Both before and after. I've owned both motors.

DropTop is a member here and at OF.com, and is friends with 94sseGold I believe, anyhow, he has the exact same car, cept its white/convertible.

so what this is boiling down to is the 3.4 is a bad motor, stay away?

Ive seen the 3.1 go as far as 235k miles and as little as 118k... they are a really pissy engine. 3.4'* are about the same...friend had one that he bought from his aunt in a 95 GA and it blew a HG in 10k miles which was about 126k total. So if you can do a HG yourself I say get it and do it.. but dont spend 3000 on the car.. way to much.

Remember that head gastkets are alot more difficult on an OHC engine.

RPB, remember, its CDN dollars.

I've seen HG go on 3400 DOHC'* but I've seen upper intakes fail on 3800 NA'* , point is, engines have problems. The only bulletproof engine I know is the L27 (low mileage) and the LN3...(any mileage). And its rare to find one in TOP notch shape...Jason dont say it...we all know :?

Its up to you Matt, weigh the options

Hey it'* all good, olds or pontiac. Just pick a sound car that will last you longer then you want it to. With whatever you want on it.

DON'T BE SCARED AWAY FROM THE 3.4 DOHC. It'* a good motor with a lot of power. Revs up very quickly and is fun to drive. They have gotten a bad rap for a few problems that can be VERY expensive however. First, check to see when the timing belt was last replaced, this car should be on its 3rd as it should be changed every 60k. Find out when the alternator was replaced, if at all. It'* in a very weird spot on that engine, right by the passenger side wheel. That can be an expensive replacement. Also, if it leaks oil, avoid it. The oil pump O ring can fail. Problem is this 2 cent O ring requires pulling the rear head to access it. Almost every 3.4 has had that problem including mine, and it cost me 1200 to have fixed. Other than those 3 things, I never had any other problems with that motor, and I drove it pretty hard. So if I havn't scared you off with all that, I'd say take a look at it.

Wow that was long, sorry...

The owner had that seal replaced I do belive, and a recipt to back it up. He mentioned the engine being taken apart, and the timing belt being done too. Recently within last 5K miles.

If it looks good and has been maintained I'd see what you can do about then. I love my GTP, and when it'* clean it still turns heads even though its 10 years old.

The DOHC motor comes with the FE3 suspension as well, which helps it corner way better than my Bonneville with its softer FE1.

Anyway good luck with that car and let us know how it works out.