using a new email, lol. I own the Venture... you'll probally know me, only idiot doing up a minivan . Anyways, I am buying a LA1 out of the wreckers for 500$ Canadian. And plan on rebuilding it in a storage unit, making it reliable yet more powerfull, without going nuts. Like, What could I do? Any kind of stroker kit? Bigger injectors? Ported intakes, headers. Without going crazy on money aswell. Or would you recomend a different motor to dump in, not anything like the 3800 or 3800SC wont fit, to much work. But any other motor? Any sujestions are welcome. Thanks

[geoffinbc]

Cam it with stiffer valve springs. Go higher compression, you will still be able to run lower grade gas with a more radical cam. Port the intake and heads if you can afford it. Then when it is installed have it tuned on a dyno with the new cam to make optimum power.

You probabally looking at about a couple grand with all that. I dont know what your budget is though.

[Bobby-Venture]

Well, where would I get a cam/heads up in Canada. I know you guys have regrinds, but shipping and the USD - CDN money conversion it'd be really expensive

[torq455]

sappyse107 (Ben) has a store in here that you can get ported heads and intake for you. He know his stuff. There used to be a link but recently things have been a little different on the forum. Look him up and PM him.

[Bobby-Venture]

Coolbeans, I think I may do that, I was thinking, maybe intake and throttle body off of a 3500? Does this prove to be worth while? Like, motor will be out, with no real time limit to doing it all. So what else would you guys say I do? Wouldn't obviosly recommend dropping in a 3100 would you? Considering the aftermarket world for both are pretty much indentical, and 3400 is better flowing from the get go. Anyways I appricate the help, keep it coming!

[Bobby-Venture]

Oh I forgot! I went to a local GM dealer. And asked about intake off of a 3500, price wise. Guys like "Oh man drop a 3800 in the van with the supercharger!" I said, "Well considering money and stuff, fitting one isn't in the possibiltys at the moment" Guy starts going on about how the eatons supercharger will just bolt onto my motor, cause they come from same family (3400, and 3800) I corrected him saying 3400 is a 60degree and 3800 is a 90degree. He had to look it up, then hes like oh shit, you're right! Well ventures came with 3800s! So again I corrected him, Lumina APV's came with 3800's. The La1 was actually designed for the Last model year Lumina and Pretty much first used really in the Venture, then Grand am's later on. He felt dumb, I couldn't belive a GM parts guy didn't know this!

Meh, thought it was interesting lol :P

[geoffinbc]

Just cuz you sell parts does not mean you know cars. There is alot of employees at Home Depot but 90% of them can't even swing a hammer. If they could then they would not be working at Home Depot.

[torq455]

Nahh. Like, leave the 3400 in. Port the UIM for a nice 62mm TB. Too much adaptation involved for the 3500 TB. I thought the 3500 and 3400 TB's were the same execpt for fly by wire. You can only do the UIM off the 3500. LIM are different. You can also get cams/regrinds as well. I have forgotten the site....damn. I'm sure Ben knows.

[sharkey]

well, everyone is talking about ther top end, so ill go into the bottom end.

id beam polish the rods and install arp rod bolts. the stock rods are goot to 7k rpm, but this makes them even stronger, and gives you piece of mind. id look into some forged pistons and higher compression (11:1 area, unless you plan to go boost, then run stock compression, but forged). have the rotating assembly balanced, this goes a long way to having an engine that lasts and runs smooth. use good quality bearings, i perfer clevite.

as for the top, throw a cam in, do the ls1 valve springs, roller tip rockers. the heads flow well, but can be better. id port the intake and heads, there is a lot of power to be found there. its also nice to have a 3 angle valve job, but not needed. if you can swing it, finnish it off with a set of custom headers

[Bobby-Venture]

I like the sounds of that, but then I think I'd need alot of suspension work lol, I know the front end of the Venture is almost identical to a Grand Prix of the same year, so I will get subframe connectors and harder bushings etc. Anyways yah I'm liking these ideas, I forgot bout the Ls1 Valve springs!

[Bobby-Venture]

What about a shot of the laughing gas? 75 shot?

[El_Diablo]

not with a high comp ratio, unless you like detonation

[DEI37]

I'd find the guy that turbo'd a Grand Am 3400, and follow similiar patterns. I think a turbo Venture would kick ass. At that point, you wouldn't want to mess with the compression much. Obviously, if you stay naturally aspirated, you'll want as much compression as 93 octane fuel will allow.

[Bobby-Venture]

Yah, either turbo, or supercharge it, like that 3400 in the "supercharged 3100" thread. The sideways mounted one. Idk where I could mount the turbo though, very cramped under that hood!



Idk, I added this pic, just because I like it, although it needs a drop and 16-17" gunmetal wheels, with a silver lip. :P

[DEI37]

There looks to be lots and lots of room where it counts most, though, for a turbo. Go for it!