Drove a new Z34 coupe GM engineering pool car from the Oshawa Ontario assembly plant to Rochester Michigan. The GM engineer I was with had an extreme sinus headache & forgot his meds. He told me to get home as quickly as possible. No problem. Taking the 401 & 402 which are fabulous e-ways, we made it home in about 3 hours doing well over 150km on the 402. I was pleasantly surprised how well the Z34 was quick, composed, tight & rode very well on the highway. Very impressive car.
Awesome. I just bought a 91 in red. Seems to either have a rebuilt or replacement engine. Well it has numbers written on it for miles with yellow at 55,000 or so. So not exactly sure. Mileage on ODO said 155,000. Doing what I can to keep her alive. My main daily.
My wife and I got a Chevy Lumina in 2000? It was a very dependable car! I’m glad I got the extended warranty though! The transmission surrendered and thankfully it was replaced! That warranty was the best 1300 dollars I ever spent! It was still a great car in my eyes!
I remember going to the Chicago auto show as a kid and coming home with a plastic bag full of the auto manufacturer catalogs and advertising brochures.
My friend had this engine in a 1994 Cutlass Supreme that we grew fond of. He got it for a pittance due to the oil pump drive (former distributor) leaking. We did a belt and suspenders treatment with a new o-ring and gasket. He wrecked that car, then bought a '96 that we swapped the 3.4 into. That engine was pretty hot for a an 18 year old kid in the rust belt in the early 2000s. Of course, there were all the drawbacks of it being an early OBDII and being adapted from the 2.8/3.1 platform, but there was something endearing about it. I find it pretty amazing that the average minivan has 50% more horsepower these days.
I bought a car in 94. It was in the shop and the dealer gave me a Lumina Z34 Coupe for 2 weeks. I can barely tell you about the Hyundai that I bought but I remember that Lumina to this day. What a nice car that was.
My day simply isn’t complete without a junkyard crawl video. Thank you for your time , dedication, care, and support for all things automotive. Your channel is my absolute favorite on UA-cam.
I was a teenager when these engines came out and I was really fascinated by it. They were so unusually powerful for the day. Them and the SHO were well into the V8 numbers of the day. There seems to be a special amount of disgust from the mechanics though who had to work on them .....they hated em!!
Whoever decided to make all vehicles ( except trucks & some sports cars ) front wheel drive, needed to be strung up from a tree. Those were the darkest days in automotive history. Heavy front ends made them dangerous in turns & all that added weight sure wasn't helping the front end components either. Can't work on em.......without cussing & wanting to set em on fire. It was really bad for these cars. Law enforcement agencies even hated them.
This engine was a nightmare to work on. I replaced the head gaskets on one and promised myself never again! Even replacing the alternator was a nightmare.
@@dmandman9the alternator was buried real low on the engine and was constantly heat soaked. My parents Grand Prix with the 3.4 had its alternator replaced probably 5 times, all under warranty every time.
@@hadtocheathimtobeathim6549 I remember that nightmare as well. I remember replacing an alternator only to have it fail within weeks and had to replace it again under warranty . The parts company gave me another part. But I had to do the repair again for free. They buried the alternator right next to the exhaust manifold. Even with the heat shield, some of them wouldn’t last long. Also, during that era, GM alternators weren’t that good anyway. So when mounted near the exhaust they didn’t stand a chance . I’m glad that that engine wasn’t a great seller.
HI Steve great video on this Z34. Theae were pretty good rides and definitely Dale Earnhardt helped out on Monday morning at the dealerships. Steve be careful out there even tho that wasn't a poisonous snake they still bite the tar out of you. They also make you hurt yourself getting away from them. I was once under a full-size long bed Ford that had been sitting for quite some time. So while I'm under the truck unhooking the driveshaft. A black snake must have been laying along the frame rail and rolled out across my chest. So inadvertently lowered my arms when it hit my chest.and sort of wrapped him under each armpit. When I realized what was happening I began to beat my head against everything under that truck trying to get out from underneath. When I finally got out from under the truck I was trying to get it off of me with my arms flailing in the air and dance moves only Fred Astaire and MJ could've done. Once the snake was off of me I had a huge egg shaped knot on my eye and a couple of cuts on my forehead. I had the worst case of the heebie jeebies that day also. I'm not afraid of snake per say but I like to see them 1st and they can go on about their business. ~Say, I've got the Heebies I mean the Jeebies Talking about The dance, the Heebie Jeebies Do, because they're boys Because it pleases me to be joy Say, don't you know it? You don't know how; don't be blue Someone will teach you Come on and do that dance They call the Heebie Jeebies dance Yes, ma'am Papa's got the Heebie Jeebies dance Say, come on now and do that dance They call the Heebie Jeebies dance Sweet mama Papa's got to do the Heebie Jeebies dance Woo, got the Heebie Jeebies Whatcha doin' with the Heebies? I just have to have the Heebies~written by the great Boyd Atkins🎷 and sung by the one and only Louis Armstrong 🎺 Y'all have a blessed day 🤙🏼 Namaste 🙏🏼
I’m sorry you injured yourself! However ,I must confess, that my visual of this episode you endured, gave me fits of laughter! I mean like rolling! 😂 great story! I needed that!
Steve don't forget to mention the guy who assembled the 3.4 liter V6... His name was Fred and he only worked on Tuesday and Friday hence the low production numbers. He did smoke cigars during assembly and sometimes even a leftover stogie will be in the valley.... Just sayn'! Dig the channel man!
Steve you are my absolute Hero. When you opened that hood and that snake slithered off behind the engine. You did not even flinch. then you are standing in waist high grass. as it slips away under the back of the block. Yur Savage. Keep up the great videos. you hard work and research are amazing. MY FAVORITE. JUNKYARD CRAWLER for sure.
Thanks! I'm at Barrett-jackson in Las Vegas right now doing the TV auction broadcast. My NINETEENTH year! Happily no snakes under hoods here. But I'll be back at Bernardston Auto Wrecking within the week where I hear there's a BEAR wandering around. Maybe we'll ask it to sit for lunch. Thanks for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante
It's just a garter snake they're harmless. It wasn't a diamondback or a rattlesnake he's in Massachusetts ya know, not really any dangerous snakes in this(NE)area of the country, it's way too cold in winter here
Good god I recall doing many of those. We had a crap off brand reman company that supplied us with alts. All of the techs refused to use them because of the lack of quality. Come backs were common. I'll never forget the day when the service writer sold 1 of them, a Sluter, to a Z34 owner and the tech said, he would pay for the new GM alt if the customer pays the labor, or he's not doing the job!
My mom bought a new red one in 1991. What a great car! Would absolutely melt the front tires, which were big sticky goodyear eagles, Bose stereo system which rocked, and really handled great for a front drive car of the time. And yes, would do 120 + on the highway and great aero as it was a copy of the thunderbird aerocoupe. I wish i had that car now!
No it didn't! They shut down at 115. Same as my 89 Z24 cavalier which my sister swore did 125+ in it but didn't! Vehicles were definitely governored back then.
I have a 91 in red. Doing what I can to keep it alive. My daily. And yes I’ve tested it. It won’t let it go past 115, but it doesn’t shut off like the gov in my 95 S10 it just won’t let it go any more.
You are one of the most mind numbingly interesting folks I know. Get better soon (not giving you chioce) Very special people like you are rare. Barrett Jackson did a great job bringing you on board.
I have a 93 Euro lumina. I drive it every day. Has 325000 mi. Still runs perfect. Original motor and trans. Body is going to rust out before the power train dies. I love it. So easy to work on.
I just love you guys saying "zee"-it sounds so funny. (My "Zed"-28, with headers, true dual pipes, and a M-21 four speed was a sweet ride. My two daighters loved it when the Secondaries and Cold-Air intake flap opened, and they were pined against the back of the back seat.) Cheers from the Pacific West Coast of Canada.
Looks like your channel is starting to gain some steam Steve! I notice your subscriber count has really been jumping lately! Won't be long until you hit 100,000!
No, the Taurus came out for the 1986 (not 1985) model year. No, this is metric cluster and that's 180 kilometers, not MPH. No, those exhaust tips appear to have been replaced. They would likely have a more rectangular outlet style. Correct, this is a "W" body and replaced the Celebrity in the product line up. They were OK cars and were everywhere as rentals and fleet cars (and even some municipal and police cars) for a time. The 2.8L V6 debuted in 1980, not 1982 (although you are correct, it was used in a 1982 Camaro). In the early years, it had the Rochester "Disaster Jet" Varajet carburetor. Correct, the Lumina APV was the "U" body "Dustbuster" minivan which was a cousin to the other GM divisions that also produced a version of it. No VIN, can't win, but easy to figure out, no doubt: 2G1 for Canadian made Chevrolet, WP14 for Chevrolet Lumina Z34 coupe, X for 3.4L V6, then a random check digit, N for the 1992 model year, 9 for Oshawa, Ontario Canada assembly and the rest is the production sequence. The Oshawa plant complex operated from 1953 until 2019, closed for a time and then restarted in 2021. We know it's a Canadian made vehicle because of the blue "Maple Leaf" decal under the certification decal. No SPID, wish you did and no tag, can't brag, but this is code 41 (aka WA8555) Black exterior paint.
Good catch on the speedo, Mr. Google. Didn't know anyone with one of these. The stock exhaust is a memorable sound from the '90's, sounded like "turbo" mufflers. I'd say a better looking car than the Taurus.
The things you learn at a ripe old age when it's too late to take advantage of such a prize in its prime. I was tickled to find out you were a friend of Uncle Tony's. I'm an old diy Mopar guy and took advantage of a few of the inexpensive available A, B body Dodges in my youth. Whole cars as well as an abundance of parts cars. So when I discovered Tony's channel it was a time machine for me because I loved wrenching on them because they were so simple and cheap to maintain and upgrade with original parts. I discovered you on Barrett Jackson and loved your reviews of the vehicles on the block. And to discover you collaborating with Tony confirmed his authenticity not knowing anything about him prior to discovering his channel. Thank you for sharing your passion for the auto industry.
I remember renting one of these , drove from San Diego to San Antonio. Superb driving emotion. I should've bought one, but the I was in love with the White Pontiac Grand Prix. The dealership in El Paso had ran out and decided for a used Mustang LX convertible.
These were neat cars! My buddy had a '91 Euro 3.1, but the Z34 is next level. However, the Taurus SHO of the same era had the Yamaha engine and revved to 7200 rpm!
@@kalebbrown93 TL;DR SHO's were quicker. SHO's were quicker especially with the 5 speed, and were about as quick as a 5.0L Mustang LX/GT and even early 4.6L Mustang GT. My Dad had a 94 which I drove a number of times, and while I didn't have the opportunity (or stupidity?) to try this on the street, the butt dyno between the two cars was similar, with the Mustang having a more linear power band of torque that leveled off and the SHO building power through the RPMs. I also test drove 2 used first gens (89-91) and 2 second gens (92-95), having the opportunity to rev them out. I test drove a 91 Grand Prix GTP with the 3.4 DOHC 5 speed, same chassis as the Lumina, and it was not as fast with the torque feeling good but the power band not building like the SHO. That said, the car had a ton of tech with a HUD, a very intricate driver info/trip computer and compass, and rear bucket sets. What set the SHO apart was the smoothness and refinement of the engine, it had a variable intake manifold with a set of long narrow runners for low RPM, a set of short large runners for high RPM, that would switch over at about 4000 RPM, and when you reached that RPM you'd feel a surge in power.
I was a dealer tech back in the 90s and did a fair amount of work on these engines ,they were bad leaders and had many timing belt issues due to plastic pulleys that would melt,fortunately it was not a interference motor and did not bend valves when timing was lost.
@@christopherfrier6689 What was the deal with the alternators?! I had a ‘96 Monte Carlo Z34 in college and had to have the alternator changed every year…at about $350/pop back then! It broke me and I eventually sold it.
Mr. B. Here ! Morning Mags ! Nice job Steve in Las Vegas ! This vehicle had what some vehicles did not have good looks , Olds , Buicks , Pontic did not have much . Have a good day to all . ☕️☕️🍩🍩. 👁️👁️. 👍👍
My neighbor had one of these maroon on red cloth interior. 5speed. I thought that was the coolest thing ever. My other neighbor up the street had a baby blue beretta z26 around the same time. I was a kid then, I attest that era as to why I’m a gear head today. Great vid as always Steve!
I had a 91. What a cool and unique car. So roomy! Loved it. No issues. Man was that engine a screamer! Sold it at 14 years old when it got a engine tick. Plus I fell in love with a Bonneville SSEI...
The old 2.8 and 3.1 Multi port had a real distinct sound. I remember having a corsica LTZ and it sounded really impressive for a stock V6 exhaust. You knew a Multi port when they took off. The Z24 Cavalier with the 3.1 5-speed are actually becoming a colectable who would think
You're referring to the 2nd gen "splayed valve" 2.8/3.1 from 87/88 and totally phased out by 95 depending on the carline. These are the ones with the very distinct exhaust note. The entire top end on those was completely different from the 1st gen from '80-86 ('94 For F bodies) and completely different from it's successor the 3100/3400 series. I had a '90 Celebrity wagon with the 2g 3.1 and even with the large muffler on a conservative car you could still get a good clap out of the tailpipe under hard throttle, although nothing close to what folks got from their J and W cars with the same engine
got my license in a lumina 4dr back in 1996 ... one of my neighbors moms had a 2dr z34 lumina and we all thought it was hot shit , she had a olds cutlass calais with the quad 4 before that and if we'd been smart we would've been drooling over that more
These were actually very good-looking in their day. They looked especially good in red. NHRA pro-stock used this body style when they were new. There were quite a few pro-street conversions back in the day, and they looked great with the big tires.
Thanks Steve for covering that DOHC car, I've had a 96GTP with that engine(in it's final year) and I absolutely love it. They are great cars and it's sad to see one in the junkyard. Keep the videos coming!
Wow. This car brings back so many memories. I was in high school in the 90s; our driver's ed. car was the sedan model and my girlfriend's mom had the Z34. Good times
As a Chevy dealer tech in the 90's, I can attest to the DOHC being an absolute pain to change the belt. Good thing was, it is non-interference. Bad thing is, no cam timing marks, so belt changes required pulling the plenum and valve covers to install timing tools.
How about the oil pump drive (remnant of the distributor) seal that would leak, which would require pulling the head, lol. Not a big deal on the OHV motors. We used to give the customer the option of popping it up and putting RTV on it to buy some time.
@@mikepodorski4272 And to this day you hear stories of nightmarish issues with the 3.6 (spiritual successor to the earlier GM V6s?). We've got a Honda 3.5 V6 in an 2013 Acura RDX with approximately 167k miles. Had the timing belt changed once by the dealer and it will soon be due for a second. I had them change the plugs at 120k miles just to be safe and because I didn't want to do the contortionist routine for the rearward cylinder bank. Knock on wood, the engine never gave us an issue; doesn't leak or burn a drop of oil. There is something to be said for the Honda V6.
@@LongIslandMopars Honda has made that V6 forever. I think its roots date back to the late 80s when it was 2.7 liters. I've had three Odysseys with the 3.5, it is bulletproof (unlike their auto transmissions).
I bought a brand new 2002 Z24 Cavalier back in the fall of 2001. 5spd. Loved that little car. I could get 32mpg out on the highway at posted speeds. High 20's around town. Never had any major issues with the mechanicals, although it did go through a couple blower motor resistors for some reason. Traded it in for a new 2007 Malibu SS, which was a very fun car to drive.
This was a nice video. The Z24 Lumina was the last car my grandfather owned, before he stopped driving. Memories of getting picked up from school on hot Texas afternoons. I can still smell this era of GM interior.
Had a 90 2 door with the 3.1 engine. Plenty of punch for me it drove very well and no issues with power. Huge improvement over the 2.8. I am not a front drive fan in any way but that car was a good driver.
When i was in college, a friend had a 5 speed model. I had a Taurus SHO. So much fun racing that car. SHO had longer legs and would make good use of them. But that 1st half was a nail biter sometimes
I had one of the 5-speed Z34s back around 2004-ish. Fun car, and sounded GREAT for a V6. I guess the stickshift ones were pretty rare. It would absolutely vaporize the front tires through second if I wanted it to.
The 5-speeds are super rare, and from what I hear are the strongest of the fwd manuals! Anyone doing any kind of GM fwd build would be looking for one of these transmissions! Wish I could find one!
I test drove a used red Z34 back in the mid-90's with the 5-spd manual. Don't recall why I didn't buy it. I don't think I've seen a manual one of these since then.
I DD'd a 3.4l DOHC (lq1) for years. They are very neat engines. The power band on these is crazy and makes them very fun to drive. For a 1990s car, it was definitely a performance car.
To bad they fell flat on face in upper rpm range! They would over rev, but took half a day to do so. Just all midrange, no topend. As boring as a big block!
Actually that 3.4 was available in 4 door sedans with the Eurosport package. My brother had one and I believe it was a '94. I sure did scoot for being a slushbox.
We had a 93 Cutlass convertible with the 2.8 which was a fine engine, also had the transverse leaf spring that developed a terrible squeak at each side where it sat in its pocket- used to spray white grease in there liberally to quiet it.
I had the 1990 eurosport coupe version with the 3.1 v6 it had a good nascar like exaust sound and i loved it and by the way my eurosport had the same rear wing too from factory
The alternator is a pain to replace as well as it’s located under the engine. Also the lumina was more of a replacement for the Monte Carlo. The 3.4l DOHC was also found in the olds cutlass and Pontiac gran prix in the highest coupe trim packages
My buddy had a Lumina Euro 3.4 Sedan. Yes, they existed. You didnt need to get a Z34 to get that engine. Nice snake by the way! PS: Those are Aussie ROH ZS wheels. Those alone are worth saving... 👌
I had two of those, including a 5 speed. Really screamed. Alternator replacement was a major chore, mounted down below with ducted cooling. Never liked the rubber timing belt.
I wish more youtubers did junk yard stuff like this. It's interesting to think about the history of these specific cars and how they came to end up in this graveyard. After all, these were all somebody's shiny new ride they signed the papers for, excitedly drove off the dealer lot, and proudly showed off to their friends at one time.
That is a Canadian Lumina because the speedometer is metric - that 130 was KPH. The MPH scale was inside of the KPH scale, opposite of a USDM speedometer.
Correct, and it's also made in Canada. However, the US destined models of this time also came from Canada but would of course have a standard cluster. This one has a metric cluster, so it likely was sold in Canada from new.
I found a 1993 Chevy Lumina 4D for 600 dollars in April. It had just under 50k miles. Was one owner and grandpa driven. And now I’m so in love with these cars. Have a c6 corvette as my previous daily so the lack of power is kinda nice.
Had to help swap out the passenger side door on one of those years back. Never would do that again. Took 2 of us to hold the door up while a buddy started the bolts. Good cars otherwise but a pain in the ass to work on. Them and the Beretta's.
Back in my mechanic days about 20 years ago, I had to change an alternator on a 96’ Z34. GM was usually smart about locating such items in a serviceable location…..usually. The alternator is on the lower backside of the engine, and requires you to partially drop the subframe to get it out. Space was a premium.
Im surprised the 3.4 DOHC didnt end up in more hot rods. A very unique power plant. There was still alot of hesitation about OHC,timing belts and FI. Its unfortunate that that engine isnt in the line up today It might be as popular as the LS
@truckladders4104 The LQ1 was also offered in the 92-94 Lumina Euro 3.4 sedan, 91-96 Grand Prix coupes and sedans, and 91-96 Cutlass Supreme coupes, sedans, and 93-95 convertibles.
This one is interesting. It has a chain connecting a dummy cam in the bottom and a belt for the top ones. So it’s like they took a OHV setup and made it OHC?
Great video Steve and so happy that you talked about these wonderful cars and motors! Just a few corrections or maybe additional info. All W's body's from 1988 on had standard rear disc brakes, not specific to just the Z34's. The vents in the grill are not actual vents or allow air to go thru them, they have slits to allow the grill mounted turn signal/hazard/parking lights to be seen when illuminated. Lastly, the Z34's weren't the only cars to get the LQ1 motors in the Chevy family. Many people either forget or just don't know about the other Chevy member that could be optioned with the LQ1. I'm talking about the much more rare Lumina Euro 3.4 sedan. This is not to be confused with the Lumina Euro sedan which were all 3.1 cars. These Euro 3.4 sedans were essentially the 4 door version of the Z34's with one exception being all of them were automatic transaxle cars...no 5 speed option unlike the Z34's. These Euro 3.4 sedans were only made from 92-94 and only offered in White, Black, and Red. The only interior color was Medium Slate Gray...like the Z34 that you reviewed. Thanks again for reviewing these cars! I own 2 LQ1 cars and love them so much! Keep up the good work! Oh, one more thing. I can now do the timing belt change out in about an hour after years of practice. Not that bad of job to do. Like most things mechanical, the right tools for the job help tremendously.
I passed through that area on my way to the fort at no. 4 got a bit excited when I saw the Bernardston road sign I thought about stopping but the wife and kiddos wouldn’t have understood lol
Chevy’s first Z-Cars, the Z11 427-powered Impalas and Z06 Corvette are just the beginning of the long list of Z-cars from chevrolet. Keep up the great work.
GM's RPO-Z codes were a convenience option that usually pertained to suspension but could or might require other things. A=interior G= differential.. GT4=3.73, G80= posi. J= brakes L= engine M= trans, ... M21, M22 Z= convenience, could be a roof rack if I remember correctly. Last Suburban I ordered I walked in with the RPO's I wanted. There were 2 Z codes Z82 and Z84. That was snow plow and trailer tow package. Had a few Vega GT's back in the day. They were Z29's LOL That was the handling package springs and swaybars. But also included gage package and on earlier ones a 2bbl.
Those "vent" on the front house the turn lamps. Those 3.4 s ate alternators, 92s had a cooling scoop but they tended to feed water into the it in heavy rain. From 93 on they did not have that scoop. I had a 93 and it had 3 alternators in the 110,000 miles I owned it. A friend has a Grand Prix with the 3.4 and 41,000 miles and it is on its second alt.
@@kencecaci5031 The alternator on them get baked by extreme heat do to the packaging of them. You will find the alt, on the bottom of the engine. You can remove the right tire, seperate the lower ball joint and tie rod end the CV axle and inner fender liner to get at the alt. I opted to pay. Last time I had one done was in 1999 an it set me back about $200 for labor. Best of luck I did love my Z34 though.
Man I remember them! I had an 89 cavalier z24, but in 92. I remember when those came out! Not a bad looking performer! And used as a base for the Tom Cruise movie “thunder day’s” in NASCAR they used them luminas.
I was a GM tech in the 90s and worked on Lumina’s (and Corsica’s) regularly, and they were shit boxes; the car was over engineered & under built. Nothing on these cars “worked together” in that they just crammed different ideas & tech into, but none of it worked together for a an overall good driving experience. Yes, these motors had some power, but it didn’t come in until high rpm and had so much torque steer you couldn’t use it when it did. They didn’t ride well, the transverse carbon fiber mono leaf spring did not add to ride quality or handle well. The build quality was suspect and the worst part is these weren’t cheap! The Lumina was their flagship midsize car at the time, and they charged for it. Once you added the bells & whistles, you came close to Camaro pricing, which was a much better bang for the buck (4th gen Camaros Z28s were stout.) Of all the cars I worked on while at GM, I can say my memories of the Lumina’s are some of the worst. On a positive note, I love that you keep this history alive, Steve. Your extensive knowledge of the industry is unbelievably important, and thank you for sharing it regularly with the world.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
There is a Snake on passenger side strut tower when Steve opens the hood.
Good eyeballs
I predict an animal will attack him
Had to rewind the video when I noticed the comment, good catch
Missed that the first time. Nice catch!
That's Shelby using it as a toilet
That 180 on the speedo looks to be kilometers. Must be a Canadian model. Translates into just about 112 mph
Correct! You can also see the water temp is in Celsius and it looks like the oil pressure is in Kilopascals. Definitely set up for a metric country.
All the gauges appear to be metric.
If it's a Canadian model, that would make it a Zed034
Yep was about to say the same
Correct, it has a metric cluster.
Drove a new Z34 coupe GM engineering pool car from the Oshawa Ontario assembly plant to Rochester Michigan. The GM engineer I was with had an extreme sinus headache & forgot his meds. He told me to get home as quickly as possible. No problem. Taking the 401 & 402 which are fabulous e-ways, we made it home in about 3 hours doing well over 150km on the 402. I was pleasantly surprised how well the Z34 was quick, composed, tight & rode very well on the highway. Very impressive car.
That car wont do no 150mph.
@@Coffeebreak6329 You didn't read it. 150 KILOMETERS PER HOUR which would be about 93 MILES PER HOUR.
👀👓👀👓🤔🧐Time for the bifocals there bud, and\or reading comprehension 👍🏻👌🏻
Never said 150 mph, it says 150 Kph!
I used to own a 93 Cutlass convertible with that same 3.4 DOHC. It was a fun car, but man was a pain in the ass to work on.
Yep, a nightmare. Right engine, wrong application.
Just watched LSC do whole engine maintenance on his 92 cutlass with this motor and looked like a PITA to work on.
2:30 You’ve got a Canuck Z34 there Steve, that Speedo is in KM/H. And I can confirm that they’ll do 180km/h I’ve been in a few that hit it
I had a red 2dr '94 Z34 from 1998-2010 & got 325,000 miles out of that baby with almost no issues, great car! ✌💖☮
Awesome. I just bought a 91 in red. Seems to either have a rebuilt or replacement engine. Well it has numbers written on it for miles with yellow at 55,000 or so. So not exactly sure. Mileage on ODO said 155,000. Doing what I can to keep her alive. My main daily.
@@ErrorlVlacro thats great man! The 3.1 I had was an excellent engine
My wife and I got a Chevy Lumina in 2000? It was a very dependable car!
I’m glad I got the extended warranty though! The transmission surrendered and thankfully it was replaced!
That warranty was the best 1300 dollars I ever spent! It was still a great car in my eyes!
Get well, Steve.
I really like that you bring the magazines and catalogs out when talking about these cars, really takes me back as an aging Gen X'er.
I remember going to the Chicago auto show as a kid and coming home with a plastic bag full of the auto manufacturer catalogs and advertising brochures.
My friend had this engine in a 1994 Cutlass Supreme that we grew fond of. He got it for a pittance due to the oil pump drive (former distributor) leaking. We did a belt and suspenders treatment with a new o-ring and gasket. He wrecked that car, then bought a '96 that we swapped the 3.4 into. That engine was pretty hot for a an 18 year old kid in the rust belt in the early 2000s.
Of course, there were all the drawbacks of it being an early OBDII and being adapted from the 2.8/3.1 platform, but there was something endearing about it.
I find it pretty amazing that the average minivan has 50% more horsepower these days.
I bought a car in 94. It was in the shop and the dealer gave me a Lumina Z34 Coupe for 2 weeks. I can barely tell you about the Hyundai that I bought but I remember that Lumina to this day. What a nice car that was.
My day simply isn’t complete without a junkyard crawl video. Thank you for your time , dedication, care, and support for all things automotive. Your channel is my absolute favorite on UA-cam.
Loved the style of those, same with the berretta's!
I was a teenager when these engines came out and I was really fascinated by it. They were so unusually powerful for the day. Them and the SHO were well into the V8 numbers of the day.
There seems to be a special amount of disgust from the mechanics though who had to work on them .....they hated em!!
Whoever decided to make all vehicles ( except trucks & some sports cars ) front wheel drive, needed to be strung up from a tree. Those were the darkest days in automotive history. Heavy front ends made them dangerous in turns & all that added weight sure wasn't helping the front end components either. Can't work on em.......without cussing & wanting to set em on fire. It was really bad for these cars. Law enforcement agencies even hated them.
The fact that you were excited about this...?
This engine was a nightmare to work on. I replaced the head gaskets on one and promised myself never again! Even replacing the alternator was a nightmare.
@@dmandman9the alternator was buried real low on the engine and was constantly heat soaked. My parents Grand Prix with the 3.4 had its alternator replaced probably 5 times, all under warranty every time.
@@hadtocheathimtobeathim6549 I remember that nightmare as well. I remember replacing an alternator only to have it fail within weeks and had to replace it again under warranty . The parts company gave me another part. But I had to do the repair again for free. They buried the alternator right next to the exhaust manifold. Even with the heat shield, some of them wouldn’t last long. Also, during that era, GM alternators weren’t that good anyway. So when mounted near the exhaust they didn’t stand a chance . I’m glad that that engine wasn’t a great seller.
HI Steve great video on this Z34. Theae were pretty good rides and definitely Dale Earnhardt helped out on Monday morning at the dealerships. Steve be careful out there even tho that wasn't a poisonous snake they still bite the tar out of you. They also make you hurt yourself getting away from them. I was once under a full-size long bed Ford that had been sitting for quite some time. So while I'm under the truck unhooking the driveshaft. A black snake must have been laying along the frame rail and rolled out across my chest. So inadvertently lowered my arms when it hit my chest.and sort of wrapped him under each armpit. When I realized what was happening I began to beat my head against everything under that truck trying to get out from underneath. When I finally got out from under the truck I was trying to get it off of me with my arms flailing in the air and dance moves only Fred Astaire and MJ could've done. Once the snake was off of me I had a huge egg shaped knot on my eye and a couple of cuts on my forehead. I had the worst case of the heebie jeebies that day also. I'm not afraid of snake per say but I like to see them 1st and they can go on about their business.
~Say, I've got the Heebies
I mean the Jeebies
Talking about
The dance, the Heebie Jeebies
Do, because they're boys
Because it pleases me to be joy
Say, don't you know it?
You don't know how; don't be blue
Someone will teach you
Come on and do that dance
They call the Heebie Jeebies dance
Yes, ma'am
Papa's got the Heebie Jeebies dance
Say, come on now and do that dance
They call the Heebie Jeebies dance
Sweet mama
Papa's got to do the Heebie Jeebies dance
Woo, got the Heebie Jeebies
Whatcha doin' with the Heebies?
I just have to have the Heebies~written by the great Boyd Atkins🎷 and sung by the one and only Louis Armstrong 🎺 Y'all have a blessed day 🤙🏼 Namaste 🙏🏼
That story is nightmare fuel. Thanks alot
I’m sorry you injured yourself! However ,I must confess, that my visual of this episode you endured, gave me fits of laughter! I mean like rolling! 😂 great story!
I needed that!
Steve don't forget to mention the guy who assembled the 3.4 liter V6... His name was Fred and he only worked on Tuesday and Friday hence the low production numbers. He did smoke cigars during assembly and sometimes even a leftover stogie will be in the valley.... Just sayn'! Dig the channel man!
I had a grey 1993 Lumina Z-34. I loved it.
@andrewplantagenet5811 Gunmetal Gray Metallic is a rare color for these!
Steve you are my absolute Hero. When you opened that hood and that snake slithered off behind the engine. You did not even flinch. then you are standing in waist high grass. as it slips away under the back of the block. Yur Savage. Keep up the great videos. you hard work and research are amazing. MY FAVORITE. JUNKYARD CRAWLER for sure.
Thanks! I'm at Barrett-jackson in Las Vegas right now doing the TV auction broadcast. My NINETEENTH year! Happily no snakes under hoods here. But I'll be back at Bernardston Auto Wrecking within the week where I hear there's a BEAR wandering around. Maybe we'll ask it to sit for lunch. Thanks for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante
It's just a garter snake they're harmless. It wasn't a diamondback or a rattlesnake he's in Massachusetts ya know, not really any dangerous snakes in this(NE)area of the country, it's way too cold in winter here
The 3.4 DOHC was also available in the Lumina Euro 3.4 as well.
In 1992 however, I believe he's correct. The 3.4L was only used on the Lumina Z34 coupe, but yes, it was used in other models as well.
@googleusergp it was also uses on the Euro 3.4 coupe and sedan.
@@BlownL67 I know that. The 1992 OEM literature mentions the Z34 coupe being the only one with the 3.4L engine.
You could get it in the Monte Carlo also
I had a 3.4 euro, really nice car and quick. Rare EURO
Love these 90s videos🎉❤
Alternator paid like 5 hours to replace, and don't leave the air duct off it. They would last a week without the air duct.
Good god I recall doing many of those. We had a crap off brand reman company that supplied us with alts. All of the techs refused to use them because of the lack of quality. Come backs were common. I'll never forget the day when the service writer sold 1 of them, a Sluter, to a Z34 owner and the tech said, he would pay for the new GM alt if the customer pays the labor, or he's not doing the job!
My mom bought a new red one in 1991. What a great car! Would absolutely melt the front tires, which were big sticky goodyear eagles, Bose stereo system which rocked, and really handled great for a front drive car of the time. And yes, would do 120 + on the highway and great aero as it was a copy of the thunderbird aerocoupe. I wish i had that car now!
No it didn't! They shut down at 115. Same as my 89 Z24 cavalier which my sister swore did 125+ in it but didn't! Vehicles were definitely governored back then.
I can confirm the governor. My 92 Z34 hit the 115 limiter in a run against a Supercoupe.
I have a 91 in red. Doing what I can to keep it alive. My daily. And yes I’ve tested it. It won’t let it go past 115, but it doesn’t shut off like the gov in my 95 S10 it just won’t let it go any more.
You are one of the most mind numbingly interesting folks I know. Get better soon (not giving you chioce) Very special people like you are rare. Barrett Jackson did a great job bringing you on board.
I have a 93 Euro lumina. I drive it every day. Has 325000 mi. Still runs perfect. Original motor and trans. Body is going to rust out before the power train dies. I love it. So easy to work on.
My ex girlfriend had a 1996 Monte Carlo Z34 with the 3.4. That car actually ripped pretty good. Steve is correct too....I ran a 15.56 with it.
the z34 sounds pretty nice goin down the road
I just love you guys saying "zee"-it sounds so funny. (My "Zed"-28, with headers, true dual pipes, and a M-21 four speed was a sweet ride. My two daighters loved it when the Secondaries and Cold-Air intake flap opened, and they were pined against the back of the back seat.) Cheers from the Pacific West Coast of Canada.
Looks like your channel is starting to gain some steam Steve! I notice your subscriber count has really been jumping lately! Won't be long until you hit 100,000!
No, the Taurus came out for the 1986 (not 1985) model year. No, this is metric cluster and that's 180 kilometers, not MPH. No, those exhaust tips appear to have been replaced. They would likely have a more rectangular outlet style. Correct, this is a "W" body and replaced the Celebrity in the product line up. They were OK cars and were everywhere as rentals and fleet cars (and even some municipal and police cars) for a time.
The 2.8L V6 debuted in 1980, not 1982 (although you are correct, it was used in a 1982 Camaro). In the early years, it had the Rochester "Disaster Jet" Varajet carburetor. Correct, the Lumina APV was the "U" body "Dustbuster" minivan which was a cousin to the other GM divisions that also produced a version of it.
No VIN, can't win, but easy to figure out, no doubt: 2G1 for Canadian made Chevrolet, WP14 for Chevrolet Lumina Z34 coupe, X for 3.4L V6, then a random check digit, N for the 1992 model year, 9 for Oshawa, Ontario Canada assembly and the rest is the production sequence. The Oshawa plant complex operated from 1953 until 2019, closed for a time and then restarted in 2021. We know it's a Canadian made vehicle because of the blue "Maple Leaf" decal under the certification decal.
No SPID, wish you did and no tag, can't brag, but this is code 41 (aka WA8555) Black exterior paint.
Good catch on the speedo, Mr. Google. Didn't know anyone with one of these. The stock exhaust is a memorable sound from the '90's, sounded like "turbo" mufflers. I'd say a better looking car than the Taurus.
@@tomwesley7884 They were both good sellers, and they had their time to "shine".
@googleusergp The Z34's did not get a rectangular style exhaust tip, they did indeed get oval ones from factory.
@@jiggity76 The original photos of a 1992 Z34 did not look like those.
Steve is a nice guy , but he gives out a lot of incorrect information . I hate when he does it with Mopars .
I was just getting out of high school when these came out. The styling was something different that I thought was cool.
Your knowledge of Z34 Lumina is very impressive! 👍
The things you learn at a ripe old age when it's too late to take advantage of such a prize in its prime. I was tickled to find out you were a friend of Uncle Tony's. I'm an old diy Mopar guy and took advantage of a few of the inexpensive available A, B body Dodges in my youth. Whole cars as well as an abundance of parts cars. So when I discovered Tony's channel it was a time machine for me because I loved wrenching on them because they were so simple and cheap to maintain and upgrade with original parts. I discovered you on Barrett Jackson and loved your reviews of the vehicles on the block. And to discover you collaborating with Tony confirmed his authenticity not knowing anything about him prior to discovering his channel. Thank you for sharing your passion for the auto industry.
I remember renting one of these , drove from San Diego to San Antonio. Superb driving emotion. I should've bought one, but the I was in love with the White Pontiac Grand Prix. The dealership in El Paso had ran out and decided for a used Mustang LX convertible.
These were neat cars! My buddy had a '91 Euro 3.1, but the Z34 is next level. However, the Taurus SHO of the same era had the Yamaha engine and revved to 7200 rpm!
The SHO was marginally faster too. Despite being a 4 door.
5200 RPMs is actually '65 GTO/442 OHV 2 valve V8 numbers... not that high... earlier Chevy's revved much higher...
@@kalebbrown93 TL;DR SHO's were quicker.
SHO's were quicker especially with the 5 speed, and were about as quick as a 5.0L Mustang LX/GT and even early 4.6L Mustang GT. My Dad had a 94 which I drove a number of times, and while I didn't have the opportunity (or stupidity?) to try this on the street, the butt dyno between the two cars was similar, with the Mustang having a more linear power band of torque that leveled off and the SHO building power through the RPMs. I also test drove 2 used first gens (89-91) and 2 second gens (92-95), having the opportunity to rev them out. I test drove a 91 Grand Prix GTP with the 3.4 DOHC 5 speed, same chassis as the Lumina, and it was not as fast with the torque feeling good but the power band not building like the SHO. That said, the car had a ton of tech with a HUD, a very intricate driver info/trip computer and compass, and rear bucket sets. What set the SHO apart was the smoothness and refinement of the engine, it had a variable intake manifold with a set of long narrow runners for low RPM, a set of short large runners for high RPM, that would switch over at about 4000 RPM, and when you reached that RPM you'd feel a surge in power.
There was a dodge turbo spirit that came out around this time too that was pretty exciting.
And even funnier is furd didn't n couldn't build something on their own! Because furd! Lol
I was a dealer tech back in the 90s and did a fair amount of work on these engines ,they were bad leaders and had many timing belt issues due to plastic pulleys that would melt,fortunately it was not a interference motor and did not bend valves when timing was lost.
and those alternators.....
@@christopherfrier6689 What was the deal with the alternators?! I had a ‘96 Monte Carlo Z34 in college and had to have the alternator changed every year…at about $350/pop back then! It broke me and I eventually sold it.
@@theovallas Had to take the subframe loose or out to do them. hey were tucked way in..
Mr. B. Here ! Morning Mags ! Nice job Steve in Las Vegas ! This vehicle had what some vehicles did not have good looks , Olds , Buicks , Pontic did not have much . Have a good day to all . ☕️☕️🍩🍩. 👁️👁️. 👍👍
Morning
👍☕️☕️
My neighbor had one of these maroon on red cloth interior. 5speed. I thought that was the coolest thing ever. My other neighbor up the street had a baby blue beretta z26 around the same time. I was a kid then, I attest that era as to why I’m a gear head today. Great vid as always Steve!
@blitzedburgh090 No Z34 left GM with a maroon exterior. It had to have been repainted at some point.
I had a 91. What a cool and unique car. So roomy! Loved it. No issues. Man was that engine a screamer! Sold it at 14 years old when it got a engine tick. Plus I fell in love with a Bonneville SSEI...
The old 2.8 and 3.1 Multi port had a real distinct sound. I remember having a corsica LTZ and it sounded really impressive for a stock V6 exhaust. You knew a Multi port when they took off. The Z24 Cavalier with the 3.1 5-speed are actually becoming a colectable who would think
The 2.8 is the king of 60° V6. Everything after is garbage! Especially the 3.1!
My first car was a 2.8 cavalier with a 5 speed with an exhaust, to this day the coolest sounding car Ive ever heard
You're referring to the 2nd gen "splayed valve" 2.8/3.1 from 87/88 and totally phased out by 95 depending on the carline. These are the ones with the very distinct exhaust note. The entire top end on those was completely different from the 1st gen from '80-86 ('94 For F bodies) and completely different from it's successor the 3100/3400 series. I had a '90 Celebrity wagon with the 2g 3.1 and even with the large muffler on a conservative car you could still get a good clap out of the tailpipe under hard throttle, although nothing close to what folks got from their J and W cars with the same engine
I had a 2.8mpi in an 85 Pontiac 6000SE, man that sound was awesome indeed, Fun car too
Pretty sure that they were faster than the Corvettes of the same years.. GM tripped over their dongs on that one.
got my license in a lumina 4dr back in 1996 ... one of my neighbors moms had a 2dr z34 lumina and we all thought it was hot shit , she had a olds cutlass calais with the quad 4 before that and if we'd been smart we would've been drooling over that more
very illuminating steve!
I use to own one of these. The car would float at high speed. Very strong, fast, and comfortable
Always had a soft spot for these, the exhaust had a great sound (especially for a V6) good looking car
That exhaust was the sound of the '90's, whatever mufflers GM was using
Agreed, I will never forget the tone of the GM v6s of that era
My friend had one with a 5 Speed! It was able to keep up with the pony cars
These were actually very good-looking in their day. They looked especially good in red. NHRA pro-stock used this body style when they were new. There were quite a few pro-street conversions back in the day, and they looked great with the big tires.
Thanks Steve for covering that DOHC car, I've had a 96GTP with that engine(in it's final year) and I absolutely love it. They are great cars and it's sad to see one in the junkyard. Keep the videos coming!
04:42 That snake noped the heck out when you popped that hood. (Top center of the frame on the passenger strut tower)
Wow. This car brings back so many memories. I was in high school in the 90s; our driver's ed. car was the sedan model and my girlfriend's mom had the Z34. Good times
I always liked those... Great vid!
As a Chevy dealer tech in the 90's, I can attest to the DOHC being an absolute pain to change the belt. Good thing was, it is non-interference. Bad thing is, no cam timing marks, so belt changes required pulling the plenum and valve covers to install timing tools.
My God. With all the work that went into those heads, you think they would have had the brains to put timing marks on the cam gears....
How about the oil pump drive (remnant of the distributor) seal that would leak, which would require pulling the head, lol. Not a big deal on the OHV motors. We used to give the customer the option of popping it up and putting RTV on it to buy some time.
@@mikepodorski4272 And to this day you hear stories of nightmarish issues with the 3.6 (spiritual successor to the earlier GM V6s?). We've got a Honda 3.5 V6 in an 2013 Acura RDX with approximately 167k miles. Had the timing belt changed once by the dealer and it will soon be due for a second. I had them change the plugs at 120k miles just to be safe and because I didn't want to do the contortionist routine for the rearward cylinder bank. Knock on wood, the engine never gave us an issue; doesn't leak or burn a drop of oil. There is something to be said for the Honda V6.
Total piece of junk and should have never been built.
@@LongIslandMopars Honda has made that V6 forever. I think its roots date back to the late 80s when it was 2.7 liters. I've had three Odysseys with the 3.5, it is bulletproof (unlike their auto transmissions).
I bought a brand new 2002 Z24 Cavalier back in the fall of 2001. 5spd. Loved that little car. I could get 32mpg out on the highway at posted speeds. High 20's around town. Never had any major issues with the mechanicals, although it did go through a couple blower motor resistors for some reason. Traded it in for a new 2007 Malibu SS, which was a very fun car to drive.
Both are very cool cars. It be nice to find a survivor of one now
I own a Z24 and is a super fun car to have !
This was a nice video. The Z24 Lumina was the last car my grandfather owned, before he stopped driving. Memories of getting picked up from school on hot Texas afternoons. I can still smell this era of GM interior.
Those cars had a very nice exhaust tone.
Had a 90 2 door with the 3.1 engine. Plenty of punch for me it drove very well and no issues with power. Huge improvement over the 2.8. I am not a front drive fan in any way but that car was a good driver.
Lol... The head gasket/ head bolt blowing 3.1 was great huh? 😂
@@shawnsatterlee6035 You would know all about blowing bolts so whatever...
When i was in college, a friend had a 5 speed model. I had a Taurus SHO. So much fun racing that car. SHO had longer legs and would make good use of them. But that 1st half was a nail biter sometimes
I had one of the 5-speed Z34s back around 2004-ish. Fun car, and sounded GREAT for a V6. I guess the stickshift ones were pretty rare. It would absolutely vaporize the front tires through second if I wanted it to.
My roommate in college had a nice black and red one. Lots of detailed and color matched items. Pretty interior he took great care of it. Quick too.
Second and third were my best friends 😂
The 5-speeds are super rare, and from what I hear are the strongest of the fwd manuals! Anyone doing any kind of GM fwd build would be looking for one of these transmissions! Wish I could find one!
@@joshcummings2570 I think Getrag made them?
I test drove a used red Z34 back in the mid-90's with the 5-spd manual. Don't recall why I didn't buy it. I don't think I've seen a manual one of these since then.
Boiler up
I DD'd a 3.4l DOHC (lq1) for years. They are very neat engines. The power band on these is crazy and makes them very fun to drive. For a 1990s car, it was definitely a performance car.
To bad they fell flat on face in upper rpm range! They would over rev, but took half a day to do so. Just all midrange, no topend. As boring as a big block!
Actually that 3.4 was available in 4 door sedans with the Eurosport package. My brother had one and I believe it was a '94. I sure did scoot for being a slushbox.
@jakebob5101 So proud of you! Yes, it was called the Lumina Euro 3.4. Many people had no idea they existed.
Those rims look good enough to grab and clean up/paint/powder paint.
We had a 93 Cutlass convertible with the 2.8 which was a fine engine, also had the transverse leaf spring that developed a terrible squeak at each side where it sat in its pocket- used to spray white grease in there liberally to quiet it.
@66balsam Wrong info there, a 93 vert would have had either the 3.1 or LQ1. Last year for the 2.8 in the W body's was 1989.
@@jiggity76 sorry yes, our 89 Cutlas had the 2.8, 93 had the 3.1, thanks
This engine was in the 1990 Fiero prototype. We missed out on an awesome car there.
I had the 1990 eurosport coupe version with the 3.1 v6 it had a good nascar like exaust sound and i loved it and by the way my eurosport had the same rear wing too from factory
Lumina's... Cavalier's.. they were building tons of these when I was in high school..Alota those Z-24 Cavalier's were on the road.. great video!!
The alternator is a pain to replace as well as it’s located under the engine. Also the lumina was more of a replacement for the Monte Carlo. The 3.4l DOHC was also found in the olds cutlass and Pontiac gran prix in the highest coupe trim packages
That steering wheel is a direct bolt on to an 80's C10 steering column. I ran one for years.
My buddy had a Lumina Euro 3.4 Sedan. Yes, they existed. You didnt need to get a Z34 to get that engine. Nice snake by the way! PS: Those are Aussie ROH ZS wheels. Those alone are worth saving... 👌
@garywhitby4211 Incredibly rare car! Many people didn't even know they existed.
I had two of those, including a 5 speed. Really screamed. Alternator replacement was a major chore, mounted down below with ducted cooling. Never liked the rubber timing belt.
Those 90-91 lumina models were great cars. I remember my family had the euro 3.1. I learned to drive in that car.
Thanks for sharing your VAST knowledge, love the junkyard crawl.
I wish more youtubers did junk yard stuff like this. It's interesting to think about the history of these specific cars and how they came to end up in this graveyard. After all, these were all somebody's shiny new ride they signed the papers for, excitedly drove off the dealer lot, and proudly showed off to their friends at one time.
Problem most people are stuck on 68 to 72 gm. Overpriced junk. I had a new z24 .
Love your videos, Steve. Can't wait to see you back on again.
That is a Canadian Lumina because the speedometer is metric - that 130 was KPH. The MPH scale was inside of the KPH scale, opposite of a USDM speedometer.
Correct, and it's also made in Canada. However, the US destined models of this time also came from Canada but would of course have a standard cluster. This one has a metric cluster, so it likely was sold in Canada from new.
That's a speedy little Garter Snake , I had to go back and look when I saw your comment . Cue Woody's voice "There's a Snake in my boots"
When I was younger we had a 93 or 94 Lumina eurosport 3.4 with that engine, it was a 4 door.
I found a 1993 Chevy Lumina 4D for 600 dollars in April. It had just under 50k miles. Was one owner and grandpa driven. And now I’m so in love with these cars. Have a c6 corvette as my previous daily so the lack of power is kinda nice.
Had to help swap out the passenger side door on one of those years back. Never would do that again. Took 2 of us to hold the door up while a buddy started the bolts. Good cars otherwise but a pain in the ass to work on. Them and the Beretta's.
Good Morning Gents ! 🇺🇸
GoodMorning, uncle grandpa!😂
My uncle had one it was a GM flop that thing was always giving him trouble
Um, yeah, kilometers... Steve's been huffing mildew off those floormats.
He'll be on the pot later. You wait and see. Anyone got any TP?
Didn't even notice that snake 😂😂😂
Cool engine, I believe it was also available in the Grand Prix GTP at the time.
@Rushh-gu3ij That is correct, from 91-96.
My ex had a red one. Beautiful car but motor went out and car got crushed. Lumina's, GP gtp, Berettas are almost non existent now.
Back in my mechanic days about 20 years ago, I had to change an alternator on a 96’ Z34. GM was usually smart about locating such items in a serviceable location…..usually. The alternator is on the lower backside of the engine, and requires you to partially drop the subframe to get it out. Space was a premium.
@pilottou People often forgot to put back the generator's cooling duct system. That greatly shortened the life of the new generator.
You had to remove the RS half shaft to replace the alternator.
Im surprised the 3.4 DOHC didnt end up in more hot rods. A very unique power plant. There was still alot of hesitation about OHC,timing belts and FI. Its unfortunate that that engine isnt in the line up today It might be as popular as the LS
This turd ended up exactly where it needs to be...in the scrap heap
I still don't want a timing belt engine... Cadillac/Seville went EFI V8's in '75...
@truckladders4104 The LQ1 was also offered in the 92-94 Lumina Euro 3.4 sedan, 91-96 Grand Prix coupes and sedans, and 91-96 Cutlass Supreme coupes, sedans, and 93-95 convertibles.
This one is interesting. It has a chain connecting a dummy cam in the bottom and a belt for the top ones. So it’s like they took a OHV setup and made it OHC?
Morning Steve... owned one, not a bad car.
Ya they were crap. pretty much disposable cars.
Great video Steve and so happy that you talked about these wonderful cars and motors! Just a few corrections or maybe additional info. All W's body's from 1988 on had standard rear disc brakes, not specific to just the Z34's. The vents in the grill are not actual vents or allow air to go thru them, they have slits to allow the grill mounted turn signal/hazard/parking lights to be seen when illuminated. Lastly, the Z34's weren't the only cars to get the LQ1 motors in the Chevy family. Many people either forget or just don't know about the other Chevy member that could be optioned with the LQ1. I'm talking about the much more rare Lumina Euro 3.4 sedan. This is not to be confused with the Lumina Euro sedan which were all 3.1 cars. These Euro 3.4 sedans were essentially the 4 door version of the Z34's with one exception being all of them were automatic transaxle cars...no 5 speed option unlike the Z34's. These Euro 3.4 sedans were only made from 92-94 and only offered in White, Black, and Red. The only interior color was Medium Slate Gray...like the Z34 that you reviewed.
Thanks again for reviewing these cars! I own 2 LQ1 cars and love them so much! Keep up the good work!
Oh, one more thing. I can now do the timing belt change out in about an hour after years of practice. Not that bad of job to do. Like most things mechanical, the right tools for the job help tremendously.
I passed through that area on my way to the fort at no. 4 got a bit excited when I saw the Bernardston road sign I thought about stopping but the wife and kiddos wouldn’t have understood lol
Chevy’s first Z-Cars, the Z11 427-powered Impalas and Z06 Corvette are just the beginning of the long list of Z-cars from chevrolet. Keep up the great work.
GM's RPO-Z codes were a convenience option that usually pertained to suspension but could or might require other things.
A=interior
G= differential.. GT4=3.73, G80= posi.
J= brakes
L= engine
M= trans, ... M21, M22
Z= convenience, could be a roof rack if I remember correctly.
Last Suburban I ordered I walked in with the RPO's I wanted.
There were 2 Z codes Z82 and Z84. That was snow plow and trailer tow package.
Had a few Vega GT's back in the day. They were Z29's LOL That was the handling package springs and swaybars. But also included gage package and on earlier ones a 2bbl.
Those "vent" on the front house the turn lamps. Those 3.4 s ate alternators, 92s had a cooling scoop but they tended to feed water into the it in heavy rain. From 93 on they did not have that scoop. I had a 93 and it had 3 alternators in the 110,000 miles I owned it. A friend has a Grand Prix with the 3.4 and 41,000 miles and it is on its second alt.
hey Brock'..I've got a '93 Z34 and I'm having ALTERNATOR issues! What's the problem with these? Is there a fix, other than a new alternator?
@@kencecaci5031 The alternator on them get baked by extreme heat do to the packaging of them. You will find the alt, on the bottom of the engine. You can remove the right tire, seperate the lower ball joint and tie rod end the CV axle and inner fender liner to get at the alt. I opted to pay.
Last time I had one done was in 1999 an it set me back about $200 for labor. Best of luck I did love my Z34 though.
Very cool car , it would be nice to find a survivor of one now . Is that a big old Rust Brown Mercury to the right of it ?
I really love these information videos you do. I got my drivers license in a 1990 sedan 😊
Pontiac in the mid 90' also had the 3.4 DOHC available in the Grand Prix GTP.
A car you don't see anymore is what my brother had. A z26 I think it was Chevrolet Beretta. It was all red and a 5 speed. Nice looking car.
My wife had a 92. Looked just like this one.That 3.4 ate Mustangs. Believe me. Handled like a living room, though!
Man I remember them! I had an 89 cavalier z24, but in 92. I remember when those came out! Not a bad looking performer! And used as a base for the Tom Cruise movie “thunder day’s” in NASCAR they used them luminas.
I owned a 92 Z34 in black with the red interior. It was only 2 years old when i bought it. It was a vague driving experience, even for those days.
get well soon Steve, love your vids...
I was a GM tech in the 90s and worked on Lumina’s (and Corsica’s) regularly, and they were shit boxes; the car was over engineered & under built. Nothing on these cars “worked together” in that they just crammed different ideas & tech into, but none of it worked together for a an overall good driving experience. Yes, these motors had some power, but it didn’t come in until high rpm and had so much torque steer you couldn’t use it when it did. They didn’t ride well, the transverse carbon fiber mono leaf spring did not add to ride quality or handle well. The build quality was suspect and the worst part is these weren’t cheap! The Lumina was their flagship midsize car at the time, and they charged for it. Once you added the bells & whistles, you came close to Camaro pricing, which was a much better bang for the buck (4th gen Camaros Z28s were stout.) Of all the cars I worked on while at GM, I can say my memories of the Lumina’s are some of the worst.
On a positive note, I love that you keep this history alive, Steve. Your extensive knowledge of the industry is unbelievably important, and thank you for sharing it regularly with the world.
We miss you Steve, I hope you get better soon