gm's 3.1 in a

[basketranger]

have a 96 olds ciera with a 3.1 v-6 what is your thought about transplanting it into a 1st gen ranger. the onl y question i believe i would have is what tranny (auto) would bolt up to it.

basketranger

 

[lepp1892]

A trans from a 3.1 camaro could work since that is rear wheel drive but I'm not sure if the bellhousing bolt patterns are the same.

 

[Roger]

GM 2.8, 3.1 and 3.4 should all be about the same and use the same bellhousing. Look for the 2.8 RWD/4WD transmissions in early S10/S15s, and 84-86 Jeep Cherokees. In the Jeeps, the transmissions will be Chryslers not GM, if you want a choice.

There were some 3.8s that use the same bellhousing too. But those are few and far between.

Have fun wiring that 3.1 into the 1st gen Ranger.

 

[exbass94]

3.1s are garbage. Google 3.1 intake gasket leaks. There are plenty of (BETTER) engines out there that aren't nearly as much of a PITA to install.

 

[Hopman]

Whoa! I had a 3.1 in my '91 Olds Shilouette and it ran like champ! No gasket leaks of ANY KIND, and it survived over 220,000 miles with my family (after my dad purchased it used in '95 with only 30,000 on it).

The only things that had to be replaced (other than normal stuff like plugs & wires) were a water pump at 180K, a couple of new alternators, and a new ignition coil pack. That motor survied being overfilled with oil (my sister's fault), two kids learning how to drive, pulling my dad's '87 Blazer & camper (total weight of nearly 10,000 lbs!), a year of pizza deliveries, and a 108-mph blast (loaded full of two people and cargo) over the NY Thruway with over 250,000 on the engine!

 

[bullitproofranger]

I would do an older buick 3.8 (231ci) swap, Im not exactly an a experianced mechanic, but those buick 3.8's are supposed to be near bullitproof, my parents have an 89' pontiac bonneville (FWD) and it has the 3.8 with approx. 220,xxx miles on it and lord knows when the last oil change was, and when ever we start it up, it seems to run perfectly fine. Oh and a close friend of mine had a 96' olds cutlass ciera that got a warped head, or blown head gasket(something like that) right a couple months after fe bought it, and this was a car he bought that was well taken care of, Im not saying the 3.1 is a bad engine, just saying a buick 3.8 (FWD I think shares the same trans bolt pattern) would probably last a whole lot longer, especially if you take good care of it.

 

[basketranger]

my idea came to me accidently, i have the 96 cutlass ciera (own it) the transmission is toast have tried selling the car whole except offered prices are a joke, i mean the car is clean just bad tranny. i have an opportunity to purchase a first gen ranger fwith four banger minus auto tranny. thought i would combine the two and sell left-over parts.