Okay, I've got an '86 2.8 with 140k on it. New oil, coolant, hoses, A belt. But there's a problem. I've got the rear out of a Z-28. Granted it's a posi, but it isn't exactly geared to get acceleration out of a 2.8, so I'm just wondering some cheap ways to get a lil more ***** outta my beast.

0-45 in 13 seconds with the pedal floored is a bit f*ked up, especially when other 2.8's beat me. Anyway, little stuff like spark plugs and wires are coming, so you don't have to mention those.

Also, any good reccomendations for tires?

p'z
Fluffy

 

best advice i'd give you is to raise the gear ratio in the back. Being that the rears from a posi Z, i'd expect there to be many options for gears while keeping the positive traction in tact. a set of 4.11's will get that car moving a lot quicker than it would with the stock rear end, and the posi might hold out so that'd be a definate plus. also engine modifications plus say a good tuneup for a propper running car would be a nice step. hmmmmmmmm, lets see, but if ur prob is really in the rear, remmber that 2.8 equipped cars came with 3.42 rear gears. So, anything higher than that should get u a tad bit better on the accell then other stock car setups And some of those 305 engines came with like 2.77 rear gears (would bog down a high reving motor like ours). Think 3.73 or 4.11, and have fun.

oh, and on tires, a posi axel should allow you ot get bite, and you don't have power coming out like crazy that'll rip it to pieces, so more likely than not, you could run a smaller tire, but then that's ugly, so go with something wide...245's or so, a lower profile will also help in that acceleration by increasing the effective gear ratio. :d happy times. and good luck...ps. welcometo the board.

 

oh man.........you probably have 2.73's



well, look on the brite side, their good for fuel economy

 

A Jillion options!
Me
Try using the 3:42 gears you find in a real nice looking V-6 car.
Why?
Less stress on the gears, you'd hope!
More than 3:42?
Need to find a 4 cylinder car & grab those gears or a 4 cylinder S series truck or a Vega/Monza (those cars)
Those rear ratios I'll bet are 3:73.
Cheap yard scores.
Tires,
All up it you.
Me? I love Goodyears, brand new.
Right now I use used tires from others. Finally got a very good set of rubber for dirt cheap! Four very good tires, cost me $65 total! I have 245-60-15 on the rear of my ride and looks pleasant. I use 215-65-15 in front. Stock ride height.

I'm spending the money saved on this interior I scored this weekend for my Firebird, I'm pulling it from an outside fire damaged V-8 Camaro!
You'll get some great ideas here.
Don't expect your ride to go extremely fast.
It is almost 20 years old.
BUT there is potential!!! Honest!

 

What I'd REALLY like to do is drop in a 3.8 turbo. Good ol Grand Nash motor. Too bad that would be almost impossible to find :-\

Anyway, thanks for all the advice and I think I'll be staying here for quite a while ;-)

 

I think you meant he should lower the rear gear ratio ... raising it woudl turn it into a 3.08 or 2.73 or something... lowering it would bring it in the 3.42 or 3.73 range. Just think of your first "low gears" on your trans... a lower gear is numerically higher.

Fluffy, keep in mind that it's going to be about $200 to have those gears installed. You need special tools to do it yourself, and if you screw up, the gears can be destroyed within a few minutes of driving. Should you hunt down another rear? My 3.73/posi/disc rear (currently with a blown posi, and back in the backyard, ) came from an '84 trans am, with engine code "G", and a manual trans. They're a hard-to-find axle; 3.73's only came in 83-84 Z28's and T/a's. The '84 Camaro H.O came with a 3.73/open/drum axle, and any 4 cylinder f-body with a manual trans (82-85) will also have 3.42/open/drum. I bought the axle for $150- but spent an additional $650 restoring it, and fighting with the brakes. I found out then that GM had a recall out on the 82-88 rear discs; after putting the $35 recall kit in, my brakes worked great again.

 

and any 4 cylinder f-body with a manual trans (82-85) will also have 3.42/open/drum.

Tom,
I thought I've read here often that the four cylnders majority of the time had the 3:73....
I haven't seen any of my references mention the ratios ususally spece'd for these four cylinder rides.

 

I also thought all four bannger had 3.73. Anyway I have heard at the stip about guys taking 4.10's out of s-10 and using them in f-body rear ends. THey say it is cheap. I am not mechanically inclined to explore such an idea, but it may be worth looking into.