anyone know make modle year of all rwd vehicles gm used 2.8 mpi need to do engine swap in my daughter's 85 firebird need info for salvage yard run

 

You're looking at 86-88 Firebird/Camaro, but 91-92 3.1 Firebird/Camaro is a direct swap. Just re-use your sensors and accesories because the old 2.8s are MAF and the newer 3.1s are speed density

You can also use a 3.4 from a 93-95 4th gen car.

If you just need the long block (block and heads) the 86 - 95 firebird, camaro, or s-10 pickup engines with 2.8/3.1/3.4 will all work.

One last word to the wise. The 87 and newer engines are the ones with improved oiling in the block. This would be the reason that your 85 engine is probably dead. The 86's can go either way because the improvements were mid year. I used to sell engines at an auto parts store and the 86 and older 2.8 long blocks used to come back even after they were rebuilt. I started only selling 87 and up engines after that.

Good luck!!

 

thanks for the info

 

is there a specific casting indication on the block that indicates this newer design with improved oil passages? i have a 1986 model year car and would be interested if i have the better one or not.

 

At the auto parts store it was something like after 8/86.

I never got enough specifics, so I just stay with 87 and later, sorry!

If you have more than 150k miles then you probably are okay.

Those engines were changed every year from 1980. It is a NIGHTMARE to get the proper engine kits or lower bearings for the pre-87 ones because you never knew what change applied to the application!

Wish I could help more...

 

i have a throttlebody 2.8 liter from a 1989 S10, COMPLETE. to use in a Fbody you'd have to change the intake to use the MFI. 40PSI oil pressure at warm idle, 60ish going down the road, flat out pegs the oil pressure guage when cold. never had overheating issues, actually ran around 160 degrees(too cool really) runs strong and smooth, absolutely no leaks and used no oil between oil changes, oil even stayed relatively clean between oil changes. i wrecked the truck and the motor and T5 trans was all that was worth saving, i'd sell the motor for 100 bucks, located in gobles Michigan. 269-628-2890 if there is any interest.

 

That deal of yours is EXACTLY what he needs!

You better go for it, tjk62, this is a great deal. It would be worth it to even have it shipped by truck to your house...

 

i found a 3.1 complete out of a 91 camero 115k miles 30 day warrenty $450.00 seems like a good deal not sure any comments

 

kinda high price/miles for the price, i think you could do better, where do you live? any history on the 91? all that matters is if your happy with what you are getting and feel its a good deal, than it is....

 

i live in baltimore the motor is from a salvage yard this was the first one located will check other sources on tuesday to verify price range

 

i just bought a 86 firebird, 2.8/5 speed. the car will most likely be parted, and if so, i'll let the complete engine go for 200, just because it already has the right fuel injection stuff, and it can be ran to let the buyer hear, also has 40PSI oil pressure at warm idle, is running about 220 degrees in the car. it has new plugs, wires, cap, and coil from what i can see.

 

The above engine also sounds like a great deal. That one is just as easy as the S-10 engine a few more posts above.

Just in case you go with the wrecking yard deal, it sounds okay to me. My last 3.1 from my 90 Firebird went 248k miles and THEN I sold it to a guy to put in his 85 S-10 in CA!!

That 3.1 is a good engine and is the end of refinements that started in 1980 to the engine family. I would not be scared of one now until it was well over the 200k mile mark. As I said earlier, it will be a direct bolt in and you'll just want to re-use your accessories and intake, etc...,

Good luck!!

 

thanks for all the responses for now i/m trying to stay with local avalibility hpopefully the swap will be this weekend i'll keep you postef again thanks

 

There were no oiling changes in the genI or II engines, this includes the 3.4 as well, from the F-body, same oiling system all the way through.

The only improved oiling is with the introduction of the genIII engine, which was intrduced in the '93 Cutlass, and then spread to most of the FWD cars in '94, and by '95 all FWD 660 equipped GM vehicles were genIII. ONLY FWD engines gained the improved oiling.

The change that happened mid year 1985 was the main journal sizes were increased in size.

Also '87+ use a nuetral balance flywheel/flexplate, due to using an internally balanced crank. So if you get a newer engine, you must also get a newer flywheel/flexplate.