I need some pics of the intake tract on the V8

[AaronZ34]

Hi there, I am working on a 3.4l DOHC V6 from GM, found in the Lumina Z34s and such. But mine is going into a Pontiac Fiero. Please no bad comments on that, to each his own, and I like it so that's what counts.

Anyways, here is the upper intake on a SHO V8, borrowed from eBay:


I was wondering if someone could get me a few good pictures of the piece that is right below the very front 4 runners, so what they bolt into. I need to get a general idea of the size and shape of it. I'm not sure if that is the head or lower intake manifold. So just a few pictures showing the ports below the very frontmost 4 runners on the UIM would be great. Thanks a lot! Here's my project if you cared:

 

[JSIL1]

Ill take some of the one I have at home tonight, but I am sure others will beat me too it.

 

[AaronZ34]

The more the merrier!

It's a bit hard to tell the port shape in those pics, whether it's oval, rectangular, or rectangular with fillet edges.

Thanks though, try to get good lighting in the pics tonight.

 

[SHOZ123]

 

[sho'd]

what engine is that, looks cool

 

[AaronZ34]

Thanks for the pics. It looks as if it might work, I'll give it a shot. Here is what my intake port on the head looks like, I should be able to play with the head and intake enough to get them to match, and I don't need the fuel injector port anymore (Injectors relocated to just past the throttle blades):

The engine is a 3.4l DOHC V6 that was made by GM from 1991-1997. It was used in performance coupes and sedans, namely the Lumina Z34, Monte Carlo Z34, Grand Prix GTP, and some Oldsmobile Cutlass'. So basically the SHO's rival, with more aggressive looks, and a slightly less satisfactory engine. It produced 210hp/215tq, winding out to a 7,000rpm redline. The power curve was pretty much identical to that of the Yamaha V6s, just down about 10hp across the board, until 6,000rpm. At 6,000rpm our long intake runners cause our motors to start dropping off noticeably, while the SHO holds its power to redline. Here is a dyno graph of a stock Lumina Z34, with an automatic engine. The automatics had lower compression, 9.25 vs 9.5. Not a big deal, but 10hp is 10hp. Like the SHO, it has its faults. The timing belts don't like to last past 60,000 miles, and they are a royal pain in the ass to replace. The engines also are prone to lower end bearing failure if you don't keep up with oil changes, use synthetic, and keep it ON the max line. But other than that, they run strong, sound AMAZING, get great mileage, and are pretty reliable:

And some pics of the engine:
Modified with a 2nd gen intake manifold, custom intake arm, 75mm throttle body, and headers:

Stock 1st gen intake manifold and TB, CAI, headers:

Stock engine cleaned, prepped for Fiero:

And what mine might someday look like, but of course cleaner:

I can't find my dyno vids, but I'll look for them.

 

[AaronZ34]

Found some of my videos:

Modified 3.4 on one of the runs, runs ranged from 200whp to 220whp on a crappy tune, could have done 230-240 on a decent tune. (4th gear)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2850482919480769222&q=z34&hl=en

Stock 3.4 does roughly 180whp and 190wtq (3rd gear)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4681194460475466460&q=z34&hl=en

And a video of the modified one in action, it's the loud one:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3831077244852316057&q=z34&hl=en

 

[redSHO96]

since I doubt your going to hear it from anyone else, thats a very sharp '88. Nice and clean looking.

~Dan~

 

[warmonger]

i'm with redsho..i LOVE fieros!! nice engine too..oh and thats a nice flat tq curve!!!

 

[warmonger]

oh..the 3.4 wasnt totally built by gm...the heads werent built by them

 

[shoteen95]

I love the look of later Fiero's, should be a pretty sweet ride with that 4-cam.

I was just never a fan of their interiors. More pics when you get 'em.

 

[midnightauto]

Anyways, here is the upper intake on a SHO V8, borrowed from eBay:



Hay, that guy on ebay takes some good pic's

 

[AaronZ34]

oh..the 3.4 wasnt totally built by gm...the heads werent built by them

As far as we know they were, but I could be wrong.

Thanks for the compliments, like everyone else my friend told me I should get a FIero, and I had the image of that 84 notchback with 8 different colors putting along trying to hold 50mph in my mind. Then I saw the GTs, and found myself a clean one. The interiors are REALLY 80s, but you get used to them. Plus mine has the leather interior, which makes the seats really nice. The car is all stock, except for 5% tint all the way around, the brushed aluminum dash overlays, and a Kenwood DoubleDin MP3 player. Next step is the 3.4l engine swap (Stock is a 135hp pushrod 2.8l), hopefully it will be making 300-320hp, which will be enough to pull mid 12s. After that poly bushings all around, and a 1.5" drop. Then I sell it and buy a Lotus Exige!

It's pics you want? I believe I can help you there :wave:

 

[sho'd]

since I doubt your going to hear it from anyone else, thats a very sharp '88. Nice and clean looking.

~Dan~

i was just thinking the same thing, nice man. That fiero should haul ass after that motor is in there. they are really nice and light are they not??

 

[AaronZ34]

They aren't exactly heavy, but not light either. The stock weight for a loaded GT is around 2800lbs. So less than the factory car the motor came in (3400lbs), but still not as low as they should be (2300lbs).

 

[redSHO96]

yeah, the fiero was the heaviest car in its class, thats why the MR2 always beat it in outside testing during the 80's. the Fiero's dont have good steering capabilities under load w/ the V6 in them either. I have the V6 and the 4-cyl and the 4-banger is better w/ the handling b/c of the lighter front nose

 

[warmonger]

i've read several articles...one of them on the z34 forums about how the block was the standard gm 3.4,and they subcontracted out for the heads...i cant remember who though???...i was also reading a article about hydromatic trannys. they mentioned the z34 engine,saying that at the time they had nothing in fwd trannys that could handle the original output of the 3.4,so gm reluct. had to detune it.

 

[AaronZ34]

yeah, the fiero was the heaviest car in its class, thats why the MR2 always beat it in outside testing during the 80's. the Fiero's dont have good steering capabilities under load w/ the V6 in them either. I have the V6 and the 4-cyl and the 4-banger is better w/ the handling b/c of the lighter front nose

The front end is the same weight from both cars, the only reason one would be heavier is because of the radiator size or A/C components. But you're talking 10, 20lbs max. Also, I have an 88, which is the year GM finally got the handling right, and it's vastly better than the other years. As far as straight handling goes, with a good set of tires an 88 Fiero can stay right with an MR2. Not to mention the MR2s weren't much lighter, and had smaller tires. But I chose the Fiero because I wanted a V6, not a 4cyl (even if it was turbo, lag is ***), and because I fit better (6'4").

i've read several articles...one of them on the z34 forums about how the block was the standard gm 3.4,and they subcontracted out for the heads...i cant remember who though???...i was also reading a article about hydromatic trannys. they mentioned the z34 engine,saying that at the time they had nothing in fwd trannys that could handle the original output of the 3.4,so gm reluct. had to detune it.

The engine was entirely cast, assembled, built, and tested by GM I'm almost positive. There is a lot of BS floating around on this combo though, and the second part of your statement highlights it. That webpage is factually incorrect in every form of the word. It isn't your fault, but I hate that that page is still up, and that the writer portrayed everything as fact. The 3.4 was not detuned, it was tuned for a certain torque RPM curve, emissions output, MPG goals, and overall smooth operation. And in all respects, the 3.4 probably drives a bit better than the Yamaha V6s (I've driven plenty of both). But in all out power, the Yamaha does have the advantage. The 3.4 has pretty timid cams, and a horrible intake manifold (23" long intake runners). Also, GM is a multi-trillion dollar company, to say it can't afford to build, or find someone to build, an automatic that can hold over 220hp is complete BS. Plus, they have the Getrag 284 5-speed, which has been proven to handle 500hp without a problem, so they could have made the stickshifts tuned up at 260hp right? No, they made them 210hp for a reason, it was cheap, and did everything the motor needed to (Mainly keep up with the Yamaha SHO's in every aspect). Not insulting you, just clearing up some misinformation

 

[warmonger]

makes sense..i was inces from buying a red 5spd z34 like three years ago...i kick myself for not doing it..8-(

 

[AaronZ34]

They are rare, but I'd take an SHO any day of the week. More power, more aftermarket. All you have to worry about is crappy transmissions, but at least a good number were 5-speeds. The Z34s look a whole lot better, but the interior is in typical GM fashion, plain, not sporty in the least, and inefficient. And for what you have to fix to make a Z34 run with an SHO mod for mod, you can make the SHO look good (Well, better).

The Z34 doesn't, and can't, have good cams made. We have a dedicated cam carrier, and the cams slide into that. It isn't like a good design (READ HONDA), where they sit on top of the head, and the cam/valve cover bolts down onto them. We can't increase lift any, because then the cams can't slide in. So we're stuck with just changing overlap, which is only half the story. Plis our's are more rare than the SHO. So we have more displacement, but since you have cams, we're at a strong disadvantage. Plus our intake manifold is terrible, and there's no way to fix it, unless you customf abricate something. Going to the second gens helps, figure 10hp, but its nothing like you all have where you can upgrade butterflies and such.

As I said, I'd much rather the SHO engine. Stage II cams (Bigger if possible), The ITB setup, GOOD headers, fixing the heads, 12:1 compression, and you'd be seeing 300whp N/A and 8500rpm all day long.