I keep hearing about a catback system for exhaust - what exactly is that? I hollowed out my cat and put on a vortex muffler with duals and it gives me a nice v8 sound. Was this the right move?
It feels alittle faster and sounds great?

Do chips make a difference because im really thinking about it. I also hate being beat by those damn **** burners. My 86 2.8l kicks but not enough. any fancy intake i could put on or even headers but i can't find those anywhere.

Thanks
Paul

P.S. - i was refered here from iroczone to find out and im ejoying myself so far!

 

A catback exhaust is just an aftermarket bolt on exhaust starting AFTER the cat. Includes all exhaust pipes needed and mufflers. What you did so far is fine but you wont get max performance until you upgrade your exhaust piping after the cat also. 2.5 inch piping would prolly be best.

 

Street Legal Headers for the 60* V6 mills in the 3rd Gen F Body
Write to Mr. Fred Gerle at
PaceSetter Exhaust
fgerle@pacesetterexhaust.com
Tell him you want to buy the headers they will soon be making.
Hope the product to hit the streets for sale by Christmas time!
Intake?
Ya can remove it and clean it to remove crud deposited by years of usage, yet not much can really be done to "beat" those ricers.
The Ricers have RPMS & are geared differently than our rides.
Our rides with a 3.4 from the 4th gen F body is a WONDERFUL UPGRADE that gives ya power & milage increase.
I've given up trying to beat a ***** waste of my gas.
All I care about is getting a better spot on the SoCal roadway for advantage of missing the next red light!

 

I had new pipes put on from the cat down and the cat is hollow. i do not know the size of the pipes though, id say at least 2 inches in diameter, i will measure it though. Will headers make a difference at all??? How about the K&N filters and the computer chip?

Im gonna go email the guy about the headers now too. what do all of these things cost on average?

Id think the chip installed would be about 150, headers prolly pushing 350 + installation, K&N filters i dont have a cllue about.

One more hting, what if i put a better rear in the car like 3.23 or something along those lines?

My car has 128k original, would i be pushing it to do these kinds of upgrades?

Thanks,
Paul

 

Simple stuff.
Youur rear ratio is PROBABLY a 3:42 a great ratio.
Yes a lower numbered (3:73 or 4.1) would be better, also, for some road purposes.
Hopefully, your "I" Pipe is 2 1/2" not 2".
TO A POINT, larger exhaust pipe is better. 2 1/2" is about the limit for our 60* engine.
Header cost, ask Mr. Gerle in your short email to him.
Chip?
For the money, you can spend it elsewhere & get same results.
My thoughts.

 

I agree w/Karl; don't waste the money on the chip. I actually yanked my chip out (ADS Superchip) and put the stock one back in a few years ago; I felt no difference.

As long as your motor's in good shape, you should be fine as far as mileage. Do you have an automatic trans or manual? '86 700r4 automatics (4 speed overdrive) had problems; if your trans starts acting up, either start saving for a rebuild, OR, get an 87-92 700r4 automatic from a junkyard. 83-86 700r4's had a bad design of fluid pump that wears out and runs dry. '87-up got a better fluid pump. Chances are, miles-for-miles, an '87-92 700r4 trans will be better then your '86 700r4 - that is, if you have an automatic.

Simple test of engine strength? Spend $20 for a compression tester- don't get the cheap $8 one, get the $20 one with the "remote hose". Those cheap $8 "no-hose" units were good for old cars where there was a lot of room around the engine. Follow the directions that come with the gauge; if you get good compression on all 6 cylinders you're probably in great shape.

And don't forget about doing a major tuneup yourself... youll change a lot more then a garage ever would. For details, <a href="https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/showthread.php?s=&threadid=162251" target="newwin">Click here!</a>

 

didn't automatics already come with a 3.23 gear ratio?

 

I dont know what my rear is in my 86 2.8l. Id like to know though! And if its a good one.

I had the tranny sealed for 350 bucks from a guy I know because it was leaking some fluid. My buddy with an 85 had the same thing done not to long ago. Other then that, the tranny is good.

So, bottom line to give our cars a boost is a complete full tune-up with K&N Filters , a 2 1/2in "I" pipe, forget about the chip and a better rear if i want one. Not much else there is to do huh????

 

Your rear ratio is a 3:42 a wonderful compromise, as is. Changing ratios is like $200-$600 investment (labor & parts).
Do the tune up, pay close attention to increasing spark in the engine (increases power, decreases emissions & increases fuel milage, all same time), increase the air flow to the engine, send a short email to Mr. Fred Gerle at PaceSetter Exhaust asking for the street legal headers for our 3rd Gen V6 rides (it's coming!) (fgerle@pacesetterexhaust.com) and enjoy your ride!
All it'll do in the end is provide a bit more scoot for not much $$ investment beside personal labor & pride.
PS you won't win EVERY RACE, so get over it! But it'll be better than before, honest!

 

how do you know a good rear from a bad? what makes a 3.42 good and a 4.11 better? I dont really understand it.

 

Let's start simple.
IF the rear doesn't make noise or clunks or you broke the gears, it's a good rear!
Now complicated...
It all comes down to math & torque multiplacation.
The "LOWER" the ratio (BUT higher, the Numbered gear ratio), the more "ommph" off the start line with the "same engine".
BUT the trade off is..
as ya drive, let's go freeway....
the more RPMS will show on the tach.
I'm gonna give non-specific example.

Let's say with a 3.42 your RPMS at 65mph will be about 2000 - 2200
With a 4.11 rear ratio, your RPMS at 65 will be about 2600 or so, maybe more.
(IF I'm wrong, sorry, all!)
Boils down to...
More engine wear & increased fuel consumption.

To me, a 3.42 is a great compromise.
Decent off the line "ommph" & low speedway RPMS for very decent milage.
Varibles in this example are the size of tires. Smaller Height tires will serve as an increase in rear ratio (a cheap way to change the rear ratio), taller tires decrease the ratio.
Hope I haven't confused ya too much.
Some tech discussion take better explainations.
Hope mine was decent for you.

PS to determine the math, use the FIRST gear of the tranny (with a 700R4, it's a 3.06 gear, I believe), multiplied by the rear ratio to show you the "ommph" factor (haha).
Really, tho 3.06 x 3.42 = 10.4652
In my 1974 Corvette, I have a 3.08 rear with a TH400 tranny (that first gear is 2.75, I believe).
Math now
3.08 x 2.75 = 8.47
In my two examples, the ENGINE makes the difference
A V8 PRODUCES more TORQUE (that which pins ya in the seat) compared to a 60* V6.

In the end, if the rear is good condition, work with it. Setting up a rear axle or rear gear set up ain't cheap. Like again gears are about $200 - $600, & a rear axle, worked on, can go for about $1,000.
That's math most understand, too.

 

Id love to go 4.11, even iif it was still 1 wheel peel.

Matt

 

wow thanks for the big explanations, it helped alot. my dad tried explaining it to me but it was alittle foggy and that helped. So i have a 3.42 rear you said which is a good one to have. Does posi traction add anything to it? i know its not but would that be better for acceleration?

 

gas is already expensive enough with this recent surge in prices...what kind of gas do you put in your v6? I get about 14-15mpg usually, on the highway i get 18-19. Is this about right?

 

Sounds just about average for age of ride & wear on the drivetrain & your driving style.
A "posi" (a GM term name as in Detroit Locker, Anti-Spin, etc) refers to "bith tires, when "massive engine torque is applied" drives both rear tires with equal "scoot" force.
Advantageous?
To a point.
It'll cost ya to add this "feature" to your ride.
Again, if it's good, you're already there, until the need arises, then......
PS This is all part of the Sicknees & Disease!

 

lol - oh yes, the sickness and disease...

I haven't been able to connect to the internet for awhile because i went back to school but im good to go now. I got 23 mpg on my trip to school, im was very surprised to here about that.

Im thinking of going ahead and researching the exhaust situation...make sure its the 2 1/2'' pipe. Then through on a high performance cat to eliminate some of the smell i get from the exhaust. (Gas, oil emissions.)

 

I just took my bird back to school recently, it had been at home for the past 3 weeks having the engine pulled to repair oil leaks all over the nice lil, jasper block. Coming back to school the car gave me a full 19.491 MPG on mostly highway, the thing is though i was doing speeds around 80-85 the entire way, minus a couple slowing times to 70 or so cause of traffic, then back to 80 or so. I no i wasn't driving the car as nicely as i probably should have, which most likely explains my lack of good gas millage. I think the next time i go on a short road trip i'll do the test again and see how well i turn the clock, hopefully if i stay off it a bit, i'll be able to pull those numbers up, i'll tell ya how it goes.


far as the way the post started off, a cat back exhaust will be a good upgrade for your car, when you purchase the catback we'd all recommend 2.5 inch pipes , 3" is a lil' to big for the little sixes. Also want to get a nice highflow cat converter, or atleast a new convertor because you never want to have a nice new freeflowing exhaust being hampered down by an old cat. As far as the posi goes, like karl said don't worry about it unless your pealing out at every corner just by hitting the gas, i would however really have appreciated one at teh track and i know everyone else who's ever run there car probably would too. Doesn't it seem that the tires spin so easy when on that blacktop and leaving the line....gotta hate that. granted, i probably shouldn't have been lighting up the street radials anyway, hehehe but i did love the rubbery 1/4 panels.

 

Id say I get an easy 19-21 MPG around town driving.
[E-ways are so screwed up, I wouldn't even consider it.]

I put 5 gallons in the tank the other day. Drove 97+ miles and still had a good 1/8 of a tank + when I got gas today.

97 / 5 = 19.4 +


Matt

 

When i get home im definatly goign to find out about my "I" pipe, sounds like a good upgrade, as well as the cat to get rid of some fumes too.

When i drove back to school, it was a 3 hour trip and i spent about 2 hours at 70-mpg on cruise control. the rest was dodging traffic while i was passing through queens and the bronx.

I was pretty impressed for 23mpg for the trip. My city milage is way low, i should take it easy on the petal and see what that evens out too.

85 Firebird - What size tires do you have on your car?

 

the rest was dodging traffic while i was passing through queens and the bronx.

My old stomping grounds back in Mid 70's!
How's Deer Run Park these days?
Ever go to Presidential Pizza 8th & Presidential in Brooklyn?

My 3.4 ride with full family & car loaded with stuff knocked down about 28mpg plus at 80-85 MPH whole way from LA To San Diego.
Around town the milage is great!
Fuel Injected cars require ya to drive with a fragile egg shell on the gas pedal.
While on freeway lift off gas then set foot on "coast & kissing" gas pedal.
Lucky NY Freeway this time of year is bitchin! I hope to see it soon!

Contact Mr. Fred Gerle at PaceSetter Exhaust for a Cat Back set up.
With the upcoming headers for our V6, they already have, on shelf, for sale, the 2 1/2" I pipe with high flow CC & Muffler.
FGerle@PaceSetterExhaust.com
In your emial tell him Karl from ThirdGen.org sent ya.
Enjoy Fall & *** luck missing the potholes on the Freeway.
And I once thought the L.I.E. was a big parking lot. Try the 405 Freeway at the 10 Freeway in LA, anytime of the day!

 

yeh berli, karl w/ another good point...LOL, he's just full of em i guess. The headers will be a nice addition to the exhaust setup ( i didn't know if they were making them or not karl, it's good to hear someone cares huh), I'm sure those'll make a huge imporovement over the manifolds we've got now, and it'll be incredibly awesome w/ the rest of the catback system.

By the way, my rear tires are 235/60/15 in the pic i thinki'm running the old 215/65's i do however have the stockers up front still, haven't decided what i'm going to do here in the future since i need a new set of front tires coming up soon, but the delima is i also want a set of the Z06 or ZR1 corvette styled rims which will really set the ride off but they require 17/18 in tires which are gonna cost me the arm and a leg, and i'd rather only buy tires once. gotta hate the choices huh. lol.

 

lol - I love it when i run into someone who shares my pain known as the LIE. I dont think they have ever completed construction on that damn road.

Deer park Ave is a place to get pulled over. Cops have a field day with the dumbass kids stupid enough to race there now.

I just set up a profile with 3 picks of my car and some details. You guys know the hp, 0-60 and quarter mile time for a stock car like mine? I need a good laugh, thanks. (Hopefully those headers will help a little!!!)

 

lets see, stock cars run 0-60 in the 10's normally, say 10.4-5 a car with a 5 speed and good driver, we can take that down to mid 9's or so. Getting through the traps at the 1/4 would take us around 17.2-17.8, best way to find how ur car is holding up is to go run it, remember those were new times....sux to think that things are slowly wearing out, but i guess they do.

 

wow, thats kinda depressing but ill make sure i dont put that in my profile or tell anyone! Im not sure seems honest!

I drove a 96 SS not to long ago. Unbelievable what that car could do. Thats 275hp, its just so not practical but a lot of fun...and gas money.

Regardless, im still happy with my car, i hope to have it for a loooooooooooooooooooooooooong time!!!

 

0-60 around 10.6 or so here... stock
1/4 in a 17.071

 

im still aiming on the LS1 motor swap, it'll destroy the MPG of my lil' six and get a full 320hp, that's somethng i could deal w. Drove my friends 92 camaro which he transplanted an LS1 in, car hauled like nothing else, honestly sidewayz through the first 4 gears, was awesome. I also testdrove a LT1 powered 97 T/A, and yeh 275 horse will get you to 60 in 5 and a half seconds which isn't shabby, but i still don't get how nissan was able to pull the same amount of power from a lil' 3.5L v6 go drive a 350Z ooooh, they're fun lets say first thing i buy upon college graduation.

 

because LT1's suck, horrendous power to displacement ratio(CI).

The LT4's suck too, IMO a REAL performace engine should have at least a 1:1 power to displacement ratio. Its EASY EASY EASY to pull 350hp out of a carbed 350, even easier with FI.

The LS1 only gets good gas mileage because it has double overdrive (2 overdrive gears), which lets it cruise at 60mph at like 1500rpm.

 

I got an oil change at valvoline today. I thought it went well. i had a coupon for 6 dollars off so it was 20.99 instead of 26.99. They said to put in 10w30 so i said ok. Sounded right.

Since i started driving, i hear a buzz/ringing noise like something is rattling. This only happns when i gentyl push on the accelerator, just alil bit. Did they forget to tighten something up properly? Its an annoying sound that i can hear and i dont like it. I figured id give it a day and see if it goes away...

I also touched up the car today, looks real good, nothing that would be noticable in pictures but im working on getting new ones of those too.

I dont know how to start a poll on this site but tints or no tints???