I've got an '88 2.8L Camaro w/ 5 speed. Looking to get a little more power out of this with the current engine block. So here are the questions. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

The engine eats oil pretty quickly, and gives puffs of blue smoke upon startup so I'm thinking it needs new rings. Will do a compression test soon. I have heard about stroking a 2.8 to 3.1. Can this be done with a crankshaft kit for a '91ish V6? Or will I need other parts like deeper oil pan, different oil pump, etc?

Next... are there any aftermarket headers for dual exhaust systems for this engine? Would I need to reroute or replace any hardware like crossmembers, fuel/brake lines, etc?

Fuel pump is going out too... might also be looking at a rear end gear swap but I need to figure out what's in there first, and what I can switch to.

Please bear with me as I'm new to the Chevy's... I'm mainly familiar with small block Fords and the Ford 3.8L.

Thanks,
Tom

 

Just swap in a 3.4 from a 93-95 Camaro.

Headers, see me. If you need them CARB approved, your on a waiting list. If not then I will have 2 ready by this weekend. $150 plus UPS S&H. See this page for further details...
www.geocities.com/generationxracing

Manual hs 3.42 gears Auto has 3.23? gears.

 

What he said I got the same thing you got. 5 speed has 3.42 rear

 

Thanks, I'll keep you in mind for the headers. There are no emissions requirements here -- I can probably go headers to straight pipes to mufflers, so long as there is plenty of clearance where the new pipes & muffler will go.

If I wanted to do a block swap, I'd go the V8 route (and have the $ saved up, too). I just want to get this engine fixed someday before it gets worse... and I figured if the crank needs to be pulled, why not stroke it with some stock replacement parts if possible? I have a friend w/ a machine shop and can get head work done if these are worth any work... anyone know if they are? Port, polish, 3-angle valve job, oversize valves to reduce the combustion chamber volume & increase compression, etc, etc... Perhaps larger fuel injectors.

All of that, paired w/ dual exhausts & a rear end gear would be all I'm really looking for, so long as it works well from idle to redline.

 

Before re-ringing the engine, I would look at replacing the valve stem seals. I would only suspect the rings if the motor is spitting out blue smoke more than just at startup.

Definitely have a compression test done -- If it tests okay I would have the head work done and install a new timing chain and rebuild the distributor. That should save a couple of bucks and get you back on the road quicker than a ring job.

 

Well, the thing is, to stroke it to the 3.1, you need new pistons, and a new crank. for the $$, get a low mileage 3.4 shortblock, swap over all your 2.8 stuff, and be ahead of the game, you know?

 

Actually I am pushing 376 rear gears... outta a 342 rear end... 10% smaller tires... Great get up, $hitty MPG... Go figure...

 

Obviously I need an entire crankshaft kit for this swap... but why do I need new pistons? Bore is the same as a 2.8. Is there a valve clearance problem? If so, can I just get the current ones notched?

Would I also need new bearings & connecting rods on this new crank? I saw a website that sells a stroker kit -- is this different from a stock-style crank you can get at a store like Advance?

A new crank kit + pistons for a 3.1 costs about $330. I doubt a low mileage, short block 3.4 costs that much, and as I said before, if I wanted to do a swap, I'd go 350.

MDv6man, Thanks for the info on the heads -- do you know if these are worthy of any machine work, or is there a head swap that can be done for any benefit?

Thanks,
Tom

 

No problem

When I bought my 83 Camaro for 300 bucks with a rod knock, I also took my uncle's old 2.8 out of his S-10 off his hands. That was back in late 1998.

When doing the swap, there was something preventing the motor to turn all the way around. I removed the heads and had a valve job done on them.

In April, I finally got the motor running and the car tagged. I now drive it daily with no problems from the engine.

Seeing that you have an 88, you have the best of the 2.8's available for our vehicles. 82-84 cars could benefit from a head swap to later MPFI heads (85-89)

I think 3.4 F-body heads also fit and they have the best flow.