Beretta.net

(Z26-T @ May 20 2008,19:24)QUOTEHe spent the money for the engine, run it until it blow then build a real one .
Correct! If the engine blow sometime then put a 3400/3500 engine in your 'retta, maybe with a turbo then?
But personally i really want to see a 3.1 turbo in a beretta...


And thanks 1988GTU for editing

(asylummotorsports @ May 20 2008,10:29)QUOTEPull the heads?

Pull the whole damn engine. It's antiquated and not worth spending a bunch of money on.

The "McLaren" engines are not that special and don't make any real measurable HP over a strong production line 3.1

They don't flow worth a hill of beans and no matter what you do to it, it's dead at 5500 RPM

3400/3500 and make some real HP, then spend the money on a turbo set-up if you like.

Or at least swap out the top end and give it a fighting chance.
While I agree with a lot of your response Eric, I have to disagree about the McLaren being special. I know it's not special mechanically, I just love that it's a McLaren TGP model. I was actually considering 3 options here.
1. Run her just the way she is , bolt on the turbo setup, heavier injectors, and the TGP chip.... Run her till something breaks or she blow.
2. Do the 3400/3500? top end swap. Will the 3400/3500 heads bolt right onto my motor? Any changes/mods needed?
3. Pull the heads, get them redone,change out my gaskets for better ones, heavier injectors, TGP chip with tune, BOV, MBC, High flow Fuel and Oil pumps,bolt on Turbo setup, header back 2.5" exhaust.
If I do option 1 or 2 and something blows or breaks, I'll go straight into option 3 with a 5 speed Getrag swap.
Oh, and you're dead on about the 5500 RPMS. This motor falls on it's face at 5400 RPM and the max engine speed is 5500 RPM. So I can run right up to redline with her, but that seems to be asking for it....
Michael is very correct though. I wouldn't call these motors weak as stock TGP's with some tune can run in the high 13's.

I'm in no way trying to diminish your car, but you seem to want to make a big deal out of the "McLaren" engine.

It's not all that damn special.

Sure it has a crank out of a mini van, lower compression pistons, and a few part number "tweaks" but it really is no big deal.

N/A it doesn't make any more HP, and when the hell did anyone ever hear of a 2.8/3.1 crank failure?

It's a damn 3.1  That is it!

But it's your car.

Have fun with it and the kind of cool UIM.

I haven't made THAT big of a deal out of it. Just for fun. Hater.... stop drinking all that haterade Eric, it's making you sour in your old age. Now, if you're done hating on my car, how about a response to my 3 options above. CONSTRUCTIVELY dammit!

I'm NOT a hater! It's your car, do what you want.

But I'm honest and tend to speak my opinion.

Hell I won several thousand dollars with a 3.1 before the 3500 swap

(It's pretty well documented) and I know that engine very well.

Do the top end swap, stop by WOT-tech (60*V6.com) and just read alot.

Playing with those heads will just empty your wallet and ruin a good mood.

There are alot of pretty smart people over there, and they have helped me ALOT.

That is why I run mid 14's on a 100% dead stock 3500.

But as I always add. It's YOUR car and your money.

You threw it up for opinions, and you got mine.

Calm down old timer, you're gonna have a stroke! I don't mind your straight forwardness, it's actually a good quality! I was just playing with you a litlle. So..... are the 3x00 heads a STRAIGHT swap onto this engine? I know they flow a lot better. Give me your opinion.

Everything bolts up, and fits, but there are pushrod issues I am not up to speed on.

A quick search, or look around 60*V6 will answer all that.

Or I'm sure you'll have any number of answers by the morning.

I just hate to see guys throwing money into a pail that returns nothing when an alternative is so obvious and a whack cheaper, and more effective.

Hell my 3500 was only $600 with 12,000 miles on it.

IT RUNS MID 14'S!

Ask alot of questions, and keep your wallet in your pocket until you have at least most of the answers.

Now there's a statement I agree with ENTIRELY! Oh, and I'm already and have been a member on 60*V6,but thx for the tip.

With boost, the mpfi wakes up pretty much a lot.  Sure you could get more power out of the 3X00 with less boost, but you can always crank up the boost.  
The only concerns that I'd have with the mpfi is the cam lobes like to wipe off with high RPM's and poor oil quality.  Although. the hollow 3x00 cams like to snap so that is the sfi's fault.  I'd just swap in some better springs and call it a day.  
The 3500 top end swap doesnt work for the 3.1's, the valves will contact the bore of the block iirc.  Not sure on the 3400 either, but you can use 3100 heads for sure.  Will need custom length pushrods and all the other stuff like throttle cable change, coolant rerouting, etc etc..  
The early 2.8's had crank issues due to being undersized.  GM later updated the crank design so no more issues were reported.

If you're going to swap in an engine, let it be a full 3500 since the oiling is better than any of the previous 60*v6's.