I am considering putting a carbed 3.4 in my very first car which is an 84 auto 4 cyl. I am wanting to do a carb set up because 1 I hear that because of the 84's wiring it is hard to put a fuel injected engine into it and 2 because I have read that you can get more hp/torque out of a carb set up... I was wanting either a link to a thread or for someone who has done this and who is making around I believe it was 230 hp, to tell me how "hard" this is to do and what parts I need exactly... I know I need the 3.4 block, ported out heads, and I think a crane H272 cam or something like that and the carb set up... which I have heard is around $500 or so but I dont know what all comes with that and what else I would need, exhaust system stuff? etc.... I would love to do this when I am done with my current fiero project. Anyways any help and total cost of the set up would be greatly apprecieated...

Thanks

Will

With a carb'd 3.4L I am running about 227hp. (last dyno had 192hp at the wheels) The heads are ported and decked to increase compression.
Compression bumped from 9.0:1 to 9.42:1 and the valves have a 5-angle valve job.
The parts I am using are:
Holley 390cfm 4-bbl carb
Edelbrock aluminum intake with the 4-bbl riser
Comp Cams roller rockers 1.52 ratio
Comp Cams Heavy duty pushrods
Edelbrock custom grind cam (Simular to the Crane H-272, Others have used the Crane with the same results)
Colyes Double Roller timing chain
GM performance parts Hi-Vol oil pump
Distributor from a 1984 S-10 Blazer (You can use any distributor from 1982-1985 S-10/S-15 trucks/SUV's)
Crane Fireball HI-6R and matching coil
160* thermostat and Rodney Dickman's 176* fan switch
Jegs Aluminum throttle cable bracket

Total cost was $1673.88 for NEW parts and the engine (Includes new bearings and rings)
The carb, intake and cam runs about $600 new, but you can find used parts for less.

The only sensors the engine will use will be the oil pressure, Temp gauge, fan switch, tach, and VSS for speedometer. The only wire you need to add is the power for the electronic choke. You will need to get a flywheel/flex plate for an 88 V-6 Fiero.

For Exhaust I am using the Sprint manifolds, Stock "Y" pipe without the O2 sensor, and a Borla system from Twin Lake with no catalytic converter. (Note: the Exhaust set-up is NOT part of the engine cost above.)

Since it is already a 4-cyl, You just need a seperate fuel pressure regulator to regulate it down to about 5-6psi.

My entire swap was easy to do. The only hard part was setting the trans TV cable. It took a bit of time ti figure it out, But I finally have it adjusted. If/when your ready to hook up the TV cable Email me and I'll Email you pics and a detailed description on how to set it properly.

Any other questions?

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Happiness isn't around the corner...
Happiness IS the corner.

[This message has been edited by Oreif (edited 08-10-2004).]

how's it feel? =)

Will_P it's nice to see you are in good hands

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Arn
Holley2300 carb, Edelbrock intake, MSD ignition, custom exhaust

quote Originally posted by JamesCurtis: how's it feel? =)

Feels ballsy and sounds even better. I am really happy with mine.
Oreif pretty much covered the swap info.
It is a pretty straight forward job.

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85 GT 4-speed
3.4 pushrod, 390 Holley carb, Edlebrock intake, MSD 6A ignition. 04 Gran Prix exhaust tips, Ported manifolds and lots more to go.
Richey

Thanks for the help... I am starting to get pissed off at what I chose for my current fiero. I have an ARI 3.4 and ported intakes phase 2 cam etc. etc. And I am only expecting about 185 maybe 190 hp. I have also spent quite a bit more money than $1700... Is there any down side to the carb set up other than.... well I can't really think of one... the more I think about it the more pissed off I get... My car runs good and everything but man, not that good. Oh well you live and you learn... By the way what octane fuel do you have to run on that? Sound like you may have to run mid-grade 89 but around here it costs the same as the 87 so thats no biggie... again thanks for the help... I think, why dosen't everyone do this with their fiero, thats more power than an N/A 3800 and I'm sure probably less work and money...
sorry i tend to ramble when I'm mad thanks again

Will

quote Originally posted by will_p: By the way what octane fuel do you have to run on that? Sound like you may have to run mid-grade 89 but around here it costs the same as the 87 so thats no biggie...

As far as octane goes, that has more to do with compression ratio, fuel mixture and timing.

As long as you are not running a lot of advance or running lean (fixable by proper jetting and power valve selection) if you can run 87 now, the carb will not cause you to have to run a higher octane.

As far as why it is not more common there are a number of reasons, emmisions testing can be an issue in many areas, lack of desire or understanding to get it set up properly, misconceptions about driveablity etc.

I like mine it is a definite head turner when people look under the hood and the sound of the secondaries opening up behind your head is really cool, not to mention the car pulls really hard.

Hope this helps

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85 GT 4-speed
3.4 pushrod, 390 Holley carb, Edlebrock intake, MSD 6A ignition. 04 Gran Prix exhaust tips, Ported manifolds and lots more to go.
Richey

[This message has been edited by STRATOHACKER (edited 08-15-2004).]

quote Originally posted by will_p: Thanks for the help... I am starting to get pissed off at what I chose for my current fiero. I have an ARI 3.4 and ported intakes phase 2 cam etc. etc. And I am only expecting about 185 maybe 190 hp. I have also spent quite a bit more money than $1700... Is there any down side to the carb set up other than.... well I can't really think of one... the more I think about it the more pissed off I get... My car runs good and everything but man, not that good. Oh well you live and you learn... By the way what octane fuel do you have to run on that? Sound like you may have to run mid-grade 89 but around here it costs the same as the 87 so thats no biggie... again thanks for the help... I think, why dosen't everyone do this with their fiero, thats more power than an N/A 3800 and I'm sure probably less work and money... sorry i tend to ramble when I'm mad thanks again Will

The downsides to running a carb are:
May not pass emission testing (if required).
You'll get slammed in carb posts by Dennis LaGrua and a few others who don't understand how a carb works.

I use Premium gas just because I have higher compression and I always run it in ALL my cars.
It will run on 87 or 89 octane with no problems.

The reason more people don't do it would be either they need to pass emission testing in their state or they don't understand a carb.

Thanks for all the help guys... I personally don't know anything about carbs or how they work but my Dad is an expert mechanic, which is the only reason that I can even restore my current fiero at all. If there is any other info anyone has it would be appricieated, thanks again...

Will

Regarding compression, although slightly unrelated, the 660 guys have been seeing 12 to 1 compression and runnning low grade pump gas without any issues. Another reason to use the 2.8 -3.4 motors.

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http://www.gmpcm.com/