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Location: San Ramon, Seattle, Anchorage, Reykjavik
2,254 posts, read 2,738,942 times
Reputation: 3203
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I had the 3.4 in a Lumina Z34. Engine overheated multiple times and was replaced under warranty. Sold it after 24k miles and bought a new Toyota 4Runner. Still have the 4Runner. That Lumina? Most likely crushed 20 years ago.
I had the 2.8 in an '88 Celebrity. The rest of the car was falling apart after 17 years but the engine and transmission were still going. I joked that that would all that would be left of the car still running when everything else was gone. It never leaked oil or even used much.
The '99 Lumina had a 3.1 engine and was the same story. Never used oil, never leaked oil and just ran. It had the intake manifold gasket problem which I had fixed at about 10 years. That was due to a cheap part GM used to save a few pennies or maybe they knew it would happen and wanted to give their service people some business. I'd still have that car if it wasn't wrecked. But it saved my life and its construction and design was a safe one.
I had the 2.8 in an '88 Celebrity. The rest of the car was falling apart after 17 years but the engine and transmission were still going. I joked that that would all that would be left of the car still running when everything else was gone. It never leaked oil or even used much.
The '99 Lumina had a 3.1 engine and was the same story. Never used oil, never leaked oil and just ran. It had the intake manifold gasket problem which I had fixed at about 10 years. That was due to a cheap part GM used to save a few pennies or maybe they knew it would happen and wanted to give their service people some business. I'd still have that car if it wasn't wrecked. But it saved my life and its construction and design was a safe one.
My best friend had a 86 Celebrity from 90-96 with the carbed 2.8 then a 90 Lumina from 96-06 with the 3.1. Both held up rather well. He bought a new Malibu in 06 and still owns it, no major issues yet.
3800 is legendary and probably one of the greatest engines of all time.
If I were in the market for a new car, even today in 2018, and if it were still in production, the 3800 would suit me just fine. I actually might even seek one out.
There is a literal fan base (it's kind of a running joke) on TTAC.com.
I had two 87 Fieros and a 89 Cavalier Z-24 all with the 2.8. The Cavalier was completely reliable, I had to replace the distributor on one Fiero.
i had the intake manifold off on the other for a oil leak at the end. All were 5 speed and felt fast
94 Cavalier was the last GM car with a v6 and stick shift.
A popular swap for Fieros was the 3.4 shortblock from a Camaro or Trans Am. You have to move the starter to the other side.Otherwise bolts in. Passes Calif. smog.
Another popular Fiero swap is the DOHC engine, bolts to the Fiero stick trans.
Had a Cutlass Supreme with the 3.4DOHC in the late 90s. Fun fast car, but unreliable. Things started breaking rapidly after 55K miles, interior peices fell apart, fuel pump went out, timing belt broke cost 1200 to replace. By comparison I had timing belts done on several 4 cyl cars for 2-300 dollars.
The 3.4 is wretched, uncivilized engine from a dark period in GM history with absolutely no positive traits. It’s not fuel efficient, powerful, nor reliable. If you find a 3.4L destroy it and get them out of circulation as soon as possible. Do this for all of mankind’s sake. If we work together, we can erase this abomination of engineering from the histories as if never existed.
The 3.4 is wretched, uncivilized engine from a dark period in GM history with absolutely no positive traits. It’s not fuel efficient, powerful, nor reliable. If you find a 3.4L destroy it and get them out of circulation as soon as possible. Do this for all of mankind’s sake. If we work together, we can erase this abomination of engineering from the histories as if never existed.
Which 3.4 are you talking about? OHV or DOHC?
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