fenderman93

On a 1986 Camaro with a 2.8l v6 thats stock
except with a flow master muffler i dont get all the power i want, now
i know some of you blowhards are going to say shouldve got a v8...but i didnt so working with what i got....

HEADERS... if i got aluminum headers and swapped them for the ones i currently have would it really make that big of a difference and if so why? all they would be is lighter by a bit if i understand this concept correctly?

TIRES...i currently have Michelin radial ta tires that are new and they feel great btw..but im wondering if I replaced the read end tires i have now, for wider ones, like you'll usualy see in big block engine muscle cars.. would it be worth it and add some take off power? if so how do i figure out how wide i can go while accounting for the wheel well and still being able to fit iinside of it with a wider tire?

Thanks so much, these may seem like dumb questions..but there really is no such thing as a stupid ? right...

ex-x-fire

A cam swap & a rear gear change will help too. You most likely have 3.08s or 3.23s. I'd swap to 3.73s, your mpg on the hwy will take a hit.
Another option is do a 3.4L swap.

2005Impalla

^ Yup I would find out what rear gears you have and if you have a limited slip diff or not. The headers will give you some power by allowing the motor to breath better. A little wider tire will help a little. I would just look for a used set of corvette rims and put 17s on the car. You will need 2" spacers if you get corvette rims though. Your ride will be a little harsher and you will feel the bumps and groves in the road more than your stock tires but they will grip better, have more traction for cornering and stopping. Is your car an automatic. I had a 5 speed 2.8 and it was pretty quick for a small motor.

Night rider327

iTrader: (13)

Tires will NOT give you any power what so ever. In fact the bigger taller, wider tires in your case will hurt power as it's more weight to turn and if you go taller it will reduce your overall gear ratio.

Big, wide tires are installed to help traction, stop wheel spin on higher powered engines.

The same basics apply to all engines for power gain. Engines are air pumps.. Get more air in, let more air out and combine that with the correct amount of fuel and spark and you make more power..

Letting air out = headers, better Y pipe, better exhaust system, bigger exhaust valves, better flowing exhaust port on heads, more cam duration and lift on exhaust side

Getting more air in = better throttle body, intake, head flow on intake side, bigger intake valves, more cam duration and lift on intake side.

So what that boils down to is.. Headers and exhaust system, aftermarket cam, better intake, port and polish heads, etc.

Or... look into doing a V8 swap, which is pretty easy to do.

92g92

Just drive it how it is. Either get a set plan and get some serious power add ons, i.e. a fully build, or just leave it alone. Those minute additions you're considering won't do hardly anything to satisfy you.


P.S. Saying someone might be a blowhard for suggesting a V8 is like me calling my professor a blowhard for giving study tips. Everything he says is correct.

fenderman93

ok thanks for the explantion and answers.

gallaire

350 vortec out of 96 98 tuck carb it .

Night rider327

iTrader: (13)

If power is what you want then that is the best, cheapest way to get it.

1996-00 full size truck/van/suv vortec L31 350. You can get them from wrecked trucks all the time, prices will range from $400-800

Used V8 700r4, or th-350 long shaft trans... $100-400

Summit stage 1 vortec intake $135
Good used 600 cfm carb $75-150
New V8 engine mounts from parts store $35
Set of headers $200
Skip white HEI dist. $80
Rubber fuel line, clamps, belts, hoses, bolts, fittings, all the little stuff $150

$1500 for the swap, have about 275-300 HP

2005Impalla

Or better yet and I know your are probably attached to your car so it might be painful to hear but your best bet is to sell your car and buy a V8 car