Let me start off that I'm pretty new to this so no bashing, or at least wait until my second post.

I'm gonna have some extra cash this comming month and of course its going into my car. So I'm just trying to get some ideas on what I should get. Should I go for the Pacesetter Headers or a Cam, and if I go for the cam which one should I get. I say I'll have close to 300 for parts so which would be a good buy and what should I expect from it. Thanks for any help.

 

i'd recommend a full tuneup first, a well running 2.8 will beat a header equiped untuned one anyday.

if its already got a full tuneup, i'd recommend saving up and buying a 3.4, much easier to get a faster 660 with a bigger motor

oh and welcome to the board

 

one thing i would do with your 2.8 equiped Fbody is build up the suspension and steering. your car will go faster with better control. i have don verry little to my engine and drivetrain on my 2.8 (thats what my trans am is for), but that car is MORE fun to drive then my TA simply because of the way it handles. i intend to build the suspension up on my GTA soon as well.

all things considered you CAN NOT GO WRONG with making your suspension top notch, then later if you decide to swap a larger 6 or a v8 in you have done many mods that will carry over. also, start with the basics. tie rods and shocks. then go replce other worn steering linkage components like center link and idler arm if neccisary. then put new bushings in your control arms and rear linkage. then replce your sway bar bushings with greasable ones and get new endlinks. after all this (i would do it in that order) your cars steering will be much more responsive. and tight.

now add the buildup parts... wonderbar, replacement factory springs (i am verry happy with the Moog/TRW factory ratio springs i put on my v6). etc...


however if you are set on a cam or headers i would say do the headers. i would do this for a few reasons.
1. free flowing exhaust will make your engine more efficiant and gain you BIG results (keep in mind it's a 2.8L v6, so BIG is realative). if you keep your driving habbits the same you MAY even see a gain in MPG becasue of it. but that is doubtfull.
2. all future mods will be heightened by them
3. they make your engine bay look good.
4. they make the awsome sound of a cam sound even better.

 

First off, welcome to the boards. It's nice to have you.

Now, on to your question,

I hope not sound like I'm bashing you, but I noticed that your RS is powered by a 2.8 so in all honesty, I wouldn't concern myself with trying to make more power with that particular motor. Spending money on trying to get more horsepower out of it with a bigger cam/ headers etc. would not only be a waste of your time, but of your money aswell, considering the fact that even with those mod's you'd still get beat by a bone stock Civic. It's sad but true unfortunately. Those motors just aren't going to be competative no matter what you do with them.

But don't feel bad, it's still a 3rd gen Camaro and as such, it's still one of the coolest car's to ever come off GM's assembly line and an amazing platform to buid an awesome car out of.

So, with that in mind, what I'd suggest first and formost, is concentrate on the chasis/suspension. Just cause you can't run with the V8's in a straight line, doesn't mean you have to take a back seat to them around corners too.

If anything, your RS will probably handle better than it's V8 brethern due to the fact that the motor itself weighs less and it's got a much more balanced weight distribution.

Start off with a set of sub-frame connectors. They're absolutely vital to all 3rd gen's. They will strengthen your chasis and virtually eliminate 98% of all the annoying squeeks and rattles that are common on these 3rd gens.

Second, upgrade your sway bars front and back with larger diameter units and pick up a set of lowering springs. I'd reccoment a set of Eibach "Pro-kit" springs which should lower your ride by about an inch. It'll look even better then it does now and because you're lowering the centre of gravity, it'll be a night and day difference in handeling aswell - for the better, of coarse

You might also want to consider a set of boxed steel control arms as well as they too, make a big difference when your trying to plant the power down in the turns aswell as a pair of control arm relocation brackets since you've lowered your car.


It's hard to reccomend parts when I don't know what your budget is, but the fact still remains, a suspension overhaul and a set of sub-frame connectors will be most beneficial to you in the long run.

I say don't waste any money on headers or a larger cam, etc. because, as I said, the 2.8 is never going to be a contender out on the street because it just not a motor people build up. There's virtually no aftermarket for that motor. You'll just be wasting your money.

Instead, save your money a little bit at a time, and eventually, you'll have enough to do an engine transplant. I've seen plenty of TPI L98/700R4 combo's going for as little as $1500. Even less if it's just the motor itself.

The less money you spend on that 2.8 of yours, the closer you'll be to having money for a motor with, uhm...... "more potential"

These things take time. Nobody ever builds their dream car over a weekend. Concentrate on things that will actually improve real-world performance (suspension/chasis upgrades) and you'll be much better off.

Besides, once you get a V8, you're definetely going to want to have all parts I mentioned earlier on your Camaro.

If you need any recomendations as far as brands you should go with, it would be best if you let us know roughly how much your budget will allow for at this point in time.

Again, welcome to the site.

 

300 wont get you much anymore.

Save it for later on in life.

 

Thanks a lot guys, the info was kinda what I needed. Now, I'm not trying to be any 350's or anythings, this car is really my daily driver so I just want it to be efficent. I love this car, it look great, and has treated me very well. It has a full tune-up, and even though I don't try to race it or anything I still like knowing that the parts in it are top of the line. I feel if I take care of my ride it will take care of me. I'm really just looking to get my car to run as best as it can, and not really to out perform everybody on the street.

 

sounds like the subframe connectors or other suspension components would be your best bet. SFCs will REALY improve the way the car feels. it will tighten up everything and make it feel like new. i am doing the prep work now to put a set on my GTA. can't wait.

 

It looks like I'm gonna go with them...So where do I get them and how much?

 

UMI Performance Inc.

Spohn Performance, Inc.

Both UMI and Spohn's sub-frame connectors seem to be the most popular choices on this forum. The price is roughly the same on both, main difference is that the UMI version is made of boxed steel tubing where as the Spohn is round tubing.

I doubt you'd be able to feel any difference between the two in real world driving, but personally, I'm leaning towards the UMI set up myself as the box'd steel tubing it uses, can aslo serve duty as a jacking point when you need to lift up the car.

Either way, you can't go wrong, but the you might want to take that into consideration before you make a decision.

Hope that helps.

 

if you are compatent with welding you can make your own, they are a simple design. i am making mine (well, kick *** guys in my carclub are making mine) out of boxed steel. except the SFC to subframe bits are round stock. they are going to kick so much ***.

 

What about the ones that are for sale at 'Hawks Third Gen' page???

 

hawks sells like four different brands, which ones were you looking at?

 

The:
-Camaro/Firebird 86-92 MAC Performance Black Powder Coated Subframe Connectors for $135

-Camaro/Firebird Spohn 82-92 Sub-Frame Connectors - Single Cat Y-Pipe
for $195

 

ive had the Spohn SFCs in for over 3 years, love em. i had to go over railroad tracks on my way to my old job and every day it sounded like my sunroof was gonna blow out, after i put them in, no noise at all. and lots of people have had problems w/ paint cracking at the top back corner where the window rolls up due to body twist w/o SFCs. that was one of my repairs when i repainted my car. start there for sure.

 

Are those MAC Performance SFC's any good? Theyre priced quite a bit lower.. Sorry for jacking the thread..

 

So no one has answered yet... Are the MAC Performance SFC's any good?

 

Honestly, any kind of subframe connector will make a world of difference on these cars, regardless of who makes it. Some, obviously, are more popular then others, and may very well "strengthen" a chasis more than a cheaper set (theoretically of coarse )

But I have yet to see a full comparison in favour of one brand over another in terms of performance.

On a street car, I'm more than willing to bet, you wouldn't notice the difference between the MAC's or, say, UMI.

The speed shop I go to used to carry MAC's, and my mechanic said they made a world of difference and were very easy to install. He reccomended the Mac's.

If money's an issue, go with the MAC's, save yourself some cash. I'm 99.9999999% sure you'd never be able to tell a difference between them and another more expensive brand.

Hope that helps a bit.