Everyone talks trash about the V-6 2.8-3.1 engines. What are some positive things about them rather then all the negative slow crap. Here what I have.

-high revving motors
-faster then a 305 tbi stock
-Can get good gas mileage
-400 lbs ligher then the 8
-The cars tend to handle better out of the box

Thats all I can think of right now. Anyone else?

 

400lbs lighter than the 8

are you runing carbon fiber block, heads & crank?

-- cheaper insurance
-- parts availability (s-10, cavy's)
-- cooler looking intakes
-- expanding aftermarket

 

Strong bottom end
Revs very well, when uncorked
Very Lightweight, extremely compact design
Smooth running - naturally balanced

 

speaking of insurance i dont have tags on my car but in august i will. Im gonna be 16 and august and im wondering how much insurance will cost for a 16 with a 91 firebird (i have a 3.0 .gpa if that helps).

I guess the one good thing about the 2.8/3.1 is that if u get turbo like doward u can run high boost due to the 8:5:1 compression

 

What is a 2.8/3.1 good for?
Using as a foundation of a 3.4 upgrade.
Drive the engine until it dies, a slow painful death
Cause once inserted with 3.4 power ya still get
Lower insurance
All previous 2.8/3.1 stuff still fits
Pass smog test easily (they haven't a clue)
Great gas milage
Great torque
Great operation engine to use with fully functional AC!
AND to boot
Ya have more fun trying to beat take on all challenges!
AND PACE SETTER EXHAUST HEADERS STILL FIT YOUR CHASSIS!!!
Latest 3.4 score is $650 for a complete 59,000 used 3.4 long block.
Drive your 2.8/3.1 until it dies......fix as necessary
I drove my last 2.8s until 151,500 miles, a decent amount of time until it died

 

The best news is that there are more choices available for performance parts for these engines than ever, so you aren't limited by the stock intake and exhaust anymore.

 

really?...i find that hard to believe

 

For me the best thing about my old v6 Firebird was that the engine saved my freaking life. It had enough power stock to be fun, but not too much power for a young 16 year-old to handle. I am pretty sure that if I went straight to having a v8 I would be dead right now. So they're good engines for beginners.

 

they aren't faster than a stock 305 tbi that still runs strong as it used to... 30 more horses, like 55 more rear wheel torque for the 305, and they're only 100 lbs heavier or so.

here's the catch.

these v6's tend to take mileage alot better.

my 135,000 mile 3.1 is still very peppy and nice feeling, I get compliments on how quick and strong it still feels for a completely stock unmodified 15 year old vehicle all the time. and I beat the CRAP out of it (especially the last 4,000 miles since I've been waiting to do an LS1 swap)

most 305's with 135,000 miles on them have a pretty beat up bottom end by that time and they just aren't running very good unless they were driven easily for most of it's life.

so yes... i HAVE beaten quite a few stock 305's w/auto with about the same or a little less mileage than my 3.1 w/5 speed... but even a beat up 305 thats halfway running right with a 5 speed will take me, and a decent running 305 even with the automatic will hand me my *** too.

 

if the engine is still in tune, and its not in critical shape, its probably not losing much power then

as far as a positive on having a v6... uhm....
uhmm.......

-- get to save some money at the gas station, in order to save up for your v8

 

I have raced 3 305 tbi camaros. One was a auto and the others were 5 spds. I took them by a car length light to light. All that i have is a 5 spd. Port and polished heads and intake. And new injectors. Also new injectors. Yes I over eggerated on the weight of the motor

 

I ran My 91' RS 305 TBI against a Firebird with a 2.8L at Seattle International Raceway a few years ago and beat him my more then 6 tenths. And that was with my crappy 2.72 gears and 700R4.

 

Maybe I have just been lucky then

 

got gas milege, also you don't have to worry about loosing control or getting into an accident easy. The power is just incredible

 

That's true.

Except in the rain, once you get on some wet ground all of a sudden you have a 383 stroker.

Seriously... The only advantages I see are

A. These things get really decent gas mileage, especially for thier wieght (I get anywhere from 16-19 city and 20-23 hwy depending on how I drive)

B. The six banger just seem to run longer. Almost every v6 Camaro or Firebird I've seen is still the original sixer with 150,000+ on it running still running strong.

C. You have the excuse to be slow (gas mileage) unlike a 305... Which is slow for no apparent reason, lol. Seems like the 305's (especially the carbed ones) have a crapload of problems too.

 

you have to pull the manifold off to get the valve covers off.

you have to either pull the whole front surp belt accessory assembly off, or pull the valvecovers (and intake) to get the AC compressor out

5 plugs can be changed in 10 mins.... the last plug takes 20mins to a hour..

fuel injectors are INSIDE the manifold, so you (once again) have to pull the intake off to replace them...










am i making the wrong list?

 

Lets see... whats postive about a 60*v6 in a 3rdgen? Its better than having an iron duke 4 cylinder I guess.

 

lmao

 

Yeah or an oil spot/very worn out slick pavement.

 

You guys are killing me. I was hoping we could get some positives in here. I know they are small motors but come on now. They are fun with 5 spds Very torquey

 

Hell in anything feels like a 383 stroker in the rain i got my moms corrolla sideways in the rain

 

Does that fact that I just beat 9 local members with V8's in autoX today mean anything positive? Actually, two of them were driving a 4th gen LS1

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=306260

 

Those are excellent times!

 

Thank you sir. Were were you today by the way? Its probably a good thing you didn'tcome out because we had no time for fun runs so I would not have been able to give you a ride along.

Just think if I had my 3.5 and race tires- although I am technically illegal for ESPclass racing with SFC's on the car. I just wanted to run with all the locals in a group together. a few of them had SFC's also. But I tell ya, I could most likey take down that vintage V8 mustang roadracer with the addition of race tires and a tad moe power than 165fwhp. He is pushing about 400hp

 

They run good and are easy to work on. Not the quickest things out there, but they're enjoyable. I miss my old Camaro. Wish it had a 5 spd....but still it was a nice ride, ran exceptionally also.

 

I was installing more tiles & assembling shower.
Does your group ever run at Hollywood Park or the Forum?

 

First off Karl, you know I don't belong to clicks or groups . Just a bunch of local guys that are into third gens and have meetings. Most of them are around our age or older which is nice because they do have high quality cars, but I still just am not into the group thing for BBQ's and such. Don't mind meeting anyone at such a driving type event. They are a very nice bunch of people, my life is just too busy to attend 3rdgen related functions and meetings every month.

Asfor running this car again in autox, it will probably be a least another 2 years. It was fun yesterday, but it does get boring in a 16sec car racing anything and especially without R compound tires on it. And I'm not buying race tires for the wifes car. TYhis car could be so much faster if I took the time and money and set it up for autox (tires, alignment, reduce weight, lower the gearing, and put a damn seat in the car that I am comfortable working the pedals with- I am too tall and cramped) but its the wifes car. It was built for her and my daughter to drive mainly.
The most important part of running it yesterday is that I took it there exactly as it is setup for daily street use other than increasing the tire pressure from 48psi front, 45.5psi rear(both hot tire readings) up to 52 front/ 48 rear was my final setup choice yesterday after chalking the tire edges for roll scrub.

Alignment was not altered one bit and the tires are in fact 2years 3 months old and have hardened so grip is down and sidewall stiffness is softened (hence the 52 front psi reading, max is 51)

I still boast this car to be the very "best handling and braking thirdgen in the world ON STREET TIRES AND FULL CREATURE COMFORT WEIGHT" that means it has a 25,000 mile tires and alignment, it has A/C, Cruise control,power windows- you get the drift. Its not stripped down like a race car would be. It has every factory luxury option it originally came with. Yesterday proved that again by the obvious margin between 7other local V8 third gens. ( I used to boast a $500 slalom challange on street tires on the suspension board here, but I was warned to take it down.)

 

I was hoping to be hearing ya saying hi, had a feelign it was soon, but now past....
After looking at your set up, I was looking towards the time to say hi & such.
Thought the event was gonna be at Fontana or at Irwindale area....
Sorry we all got off topic.....

 

i have stock setup (mostly) under the engine bay, AIR, and egr still in place and it took me 20 min to do ALL SIX spark plugs. and it was the first time i had ever changed plugs on a thirdgen. yes it was a little difficult but i do not know what all the fuss is about

 

that was more of a exauguration then anything else, but the front passenger side plug is completely covered with the EGR and the alternator bracket.... atleast on 92 camaros.

once the bracket is off, its really easy too.

 

positives
peppy and fun

much less weight then a v8 car
mine scaled in at 2955
91 l98 Z28 scaled in around 3400

ive beat a few low mile tbi cars maybe not on the freeway but from a stop i ruin there day

not mention
smokeing a 5.0 5speed mustang till about 40 mph
after that he blew my doors off


with ws6 swaybars and 16in rims i rule the twistys

on road trips i get around 30mpg i average 450miles per tank

full coverage for 2 v6 cars is less then 1 v8 iroc with liaiblity only

no one can tell its a 6 unless i pop the hood

 

Plugs are beyond easy on mine.

I can't think of anything else good to say about my engine. I honestly can't. Good dead weight? I'd actually like to know some fun but realistic ways of ending my engines life once it's out of the car...figure I might burn everything that will burn. Might be enjoyable to some extent. Heads aren't worth anything... block/bottom end might be worth a couple dollars to someone that wants to build a 3.4l I suppose.

GTA gets better gas mileage, more fun to drive, and sounds better.

Maybe this next swap will turn out to be better for the car than the engines in the past.

 

heads can be used as core for ssm type deals, and I got a whole $5 or so for recycling my 2.8 short block (180lbs)