Question about the 3.4L twin duel cam engine?

Question

I am looking into buy ing a 1996 chevy monticarlo Z34 it has 68,000 miles and its in great condition. I have heard that the 3.4L engines are hard to work on and some times are not reliable is this true? It also has the 4T60E transmission. How do these trannys hold up over time with normal driving?

Answer 1

I had the misfortune of working on several of the 3.4 engines. They are murder to work on. They have a tendency to leak oil. The transmission is fine, but that engine is a whole other story. The timing belt set up is a joke. My fellow technicians and I dreaded seeing one come in for service. It seemed like, if you ever worked on one and fixed one problem, you'd see it again for something else. The guy who said that his friend had put many miles on one with not a lot of trouble was a lucky exception. Strickly my opinion, but find something else!

Answer 2

My friend had a 1995 monte carlo z34 and when he sold it, it had 180,000 miles on it and I still see it running around a year later so they are dependable, the only thing that is necessary is to make sure the serpentine belt is always good as the cams in the heads are run by it and if the belt breaks there goes your engine as the valves hit the pistons. My friend tortured that car from day 1 when he bought it brand new and never had a problem with the tranny.

Answer 3

The transmissions are okay, the engine is used to get a low price on the car. GM completely over complicated the cam timing arrangement, and the oil pump drive that will start leaking eventually is in a goofy spot that is supposed to require head removal for repair.Stay with the pushrod engines. Oh yeah, have alot of beer on hand if you are gonna replace the alternator "real quick"

Answer 4

The Evolution is the further powerful engine. It runs cooler, receives extra powerful gasoline mileage and is extra reachable to maintain. the dual Cam runs large warm,and its cam chain tensioner is a nightmare to maintain. Its heads are underbuilt so people ought to spend a lot of funds to get extra powerful performance, rather from the unique 88" engine. Crank runout is a important issue with the more moderen engines. not that the Evo did not have its own complications, yet average that's a much extra powerful engine.

Answer 5

You'll be fine with it, but make sure that you have the timing belt changed at 100,000 miles. Also, as everyone has said, the alternator sucks to get at. Also, the rear 3 spark plugs are murder too. You shouldn't have to change them until you have the timing belt changed though, so just leave them alone until then too. The mechanic will have the car for a full day to get to all the service needed to be done at 100,000 miles, but that's still a while off, so drive it and enjoy playing with 5.0 mustangs.

Answer 6

DO NOT BUY THIS THING. If you have any problems with it, it will cost you a lot of $$$. The alternator for one is located on the bottom of the engine. You have to remove the CV axle, this and that and any mechanic you take it to will hate you.

Answer 7

Make sure you get a good price, don't over pay. It is a powerfull engine, good transmission. Just make sure all belts are good, and the alternator is in good working order. I love those cars. Good luck.

Answer 8

It will be a ok car till you have to replace the timing belt or alt.then you will wish you had bought a 3.1 NO room to get to anything believe me. Trans is probably ok with only 68.000 miles.

Answer 9

i've never seen a problem with the transmissions, but the engine is a completely different story. hard to work on, the labor costs alone will kill your pocketbook.