98 z34 motor swap
#1
98 z34 motor swap
Hey there guys, I am new to the gm world. I have a mustang guy forever and just recently picked up a 98 z34 that I had a question about. I picked up this car today for 500 with a blown head gasket. All I know about the car is that its all stock. I have a 94 Bonneville 3.8 supercharged motor in the garage with a trans behind it that I was going to use for a different project. My question is will this motor trans combo work or can I even use this motor? Thanks for your time. Sorry if this a newbie question.
#3
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Mentor, Ohio
Posts: 12,236
I'm not sure he can top-swap parts from the '94 Bonnie on to a '98. Isn't the '94 Bonnie a Series I 3800 SuperCharged and his '98 is a Series II? I thought I read somewhere that there were significant differences in the engines (possibly in the block itself)....
I would recommend some research first.
I would recommend some research first.
#5
Yeah a top swap would have to involve a Series II L67. The Series I L67 is completely different (and not a whole lot more powerful than the Series II L36)
Even the N/A L36 isn't a bad motor. I've worked with more Series II 3800s than I have Small Block V8s to be honest.
Welcome to the site btw. Those Series II motors sound as good as a lot of V8s to be honest. They also perform well. Since you have a 98, it should have the somewhat stronger 4T65E as opposed to the older 4T60E which was on the 97 L36s IIRC.
I'd probably replace the head gaskets and run it as is till I could get everything together for the top swap. Maybe even build a separate L67 to swap in at a later point. That's just how I'd do it personally. There are some very well done 5th gen Montes on this site btw. You should check them out.
Even the N/A L36 isn't a bad motor. I've worked with more Series II 3800s than I have Small Block V8s to be honest.
Welcome to the site btw. Those Series II motors sound as good as a lot of V8s to be honest. They also perform well. Since you have a 98, it should have the somewhat stronger 4T65E as opposed to the older 4T60E which was on the 97 L36s IIRC.
I'd probably replace the head gaskets and run it as is till I could get everything together for the top swap. Maybe even build a separate L67 to swap in at a later point. That's just how I'd do it personally. There are some very well done 5th gen Montes on this site btw. You should check them out.
#7
But there are still lots of options for that Z34...
#9
I still would fix the immediate problem while I set up the topswap though. That's just how I think though.
#10
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Mentor, Ohio
Posts: 12,236
I had a feeling that's what you meant, but had to be sure.