I've been looking for things to do to my 2.8 since I got it a couple years ago. Got it cheap from a messy divorce and was told that the husband had done quite a bit to the engine internally (cam, pistons, rings) but nothing otherwise that I can find. What do you guys reccommend? I'll have a week with nothing to do and a full automotive shop at my disposal. (Spring break is lovely, why spend it in cancun when you can work on modding your car?) I love the 2.8 and don't want to change up to a 3.1 or 3.4, and there's no chance I'm changing it for a v8.

I've read TomP's tune-up, and it gets that on a regular basis

Spending limit is 1K. Sadly only one junkjard around has a 3rd gen in it and it's already been picked over.

I'd love any suggestions and part numbers.

 

TomP's complete suspension rebuild, i think it cost him around 1k. i have done about 350$ worth of this so far, but uh, not by choice.....


here it bee


good luck

 

rear end gears and a posi! 3.73 ratio and i like my zexel torsion diff. umm, ...... do you have headers on it yet? you could get some of the pf&e headers, or you can wait til pacesetter gets their new ones out for us...hard to say when that'll be though. gears, posi, and headers w/ y-pipe; i'd say around $650. you'll feel like you've got a whole new car!

 

I second suspension!! Nothing like being able to take a turn @ twice the rated legal speed.

 

Just saw a neat mod on HP TV this weekend, Not sure on the name or if we can use it but $450, no special tools and a few hour will install a powertrac posi unit.

Its not a spool replacement but a spider gear replacement,It gives you posi when going straight but when you turn its like a normal peg leg.

 

Number one thing, good luck getting parts for a 6/60 in stock. Parts should have been ordered a few weeks ago.

Otherwise, wires, coil, TPTU, timing chain, and fixing some possible worn suspension parts is all your going to get on "last notice".


Their is a decent amount of things you can do planned ahead.

Crank Pully
Cat back
timing chain
Fuel regulator
new injectors
port/polish
rockers

just to name a few.

 

I'm trying to get a list of things together now to do a month from now. The car sees all different types of use, highway, short strip, windy roads with hairpin turns, etc. I'm going to be attempting to do most of a full upgrade of the entire car over the course of this year with whatever money I can set aside. The week coming up is just the first round. Friend of mine and my dad are interested in seeing how it does with nitrous. Anyone have any firsthand experience with putting that through a 2.8mpfi? If not, no problem, it can wait. Thanks for all the help. You all are great!:hail: :hail: :hail:

 

Nitrous is the easiest, the hardest part is tapping the thread into the TB. Safest shot is 75HP.

 

Might I suggest ordering the TDS wonder bar, poly endlinks and for now just new rubber sway mounts.

Later find 34mm front sway, and 21 or 24mm rear sway, and polly mount them.

Another good choice is subframes if you have access to a welder. Got rid of alot of my rattles, and doors closed easier.

 

the tds wonderbar is the best investment i've made so far, get some tds sfc's as well bolt em in if you have to and poly endlinks are great

 

I couldn't remember all that is on the car currently since it is sadly a 14 hour drive away, but my father was able to take a quick look for me. Here's the list of things that's been decided on to get done. Any suggestions?

KYB Shocks
Suspension Techniques lowering springs
1.6 roller rockers w/ appropriate springs and new pushrods
Panhard bar
Tie-rod Sleeves
MSD Coil

 

i wouldnt mess with the rockers until you are ready to do more work to the valvetrain... as just the 1.6 rockers are not going to do much by themselves.

Get some subframe connectors, many people say they are gods gift to F-Body's.

 

The cam and lifters have already been done. Don't know about the valves though. I'll do a search on subframe connectors. Thanks for the help everyone.:hail:

 

i'd seriously go with sfc's then go with a panhard bar and a steering brace (wonderbar)

 

Looks like I won't have enough time to do SFC's this time around, but they're first on the list for the next round. Did buy a TDS wonderbar though. Time to start saving for next set of upgrades.

 

I'd love to see some pics of your car. You can never get too much of looking at 3rd gens.

 

with the 1.6 ratio rockers, you will aso need fiero valve covers.

Doward, whats that recipe for being able to turn at twice the legal limit

 

Doubling the valve cover gaskets works as well I'm told. If not, the local junk yard has a couple of old fiero's. Thanks for the thought.

 

I'd bet it would...but why do that and take away the reason to get some really cool valve covers.

I love reasons i.e. "oh I need to replace a shock? Might as well rebuild the entire suspension"

 

good point. i think i'll start trying to find some. the engine needed some extra power and the shocks were feeling less than satisfactory, hence the complete week dedicated to nothing but redoing things on the car. this is just round 1. sometime this summer is round 2.:lala:

that's also the reason why i have a complete sound system in already.