What do you think?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 920
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From: Belchertown MA
Car: 1988 Pontiac Firebird
Engine: 2.8 Lt
Transmission: 5 Spd
What do you think?
Well I'm at a dead end point with my car right now. I have no money and it is a daily driver for the time being. The car has about 132,000 miles on it. I replaced about every sensor on it, new radiator, plugs, wires, maf, tps, IAC, O2 sen., cat back exhuast, rebuilt dist. egr vacume sal., new vac hoses. Pretty much the exterior is pretty much new in the engine compartment, i have no touched the inside of the motor however. No clue on timing chain condition, and it does not backfire, so i no its not to bad and still has some power. I know the car will need injectors sometime, valves seals aren't bad, but someday should be changed, sounds like the valves are a little noisy, i run 10w-30 in her right now. I have new a new GTA hood along with two new fenders. I love this car, but I'm wondering what to do, if the motor blows, keep the car and put a 8 in it or just another 6. I mean it has alot of miles now, so not sure how long it will last. What do you guys think i should do? Any advice would be great, keep in mind I'm 17 still in high school and only working a part-time job, about 30 hours a week. So not all that rich LOL 
Thanks
Thanks 
Supreme Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,282
Likes: 1
From: Elkton MD USA
Car: 1983, 1986
Engine: 2.8 2bbl, 2.8 MPFI
Transmission: 200C 3 speed, 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.08, 3.42
Go to a heavier oil, don't beat on the car, and when the engine does blow up (which it shouldn't with all of that done to it) you can throw another v6 in it if its still tyour daily driver. If it is not your daily when the motor goes you can v8 it if you want.
Could I ask why you replaced all of that stuff? I know the radiator went bad, but was all that other stuff all bad?
TomP has over 250,000 miles on his non rebuilt V6. Just basic maintenance. A timing chian may be in the near future. I have 142,000 on my 85 that was not rebuilt. Just for reference, 132,000 is not all that much.
Could I ask why you replaced all of that stuff? I know the radiator went bad, but was all that other stuff all bad?
TomP has over 250,000 miles on his non rebuilt V6. Just basic maintenance. A timing chian may be in the near future. I have 142,000 on my 85 that was not rebuilt. Just for reference, 132,000 is not all that much.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 920
Likes: 0
From: Belchertown MA
Car: 1988 Pontiac Firebird
Engine: 2.8 Lt
Transmission: 5 Spd
Thats good to here, ya all the parts i mentioned went bad or they got replaced when i was trouble shooting them. So the motor is basicly new 
It is a daily driver for me. I plan on keeping it for a long while, i would love to put an 8 in it, but lack of time and money, a 2.8-2.8 swap isn't to hard right? I don't beat on it much at all, i think it still has the orginal clutch, I only popped the clutch like twice since i had it, had the car for about 2 years. Its well taken care of, just want it to last Any more advice would be great
It is a daily driver for me. I plan on keeping it for a long while, i would love to put an 8 in it, but lack of time and money, a 2.8-2.8 swap isn't to hard right? I don't beat on it much at all, i think it still has the orginal clutch, I only popped the clutch like twice since i had it, had the car for about 2 years. Its well taken care of, just want it to last Any more advice would be great