Hey guys, I'm new to this here GM thing, I dont know the slightest bit about em so maybe you could give me some advice. I own an 87 Bird, base model with the 2.8mpfi, T-5. What are the cons and weknesses of this car (other than the trans mount, already went through 2), and what kind of stuff might I be looking at to chew up a few rice jockeys? Probably too much work for the 2.8 eh?

Thanks, Mike

 

Welcome aboard.

Well, uh. Ya.

Theres alot you can do. 3.4 upgrade, lots of other little things.
I will let the others fil you in, I'm not too kenn on everything in the 6ixer world.

I use my 6ixer as a dailey driver, and I spend all my money on the 8.

Have fun

 

Put the energysuspension.com polyurethane trans mount on the car. Summitracing.com sells it for about $20, call them at 800-230-3030. I've been thru 3 trans mounts, and this one has lasted for the past, uh... '97 to '02 is, what, 5 years? No signs of breaking yet.

Click on "search" on the upper right hand corner of this screen, and look for "Major tuneup" authored by "TomP" in the "V6 forum", that's your first start. Then use the search to find out info about exhaust, ignition, transmission, etc.

 

Hey Tom, is this the mount your talking about.

I need a new one. Just toased another one. It only took 3 months...

 

It dosn't look like the regular mount, how does it work?

 

Yep; that's the mount; you'll use the center of the three holes. to attach the mount to the tranny's crossmember. The other plate is meant for "preload" - although plenty of people on the trans board haven't used it. (I did.) You put it against the back of the trans mount, then thread a bolt thru both holes (trans mount & preload plate) and into the tranny.

 

kewl, looks like I need to order one. Thanks....

 

what are you guys doing to break trans mounts??? Just courious?

I am still using the original one.

I am on my second T5.

 

Well 86bird, you ever hear that saying: Drive it like you stole it? I think that pretty much sums things up. Do you get rubber in 1st chirp em in 2nd then get a little squeak in 3rd? If you do that a few times, it should just about do it.

 

first nite of the new trans n clutch i was getin 1-4th with two people.

my friend kept saying did i just hear it, yep

I was glad that the tranny i got had a new torque bar rubber mount. that was well worn out on my old one but the mount was good.

with the counter wieght and the torque bar it should not move that much? now other cars i have broken them. many broken left motor mounts.

thats a fun one cause at first it look like your car is trying to do a wheelie, but not it the motor slaming aginst the hood lifting the left side up.

 

how can you tell that you need a new tranny mount ...i get some nasty knockin if i take off hard i told my mechanic i thought u joints he checked my u joints and said they were tight ...could it be tranny mounts?

 

When you get on it, does your whole shifter move up in the air?

 

if its and automatic the shifter probably won't move. when mine was shot just hear a lound WHAP everytime the car shifted hard high in the RPM range.....i replace with and OEM part and its been fine since....but i have probably limited myslef to no more than 6 or 7 brake stands over thats that 2 years.....WOW, i even impress myself. hahaha

 

the shifter does come up a bit but not alot andf its a 5spd stndrd