i have a 84 firebird 2.8l that has the edelbrock torker II setup on it with a holley 390cfm carb. Only other real performence thing i have done to it is roller tip rockers. the next thing i was thinking about was a cam. does any no if the crane cam for these cars is worth it and give a bit more hp. Ive herd its a stock replacment cam wich wouldnt be worth my time or money. does any one no anything about this area????

 

of you're gonna do it don't get the crane powermax 2030, it gives a little more power, but in my opinion not worth it. Even with the added lift of the roller rockers (I have 1.52's) it isn't a big enough gain. I've heard good things about the Crower Cams though...A little too late unfortunately

 

There are many cams available for the 60*V6, Crane makes somewhere around a dozen alone, so the options are pretty much endless, as far as design and RPM range for use.

I have the GM Performance equivilant of the Crane 260-2, and I am pleased with how the engine works, but my engine is quite different from the early 60*V6 like yours, so results may very.

With these engnes, the largest restriction seems to be in the heads, and the '84 2.8, if yours still has the stock heads are mediocure at best, with the smallest available valves and ports available for these engines, at 1.60"/1.30".

I would look at getting the newer heads, '86 and up, "HO" heads, they use the 1.72"/1.42" valves and increase the flow a good amount.

If you are really serious about getting some good power from these engines, I mean more than "a little more get-up and go", and wanted to a rebuild, I would look at using at least the mid '85 and up block as a starting point, teh main journals were increased in size, since the older small journal 2.8 had a tendancy to break the crank.

Just some food for thought.

 

Edelbrock makes a cam to match that intake. It is part number 3790 or EDL-3790 in the Summit Catalog.

 

Actually, 84tagoin81 would see more power from that Crane 2030 then we would- he'll have the "old" carbureted camshaft, unless his 2.8 has the "high output" code. 85 2.8's got a new "more aggressive" camshaft along with the fuel injection.

And depending on mileage, he might see an increase in power by just putting a stock camshaft in! I can betchya that I would!

But I think CC_Hotrod has the best idea- if there's a matching cam out there, use that one!! Then there's no guessing!

 

what other mods have you done? INtake/filter, exhaust? These will let you more fully enjoy your mods together.

 

i have done a new edlebrock intake manifold setup, a holley 390 carb, comp cam roller tip rockers and im thiknking about headers and a new exhuast?

 

well the smog legal headers are in the works, and the Dynomax cat back is relatively cheap ($150 orr so), and w/a lift for clearance, VERY easy to hook up. Just make sure you use min 2.75" bolts to mate the I-pipe to the convertor.