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How good are the 3400 motors? looking at a 99 grand am gt

comatoast

comatoast

New member
From what I have seen they have head gasket and intake gasket issues just like the 3100s and 3800s from back in the day as well??

I'm asking because there is a very nice 99 grand am gt locally here that I'm guessing I could get for about $2000 and I would use it as a mileage dd and winter car. Just to keep the gp looking nice and rust free as well as keeping the miles off it a bit as I drive about 500-600 miles a week
 


?? My mom has a 3400 in her equinox and has seemed good for her. But that is probably the only 3400 owner I have ever known. My 96 grand am gt had a 3.1 and after the intake gasket was replaced it was still running solid til 220k miles when her life was ended by a college chick texting on her phone , and proceeding to run a red light
 
well ive been beating my 18 year old 3100 for about 40k miles now and so far its held up fine. replaced the intake gaskets at 90k.
 
They only have head gasket problems because the intake gasket makes them over heat and THAT causes the head gasket to go. You only need to overheat a 3100 or 3400 once for them to crap out on ya. Buy it and replace the intake gasket and all problems solved...
 


Besides the head gasket issue they tend to have they're not bad motors. A few things can be a pain to work on but
everything is very do able. I would make sure that the car is running right and that it does not have any cooling issues.
 
99PontiacGTP said:
They only have head gasket problems because the intake gasket makes them over heat and THAT causes the head gasket to go. You only need to overheat a 3100 or 3400 once for them to crap out on ya. Buy it and replace the intake gasket and all problems solved...
Click to expand...


Thanks man. I knew it was something like that. I remember telling my mom to get hers done asap ( @ 30k ) miles she did it. and it been good ever since
 
Looks to be in good condition but ultimately the test drive will be what sells it. For $2k for a DD winter beater as longer as everything else works out sure but of course I'm a cheap ass so ill still will try to get it for even lower. Cash is king!!
 
True. If the test drive goes good and doesn't overheat lol I'll look for leaks around the head and backside. Can you see a intake leak on these cars, or would it kind of blend in with a HG or valve cover leak?
 


Bet if you came with $1500-2k cash they'll take that on the spot. Sort of shows desperation when they drop the price that quick usually indicates either something is wrong or they need it moved ASAP!
 


Just ask if they had the gaskets replaced before. I drove a 99 GAGT for a year...my neighbors had it when the gaskets went out around 150-160k. Another guy fixed it after that and sold it to me. It ran great never had an issue besides the power steering pump (which was easy to replace), a friend of mine has it now somewhere it in 190s.
 
OK well that car was an absolute pos.


This adjust popped up and almost seems to good to be true. Says the car is mint, his brother just died and needs funeral cost $$.....
 
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