The 2.8 that could!!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Illinois
Car: 1988 Firebird
Engine: 2.8
Transmission: 700R4
The 2.8 that could!!
Alright this is what i have so far and comment and criticsm will be appriecia
I have my 2.8 out of my baby and under going a serious rebuild, granted nothing was wrong with her but having 176,000 miules i thought it was time for a make over.
So far I have Forged JE Pistons, Forged Eagle Rods, and a Reinforced stock crank. Sent those things to the shop with my new Aluminum block to be setup and internally balanced. And when they say the block weighs 57lbs man they arent lyin, looks weird carryin a block with ease knowing itll be putting out alot of power for the motor size.
Anyways motor is assembled, new flexplate and dampner, dampner had to be modded (adding weight to it) to make it balance out for the new, made sure everything was decked and to perfect tolerances.
Then I brought in my aluminum heads, had them ported and polished, 3 angle valve job, had the heads checked completely cause i dont need no hair line crack blowin apart my motor at the track, Had him gut the heads, putting in titanium valve guides, stainless steel retainers, and valves. Upgraded the valves to 1.72/1.40 . Same size as the 3.4 valves. put in crane dual springs able to push up to a .510 lift since the cam is crane cam. (cam lift .460 in/.480 exh) Put on the Comp Cam High Energy timing chain
FAIR IDLE, DAILY PERFORMANCE USAGE, GOOD LOW AND MID-RANGE TORQUE AND HP, 3200-3600 CRUISE RPM, 9.5 TO 10.75 COMPRESSION RATIO ADVISED. BASIC RPM 2500-6000.
Had the heads decked to tolerances, and put the heads on the motor. Pushing 9.5:1 with compression now instead of the 8.9:1 being stock. he thru in the comp cam hi energy pushrods, with the crane full roller rockers (1.6 ratio), thru on the perty chrome edelbrock valve covers. Motor lookin pretty good. Next we took the lovely stock MFI intake ported and polished it to match the heads, since the edelbrock carb manifold only bolts to the cast iron heads, from what i was told. I went witht he MFI manifold but i may have to do a petition to get trickflow and edelbrock to make heads and intakes for use 2.8/3.1/3.4 lovers. ANyways, motor is complete brought back to my house, only thing bothering me is having a stock crankshaft. and the aluminum heads... but wont learn anything unless we try.
Get home drop the motor into the car, have a 1800 stall converter already sitting onto the front of my stock freshly redone 700r4 with a tci shift kit. Even redid the driveshaft to aluminum. to help shave weight.
Front fenders, hood, are now fiberglass. (but looks like a zebra atm not painted.) ANyways hooked up all the computer stuff,made sure the stage 2 jet chip was in, bolted on the pacesetter headers, y-pipe, thru in a cut off and new hi-flow cat, as well as a new borla exhaust setup. hooked up the msd 6AL, blaster coil, Primed the motor .Im feelin pretty good just about ready to fire up the car. (make sure you run 93 oct) with the stage 2 chip from jet. Bolted up a home made air intake kit. made sure everything was up to par. Ok time now to start the car.
You wanna talk about firing on first turn over. FIred right up, and man was the idle fair? no, it sounded like a friggin sick sick 6 cylinder like it wanteed to die, well , we adjusted the idle to almost 900 rpm she sounded better, pushed the petal 2000 rpm for the intial break in BS. after about a hour of makin sure everything was ok. Shut her down drained the oil, replaced it, checked coolant level.
Fired her back up.... backed out of the driveway, and what guy wouldnt want to see what the monster can do....
Well..... I hammered the pedal to the floor, (mind you it has a stock rear end with a 3.42 gear pizza cutter) that will be changed soon anyways. to a 3.73 posi. Hit thta gas and man you want to talk about a friggin BIG difference if there was bugs around, wasnt any around anymore. first and second gear on the 700r4 nothing but tire smoke. man who said 2.8 couldnt do it. Well I went to my friends house up the street who had a 1989 bone stock mustang GT, started eggin him on, hell i wanted to see what this motor could do. So we went to the back roads to a nice smooth road. Lined up had a guy set us off to race, He got me out of the hole, not alot but once the motor hit 2500 rpm, I started pulling on him, and when i hit 6500 rpm seemed like th emotor wanted to go more like it wasnt enough, but i wasnt gonna push it powerband was supposedly to 6k. well the little 2.8 dog walked him by 2.5 car lengths. But I learned how weak the 10bolt rear ends are though. Cause after the race I did a whole shot and blew the cover apart,, destroying the rear end. LOL. So those of you who dont believe in the lil 2.8/3.1/3.4 need to reconsider. It cost me about not including buying the aluminum block. I coulda saved myself alot if i just got a stock block, but it cost me no more then 2500 for everything for the motor. And nnow that the rear end is built again and I had a emissions test to take, I was alittle worried about the car , but it passed!!! Now Im toying with the idea of nitrous for the motor nothing alot just a 100hp shot - 150hp shot. Will the crank and heads hold that shot of nitrous? Im not sure but Im really curious to find out, My machine shop said Im pushing about 245hp at the rear tires, I find that alittle hard to believe. So next couple weeks when i can get my car onto the dyno, I will post the dyno sheets for the car and we will all see what alittle work will do. If I get 230 at the wheels a 100 shot of nitrous will make it close to a 13 second ride. Now that is very respectable for a 2.8. Cant wait for the tracks to open, wanna see what she does without nitrous.
Anyone know if the stock aluminum heads and crank can hold that kind of horsepower?? My machine shop guy at percision thinks it can but makes me wonder, seeing there isnt a single forged crank out there for these motors since they were used for road racing. Unless im mistaken... please correct me if im wrong.
Ok input on tricks and things I can do to lighten the firebird, more?
as well as ideas I can do to make sure my heads and crank can hold up to the nitrous?
Let me know im very curious... Thanks , my next project is building a similar 2.8 but with a supercharger on it
but im still in the planning stage of it, havent found a company who will work with me on it.
I have my 2.8 out of my baby and under going a serious rebuild, granted nothing was wrong with her but having 176,000 miules i thought it was time for a make over.
So far I have Forged JE Pistons, Forged Eagle Rods, and a Reinforced stock crank. Sent those things to the shop with my new Aluminum block to be setup and internally balanced. And when they say the block weighs 57lbs man they arent lyin, looks weird carryin a block with ease knowing itll be putting out alot of power for the motor size.
Anyways motor is assembled, new flexplate and dampner, dampner had to be modded (adding weight to it) to make it balance out for the new, made sure everything was decked and to perfect tolerances.
Then I brought in my aluminum heads, had them ported and polished, 3 angle valve job, had the heads checked completely cause i dont need no hair line crack blowin apart my motor at the track, Had him gut the heads, putting in titanium valve guides, stainless steel retainers, and valves. Upgraded the valves to 1.72/1.40 . Same size as the 3.4 valves. put in crane dual springs able to push up to a .510 lift since the cam is crane cam. (cam lift .460 in/.480 exh) Put on the Comp Cam High Energy timing chain
FAIR IDLE, DAILY PERFORMANCE USAGE, GOOD LOW AND MID-RANGE TORQUE AND HP, 3200-3600 CRUISE RPM, 9.5 TO 10.75 COMPRESSION RATIO ADVISED. BASIC RPM 2500-6000.
Had the heads decked to tolerances, and put the heads on the motor. Pushing 9.5:1 with compression now instead of the 8.9:1 being stock. he thru in the comp cam hi energy pushrods, with the crane full roller rockers (1.6 ratio), thru on the perty chrome edelbrock valve covers. Motor lookin pretty good. Next we took the lovely stock MFI intake ported and polished it to match the heads, since the edelbrock carb manifold only bolts to the cast iron heads, from what i was told. I went witht he MFI manifold but i may have to do a petition to get trickflow and edelbrock to make heads and intakes for use 2.8/3.1/3.4 lovers. ANyways, motor is complete brought back to my house, only thing bothering me is having a stock crankshaft. and the aluminum heads... but wont learn anything unless we try.
Get home drop the motor into the car, have a 1800 stall converter already sitting onto the front of my stock freshly redone 700r4 with a tci shift kit. Even redid the driveshaft to aluminum. to help shave weight.
Front fenders, hood, are now fiberglass. (but looks like a zebra atm not painted.) ANyways hooked up all the computer stuff,made sure the stage 2 jet chip was in, bolted on the pacesetter headers, y-pipe, thru in a cut off and new hi-flow cat, as well as a new borla exhaust setup. hooked up the msd 6AL, blaster coil, Primed the motor .Im feelin pretty good just about ready to fire up the car. (make sure you run 93 oct) with the stage 2 chip from jet. Bolted up a home made air intake kit. made sure everything was up to par. Ok time now to start the car.
You wanna talk about firing on first turn over. FIred right up, and man was the idle fair? no, it sounded like a friggin sick sick 6 cylinder like it wanteed to die, well , we adjusted the idle to almost 900 rpm she sounded better, pushed the petal 2000 rpm for the intial break in BS. after about a hour of makin sure everything was ok. Shut her down drained the oil, replaced it, checked coolant level.
Fired her back up.... backed out of the driveway, and what guy wouldnt want to see what the monster can do....
Well..... I hammered the pedal to the floor, (mind you it has a stock rear end with a 3.42 gear pizza cutter) that will be changed soon anyways. to a 3.73 posi. Hit thta gas and man you want to talk about a friggin BIG difference if there was bugs around, wasnt any around anymore. first and second gear on the 700r4 nothing but tire smoke. man who said 2.8 couldnt do it. Well I went to my friends house up the street who had a 1989 bone stock mustang GT, started eggin him on, hell i wanted to see what this motor could do. So we went to the back roads to a nice smooth road. Lined up had a guy set us off to race, He got me out of the hole, not alot but once the motor hit 2500 rpm, I started pulling on him, and when i hit 6500 rpm seemed like th emotor wanted to go more like it wasnt enough, but i wasnt gonna push it powerband was supposedly to 6k. well the little 2.8 dog walked him by 2.5 car lengths. But I learned how weak the 10bolt rear ends are though. Cause after the race I did a whole shot and blew the cover apart,, destroying the rear end. LOL. So those of you who dont believe in the lil 2.8/3.1/3.4 need to reconsider. It cost me about not including buying the aluminum block. I coulda saved myself alot if i just got a stock block, but it cost me no more then 2500 for everything for the motor. And nnow that the rear end is built again and I had a emissions test to take, I was alittle worried about the car , but it passed!!! Now Im toying with the idea of nitrous for the motor nothing alot just a 100hp shot - 150hp shot. Will the crank and heads hold that shot of nitrous? Im not sure but Im really curious to find out, My machine shop said Im pushing about 245hp at the rear tires, I find that alittle hard to believe. So next couple weeks when i can get my car onto the dyno, I will post the dyno sheets for the car and we will all see what alittle work will do. If I get 230 at the wheels a 100 shot of nitrous will make it close to a 13 second ride. Now that is very respectable for a 2.8. Cant wait for the tracks to open, wanna see what she does without nitrous.
Anyone know if the stock aluminum heads and crank can hold that kind of horsepower?? My machine shop guy at percision thinks it can but makes me wonder, seeing there isnt a single forged crank out there for these motors since they were used for road racing. Unless im mistaken... please correct me if im wrong.
Ok input on tricks and things I can do to lighten the firebird, more?
as well as ideas I can do to make sure my heads and crank can hold up to the nitrous?
Let me know im very curious... Thanks , my next project is building a similar 2.8 but with a supercharger on it
but im still in the planning stage of it, havent found a company who will work with me on it. Supreme Member
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,668
Likes: 1
From: Houston
Car: 86 Berlinetta 84 MonteCL
Engine: 3.4 MPFI 3.8 229
Transmission: 700r4 T350
Wow...that's one hell of a first post....
Congrats. As for the nitrous issue, how much total compression are you running ? I would say if you hit the 200 whp mark on that motor, to jsut keep it that way (sounds like it's pushing the limits...). My 3.4 won't spin through 2nd unless I do it on wet pavement...
How did you go about mating the FWD aluminum heads to the RWD intake manifold?
Congrats. As for the nitrous issue, how much total compression are you running ? I would say if you hit the 200 whp mark on that motor, to jsut keep it that way (sounds like it's pushing the limits...). My 3.4 won't spin through 2nd unless I do it on wet pavement...
How did you go about mating the FWD aluminum heads to the RWD intake manifold?
Supreme Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,827
Likes: 1
From: Gainesville, FL
Car: 1988 Chevy Camaro Hardtop
Engine: Turbocharged/Intercooled 3.1
Transmission: World Class T5 5 Speed
Ok, a couple two or three things in here... 
1) the stock fuel injected head valve size, is 1.72"/1.42" - stock.
2) the stock heads? Cast Iron. the aluminum heads are FWD, and will not work with the stock RWD MPFI intake.
Ok, sounds to me, like you've got a stock 2.8, with a cam/headers/exhaust? You saved weight, yes, but did you port the intake/heads at all?
If not, I do have trouble believing you took a stock '89 GT. That's a mid 14 second ride, stock - unless he's automatic, then a 14.9-15.0
I could see you pulling a 15.5-15.7. AM91's got a SERIOUS 3.1, (10.75:1 cr and all that) and he's pulling low 15s, looking for high 14s.
Either way, sounds like a very bad 2.8 motor!! Get a new intake, or wait a month-month and a half, and I'll have the new intake/throttle bodies ready

1) the stock fuel injected head valve size, is 1.72"/1.42" - stock.
2) the stock heads? Cast Iron. the aluminum heads are FWD, and will not work with the stock RWD MPFI intake.
Ok, sounds to me, like you've got a stock 2.8, with a cam/headers/exhaust? You saved weight, yes, but did you port the intake/heads at all?
If not, I do have trouble believing you took a stock '89 GT. That's a mid 14 second ride, stock - unless he's automatic, then a 14.9-15.0
I could see you pulling a 15.5-15.7. AM91's got a SERIOUS 3.1, (10.75:1 cr and all that) and he's pulling low 15s, looking for high 14s.

Either way, sounds like a very bad 2.8 motor!! Get a new intake, or wait a month-month and a half, and I'll have the new intake/throttle bodies ready
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Illinois
Car: 1988 Firebird
Engine: 2.8
Transmission: 700R4
Originally posted by Doward
Ok, a couple two or three things in here...
1) the stock fuel injected head valve size, is 1.72"/1.42" - stock.
2) the stock heads? Cast Iron. the aluminum heads are FWD, and will not work with the stock RWD MPFI intake.
Ok, sounds to me, like you've got a stock 2.8, with a cam/headers/exhaust? You saved weight, yes, but did you port the intake/heads at all?
If not, I do have trouble believing you took a stock '89 GT. That's a mid 14 second ride, stock - unless he's automatic, then a 14.9-15.0
I could see you pulling a 15.5-15.7. AM91's got a SERIOUS 3.1, (10.75:1 cr and all that) and he's pulling low 15s, looking for high 14s.
Either way, sounds like a very bad 2.8 motor!! Get a new intake, or wait a month-month and a half, and I'll have the new intake/throttle bodies ready
Ok, a couple two or three things in here...

1) the stock fuel injected head valve size, is 1.72"/1.42" - stock.
2) the stock heads? Cast Iron. the aluminum heads are FWD, and will not work with the stock RWD MPFI intake.
Ok, sounds to me, like you've got a stock 2.8, with a cam/headers/exhaust? You saved weight, yes, but did you port the intake/heads at all?
If not, I do have trouble believing you took a stock '89 GT. That's a mid 14 second ride, stock - unless he's automatic, then a 14.9-15.0
I could see you pulling a 15.5-15.7. AM91's got a SERIOUS 3.1, (10.75:1 cr and all that) and he's pulling low 15s, looking for high 14s.

Either way, sounds like a very bad 2.8 motor!! Get a new intake, or wait a month-month and a half, and I'll have the new intake/throttle bodies ready
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Illinois
Car: 1988 Firebird
Engine: 2.8
Transmission: 700R4
Originally posted by Gumby
So its a carb'ed 2.8 with aluminum heads and block????
How much was the block?
So its a carb'ed 2.8 with aluminum heads and block????
How much was the block?
. ATM its fuel injected, Im gonna grab a edelbrock intake and carb for it. You want the link for the aluminum block? well worth the money will be the last block you will ever buy, i can say that much.http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/ GM PART # 10051141 DO NOT ORDER FROM GM THEY WILL RIP YOU order from these guys, they way cool
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Illinois
Car: 1988 Firebird
Engine: 2.8
Transmission: 700R4
Originally posted by Project: 85 2.8 bird
the blocks went for $3k new from the GMPP catalog (cheap KED85 pop)
lets see some pics of this beast.
the blocks went for $3k new from the GMPP catalog (cheap KED85 pop)
lets see some pics of this beast.
Last edited by Halogram; Feb 28, 2005 at 12:30 AM.
Banned
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,238
Likes: 0
From: Yes I'm Dean
Car: Agood2.8,
Engine: V6rsr,
Transmission: Afrikingoodtime
This guy is so full of crap.
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Halogram:
Far as Im aware according to my machinist I have aluminum heads
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OK, So he spends the money and buys a trick $3000 aluminum
racing block- But he "thinks" he has aluminum heads.
Lets see proof junior.
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Halogram:
Far as Im aware according to my machinist I have aluminum heads
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OK, So he spends the money and buys a trick $3000 aluminum
racing block- But he "thinks" he has aluminum heads.
Lets see proof junior.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Illinois
Car: 1988 Firebird
Engine: 2.8
Transmission: 700R4
Originally posted by RTFC
This guy is so full of crap.
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Halogram:
Far as Im aware according to my machinist I have aluminum heads
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OK, So he spends the money and buys a trick $3000 aluminum
racing block- But he "thinks" he has aluminum heads.
Lets see proof junior.
This guy is so full of crap.
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Halogram:
Far as Im aware according to my machinist I have aluminum heads
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OK, So he spends the money and buys a trick $3000 aluminum
racing block- But he "thinks" he has aluminum heads.
Lets see proof junior.
peace
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 936
Likes: 0
From: UofA(Tucson), AZ
Car: 92 Precision Red Firebird
Engine: v6->357 vortec xe262h rpm intake
Transmission: t5-> t56
Axle/Gears: 10bolt 3.42s
well
when you say you have all these performance parts and no actual proof people get really skeptical. it just comes with you saying i have a fast 60degree engine...
Banned
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,238
Likes: 0
From: Yes I'm Dean
Car: Agood2.8,
Engine: V6rsr,
Transmission: Afrikingoodtime
Re: The 2.8 that could!!
Originally posted by Halogram
Alright this is what i have so far and comment and criticsm will be appriecia
Alright this is what i have so far and comment and criticsm will be appriecia
Originally posted by Halogram
I have my 2.8 out of my baby and under going a serious rebuild, granted nothing was wrong with her but having 176,000 miules i thought it was time for a make over.
I have my 2.8 out of my baby and under going a serious rebuild, granted nothing was wrong with her but having 176,000 miules i thought it was time for a make over.
Originally posted by Halogram
So far I have Forged JE Pistons, Forged Eagle Rods, and a Reinforced stock crank. Sent those things to the shop with my new Aluminum block to be setup and internally balanced. And when they say the block weighs 57lbs man they arent lyin, looks weird carryin a block with ease knowing itll be putting out alot of power for the motor size.
Anyways motor is assembled, new flexplate and dampner, dampner had to be modded (adding weight to it) to make it balance out for the new, made sure everything was decked and to perfect tolerances.
"Then I brought in my aluminum heads", had them ported and polished, 3 angle valve job, had the heads checked completely cause i dont need no hair line crack blowin apart my motor at the track, Had him gut the heads, putting in titanium valve guides, stainless steel retainers, and valves. Upgraded the valves to 1.72/1.40 . Same size as the 3.4 valves. put in crane dual springs able to push up to a .510 lift since the cam is crane cam. (cam lift .460 in/.480 exh) Put on the Comp Cam High Energy timing chain
So far I have Forged JE Pistons, Forged Eagle Rods, and a Reinforced stock crank. Sent those things to the shop with my new Aluminum block to be setup and internally balanced. And when they say the block weighs 57lbs man they arent lyin, looks weird carryin a block with ease knowing itll be putting out alot of power for the motor size.
Anyways motor is assembled, new flexplate and dampner, dampner had to be modded (adding weight to it) to make it balance out for the new, made sure everything was decked and to perfect tolerances.
"Then I brought in my aluminum heads", had them ported and polished, 3 angle valve job, had the heads checked completely cause i dont need no hair line crack blowin apart my motor at the track, Had him gut the heads, putting in titanium valve guides, stainless steel retainers, and valves. Upgraded the valves to 1.72/1.40 . Same size as the 3.4 valves. put in crane dual springs able to push up to a .510 lift since the cam is crane cam. (cam lift .460 in/.480 exh) Put on the Comp Cam High Energy timing chain
Again, you are full of crap and making up a story.
I wont even bother going on tearing apart the loophole in the rest of this quote
Originally posted by Halogram
FAIR IDLE, DAILY PERFORMANCE USAGE, GOOD LOW AND MID-RANGE TORQUE AND HP, 3200-3600 CRUISE RPM, 9.5 TO 10.75 COMPRESSION RATIO ADVISED. BASIC RPM 2500-6000.
Had the heads decked to tolerances, and put the heads on the motor. Pushing 9.5:1 with compression now instead of the 8.9:1 being stock. he thru in the comp cam hi energy pushrods, with the crane full roller rockers (1.6 ratio), thru on the perty chrome edelbrock valve covers. Motor lookin pretty good. Next we took the lovely stock MFI intake ported and polished it to match the heads, since the edelbrock carb manifold only bolts to the cast iron heads, from what i was told. I went witht he MFI manifold but i may have to do a petition to get trickflow and edelbrock to make heads and intakes for use 2.8/3.1/3.4 lovers. ANyways, motor is complete brought back to my house, only thing bothering me is having a stock crankshaft. and the aluminum heads... but wont learn anything unless we try.
Get home drop the motor into the car, have a 1800 stall converter already sitting onto the front of my stock freshly redone 700r4 with a tci shift kit. Even redid the driveshaft to aluminum. to help shave weight.
Front fenders, hood, are now fiberglass. (but looks like a zebra atm not painted.) ANyways hooked up all the computer stuff,made sure the stage 2 jet chip was in, bolted on the pacesetter headers, y-pipe, thru in a cut off and new hi-flow cat, as well as a new borla exhaust setup. hooked up the msd 6AL, blaster coil, Primed the motor .Im feelin pretty good just about ready to fire up the car. (make sure you run 93 oct) with the stage 2 chip from jet. Bolted up a home made air intake kit. made sure everything was up to par. Ok time now to start the car.
You wanna talk about firing on first turn over. FIred right up, and man was the idle fair? no, it sounded like a friggin sick sick 6 cylinder like it wanteed to die, well , we adjusted the idle to almost 900 rpm she sounded better, pushed the petal 2000 rpm for the intial break in BS. after about a hour of makin sure everything was ok. Shut her down drained the oil, replaced it, checked coolant level.
Fired her back up.... backed out of the driveway, and what guy wouldnt want to see what the monster can do....
Well..... I hammered the pedal to the floor, (mind you it has a stock rear end with a 3.42 gear pizza cutter) that will be changed soon anyways. to a 3.73 posi. Hit thta gas and man you want to talk about a friggin BIG difference if there was bugs around, wasnt any around anymore. first and second gear on the 700r4 nothing but tire smoke. man who said 2.8 couldnt do it. Well I went to my friends house up the street who had a 1989 bone stock mustang GT, started eggin him on, hell i wanted to see what this motor could do. So we went to the back roads to a nice smooth road. Lined up had a guy set us off to race, He got me out of the hole, not alot but once the motor hit 2500 rpm, I started pulling on him, and when i hit 6500 rpm seemed like th emotor wanted to go more like it wasnt enough, but i wasnt gonna push it powerband was supposedly to 6k. well the little 2.8 dog walked him by 2.5 car lengths. But I learned how weak the 10bolt rear ends are though. Cause after the race I did a whole shot and blew the cover apart,, destroying the rear end. LOL. So those of you who dont believe in the lil 2.8/3.1/3.4 need to reconsider. It cost me about not including buying the aluminum block. I coulda saved myself alot if i just got a stock block, but it cost me no more then 2500 for everything for the motor. And nnow that the rear end is built again and I had a emissions test to take, I was alittle worried about the car , but it passed!!! Now Im toying with the idea of nitrous for the motor nothing alot just a 100hp shot - 150hp shot. Will the crank and heads hold that shot of nitrous? Im not sure but Im really curious to find out, My machine shop said Im pushing about 245hp at the rear tires, I find that alittle hard to believe. So next couple weeks when i can get my car onto the dyno, I will post the dyno sheets for the car and we will all see what alittle work will do. If I get 230 at the wheels a 100 shot of nitrous will make it close to a 13 second ride. Now that is very respectable for a 2.8. Cant wait for the tracks to open, wanna see what she does without nitrous.
Anyone know if the stock aluminum heads and crank can hold that kind of horsepower?? My machine shop guy at percision thinks it can but makes me wonder, seeing there isnt a single forged crank out there for these motors since they were used for road racing. Unless im mistaken... please correct me if im wrong.
Ok input on tricks and things I can do to lighten the firebird, more?
as well as ideas I can do to make sure my heads and crank can hold up to the nitrous?
Let me know im very curious... Thanks , my next project is building a similar 2.8 but with a supercharger on it
but im still in the planning stage of it, havent found a company who will work with me on it.
FAIR IDLE, DAILY PERFORMANCE USAGE, GOOD LOW AND MID-RANGE TORQUE AND HP, 3200-3600 CRUISE RPM, 9.5 TO 10.75 COMPRESSION RATIO ADVISED. BASIC RPM 2500-6000.
Had the heads decked to tolerances, and put the heads on the motor. Pushing 9.5:1 with compression now instead of the 8.9:1 being stock. he thru in the comp cam hi energy pushrods, with the crane full roller rockers (1.6 ratio), thru on the perty chrome edelbrock valve covers. Motor lookin pretty good. Next we took the lovely stock MFI intake ported and polished it to match the heads, since the edelbrock carb manifold only bolts to the cast iron heads, from what i was told. I went witht he MFI manifold but i may have to do a petition to get trickflow and edelbrock to make heads and intakes for use 2.8/3.1/3.4 lovers. ANyways, motor is complete brought back to my house, only thing bothering me is having a stock crankshaft. and the aluminum heads... but wont learn anything unless we try.
Get home drop the motor into the car, have a 1800 stall converter already sitting onto the front of my stock freshly redone 700r4 with a tci shift kit. Even redid the driveshaft to aluminum. to help shave weight.
Front fenders, hood, are now fiberglass. (but looks like a zebra atm not painted.) ANyways hooked up all the computer stuff,made sure the stage 2 jet chip was in, bolted on the pacesetter headers, y-pipe, thru in a cut off and new hi-flow cat, as well as a new borla exhaust setup. hooked up the msd 6AL, blaster coil, Primed the motor .Im feelin pretty good just about ready to fire up the car. (make sure you run 93 oct) with the stage 2 chip from jet. Bolted up a home made air intake kit. made sure everything was up to par. Ok time now to start the car.
You wanna talk about firing on first turn over. FIred right up, and man was the idle fair? no, it sounded like a friggin sick sick 6 cylinder like it wanteed to die, well , we adjusted the idle to almost 900 rpm she sounded better, pushed the petal 2000 rpm for the intial break in BS. after about a hour of makin sure everything was ok. Shut her down drained the oil, replaced it, checked coolant level.
Fired her back up.... backed out of the driveway, and what guy wouldnt want to see what the monster can do....
Well..... I hammered the pedal to the floor, (mind you it has a stock rear end with a 3.42 gear pizza cutter) that will be changed soon anyways. to a 3.73 posi. Hit thta gas and man you want to talk about a friggin BIG difference if there was bugs around, wasnt any around anymore. first and second gear on the 700r4 nothing but tire smoke. man who said 2.8 couldnt do it. Well I went to my friends house up the street who had a 1989 bone stock mustang GT, started eggin him on, hell i wanted to see what this motor could do. So we went to the back roads to a nice smooth road. Lined up had a guy set us off to race, He got me out of the hole, not alot but once the motor hit 2500 rpm, I started pulling on him, and when i hit 6500 rpm seemed like th emotor wanted to go more like it wasnt enough, but i wasnt gonna push it powerband was supposedly to 6k. well the little 2.8 dog walked him by 2.5 car lengths. But I learned how weak the 10bolt rear ends are though. Cause after the race I did a whole shot and blew the cover apart,, destroying the rear end. LOL. So those of you who dont believe in the lil 2.8/3.1/3.4 need to reconsider. It cost me about not including buying the aluminum block. I coulda saved myself alot if i just got a stock block, but it cost me no more then 2500 for everything for the motor. And nnow that the rear end is built again and I had a emissions test to take, I was alittle worried about the car , but it passed!!! Now Im toying with the idea of nitrous for the motor nothing alot just a 100hp shot - 150hp shot. Will the crank and heads hold that shot of nitrous? Im not sure but Im really curious to find out, My machine shop said Im pushing about 245hp at the rear tires, I find that alittle hard to believe. So next couple weeks when i can get my car onto the dyno, I will post the dyno sheets for the car and we will all see what alittle work will do. If I get 230 at the wheels a 100 shot of nitrous will make it close to a 13 second ride. Now that is very respectable for a 2.8. Cant wait for the tracks to open, wanna see what she does without nitrous.
Anyone know if the stock aluminum heads and crank can hold that kind of horsepower?? My machine shop guy at percision thinks it can but makes me wonder, seeing there isnt a single forged crank out there for these motors since they were used for road racing. Unless im mistaken... please correct me if im wrong.
Ok input on tricks and things I can do to lighten the firebird, more?
as well as ideas I can do to make sure my heads and crank can hold up to the nitrous?
Let me know im very curious... Thanks , my next project is building a similar 2.8 but with a supercharger on it
but im still in the planning stage of it, havent found a company who will work with me on it. Supreme Member

Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,564
Likes: 1
From: Central FL
Car: 91 Camaro
Engine: 3.1...not hardly stock
Transmission: 700r4....not stock either
Axle/Gears: 3.73
let me just say that i have a lot more cam than that and i'm only running 15s, like doward said. and, i have a lot more compression. i am not at 200 rwhp. the aluminum fwd heads will not bolt up to the mpfi intake. i have two or three sets of these heads layin around, they won't bolt up. use a magnet to check them...magnets won't stick to aluminum. i am running the 7.5" 10 bolt and have pulled a 2.06 60' time at the drag strip and my rear end has come no where near coming apart. i've also had 26"x8.5" slicks bolted on it. by the way...the stock rear end cover is steel, how'd you blown it apart? congrats on going for the v6 built up though. its always fun to see other people want them to go fast, too. did your heads by any change get flow tested? if so, do you have the numbers from them?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Illinois
Car: 1988 Firebird
Engine: 2.8
Transmission: 700R4
Ok got off the phone with steve at percision, and as I said its my mistake they are cast iron heads. and I said I wouldnt have any problems saying if I was wrong. So im wrong and im sorry for that. They seemed like it to me they are light heads.. Im no master engine tech. I never said I was a "EXPERT" at anything. Im just gonna stop right here, I have what I said except the aluminum heads, which are for transverse engines, like you said, which can be mounted to RWD engines but you have to do a bit of modding for it to work. Anyways its all good each to their own opinion. and I respect that. when i get the dyno test done and my pictures ill post them. I still want to know about that custom intake that is being made, let me know how much drop me a email at halogram@gmail.com. NOw if you'll excuse me but i have a 69 camaro i need to do body work to, so take it easy all. As for the rear end, some how the pinion was missing teeth, so me and a friend replaced it went from a 3.42 to a 3.73.
Last edited by Halogram; Feb 28, 2005 at 12:40 PM.
TGO Supporter
iTrader: (12)
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 6,819
Likes: 3
From: AR
Car: 1991 Camaro RS Vert
Engine: 350 S-TPI
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: GU5/G80/J65
Just read most of this. I'm kinda wondering why an OTC Prom is being used rather then a custom. I've got less mods then that and is in desire need of a custom Prom.
O well, I'd be happy to see the pictures of it assembled, being assembled, and piece parts.
O well, I'd be happy to see the pictures of it assembled, being assembled, and piece parts.
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