GM really didn't start playing with oil burners till the 70s in smaller sized stuff. Matter of fact even as late as the 60s there were still gas burner big rigs.

 

And many of those were powered by HUGE V6s, V8s and even a V12 was offered.

 

Ok, not to get back to the OP or anything...

Often times when talking vortec people mistakenly state "3.4", when really they meant "4.3". The vortec 4.3 is a 90 degree v6, the 3.4 is a 60degree v6.

The 3.4(L32) was factory in firebirds, but the "3400"(LA1) was factory in prixs and such. Not the same engine, the prior is a first gen engine, and the latter a third gen. The "3400" has aluminum heads and is prone to factory LIM gasket failures, the 3.4 has iron heads. The "3400" has more HP and aftermarket potential. After ~2001 the "3400" plenum was redesigned to allow better breathing of two of the cylinders. If your looking to get a 3.4, go post 01' "3400". ... and call it a "3400" and not a 3.4 to evade confusion.

This is one of my latest projects:

"3400"(LA1) from 2002 Alero, getting new gaskets, a turbo, and crammed into a 1994 Beretta Z26.

 

My father in law has one in a venture van. They run OK & get good gas mileage but head gaskets seem to only last 100,000 miles or so. I don't know if there is an upgraded gasket out there for them or not. But several of the GM V-6s have that issue. The 3.1 & 3.8 also.

 

Ok thats what I was thinking but then again, maybe they liked the 3.4 and the 3400s lol.

 

If the head gaskets are going its another issue (i.e. dex debate), the LIM gaskets are notorious but often failure is mistaken for head gasket (which ironically you must replace LIMs as well when doing the heads.

Yes, there are updated aluminum gaskets by felpro, i think the call em HD or pro or something.

Not sure the year of your venture but after ~2001 they got more horses, but even so imagine that van weighed half as much and you can see the engines potential in a small car! Just like the vortec 4.3, it's a great engine once you understand its faults (do I have to say anything about the spider, lol ), and the "3400" comes factory with a Distributor-less Ignition System!

 

The 3.4 in f-bodys isn't a gen 3 its a gen 1 same as is grandfather the 2.8 and its dad the 3.1. All iron block and iron head. It might have came out the same time as the gen 3 but a far cry.

Few very general rules about 60 degrees.

Rwd are all listed as their liters (3.1, 2.8, 3.4) and the fwd are listed as series (2800, 3100, 3400).

All iron engines (block and heads) are gen 1. Gen 2 (and 3) are all fwd and aluminum engines. The valves in the heads are splayed like on a bbc and the main caps use the aluminum oil pan as a girdle.

There are exemptions but that's why they just general rules. My speciality is gen 1 so that's what I remember the most about. I do know I lumped gen 2 and 3 together and there are ways to tell them apart better. Then again we on a s-series site, they only came with gen 1, and I haven't seen many people talk about building 3x00 rwd hybrids on here. Don't see much need into going into more detail other than gen 1. Somebody wants to start a serious flame free thread about gen 1 60 degrees I can bring all the info from my section over on s10planet.com and post it. Got tons of info about parts to swipe from other gens to use and what to do as well as what not to do about building them. I've managed to get 180hp out of a gen 1 3.4 and the only costly things in it are headers and 1.6 roller rockers. If I would get off my lazy butt and tune the ecm I could prolly squeeze a few more out of it, maybe push 190hp.

 

Your not wrong. For some reason I was thinking the upper architecture was redesigned. Post Corrected.

Not exactly true, some FWD GM gen 2 60v6 engines had there liters embosed in the plenum. i.e. 2.8, 3.1, the XX00 series emboss came with the 3rd gen engines. i.e. "2800" "3100"

 

Like I said just a general rule, there are exemptions. The 3.4 in f-bodies is a gen 1 but has 3400 on the intake. If you order an engine from gm for an f-body they have it listed in their catalogs as a 3.4 and not a 3400.

If you taking to others that knows these engines and you say 3.4 or 3400 most of the time they gonna assume rwd or fwd.

 

Thanks for that input. We had a 1st gen Lumina with a 3.1 & my wife's grandfather owned this car at the time & he had issues at 100K & did head gaskets & of course LIM gaskets. It ran great until 270K when it started boiling the coolant in the overflow & I just junked it.
My father in law has the Venture & it started leaking coolant & he could never find exactly were it was coming from so took it down to the block & replaced everything up.
So like the 4.3 LIM gaskets are most of the issues.
I never realized the importance of running DEXCOOL in these vehicles. The Lumina was green as was my 97 Blazer. Someone had changed it out before I got them. The Blazer went through a radiator & heater core in the first 100K. I had my 98 Blazer flushed & refilled with Dexcool just a few weeks ago. I will stick with it. Today I figure GM uses it for a reason so why second guess them.
Thanks for your info. I learned something.