Hello!

I have acquired a 1996 Monte Carlo that has a damaged engine. Everything else is fine but the engine is shot. The cylinder block was severely damaged due to a faulty head gasket and continuous driving.

Long story short, the only way for me to use the car is to perform an engine swap. I have a drop myself, but would like to know if I should look into a 3.4 or even if a 3.8 is possible. I hear a 3.8 would be best but it would require an overhaul, and I simply don't have enough money for that.

Thank you for your help!
-Mat

 

get a 3100 and build it I'm contemplating doing an ac removal for the weight loss since my a/c is leaky and i could sell the parts

 

In the Grand Am community, it was common to replace a 3100 with a 3400. The reason is that it was cheap and easy. Since the two engine are based off the same block design (3400 is just bigger cylinders) all the mounting are the same (you just might have to take brackets from one to another, no biggie).
Also, again, same block design, they bolt right up to the existing trans mission.
From what I've read, you can even get away with not changing a thing on the PCM. If you have to swap the engine anyways, a 3400 would be the cheap performance upgrade with minimal amount of issues.

 

You can swap a 3100, 3400, or 3800. All depends what you want ... and what you want to spend. Cheapest route, replace the 3100. You could find a 3400 for a decent price, they came in lots of cars. You can keep your transmission with a 3100/3400, however with a 3800 you need the tranny, modify your axles, new wiring harness and PCM for the new engine/tranny. But it sure is fun dropping a 3800 in a '96 Monte

tps221 - don't remove your A/C, fix it. You won't lose very much weight if you do remove it...

 

but i could sell of the parts and make money it only has a small leak I'm sure we'll be able to fix it easy with the UV stuff

 

When my car "Auburn" engine goes which I think will go soon do to intake manifold gasket and oil/water mix (which I fixed but now has knocking noise and also I think she has cam bearing problems too ) I going to swap the engine with a 3.4 DOHC.

From what my understanding is, the 3.4 DOHC has more horsepower and performance than the 3800. You also won't need to modify/upgrade that much either. I don't this for a fact but from the research I been doing on this topic that's pretty much what I got out of it! Correct me if I'm wrong please.

I would go with the 3.4 DOHC personally!

 

LQ1's are commonly labeled as a POS engine. Issues with the timing belt breaking and just generally being a pain to do work on. If you want to go 3400 get the LA1 that are in the 00-05 Monte Carlos. Or just go up to the L36.

 

I'm betting a 3.4 DOHC engine will require a host of changes.

As mentioned, I a 3400 would be the way to go. The 3400 is based off the 3100 block. Many Grand Am guys pulled 3100's and did virtually a direct swap with a 3400. If you have to swap an engine and want to go on the cheap way to ADD horse power, a 3400 would be a cheap swap for a 3100. A 3800 has more aftermarket options. Do some research and you'll come up with the decision that fits your wants.

Personally, if it were me and the car was a daily driver, I would just replace the 3100 with a 3400.