Hey Guys,

I've got an '85 Berlinetta with the 2.8. It has the twin ram CAI, other than that its basically stock. I bought it with an after market tach on the dash. But, it doesnt have a "redline" or any other line for that matter. I was just wondering what the rpm range is for these and what the redline is? It pulls pretty good up to 5000 so when I'm really gettin on it thats where I usually shift.

Good? Bad? What can these engines take and what are they good for?

-Thanks-

 

Horsepower peaks @ 4500rpm, redline is 7000rpm. Shift at 4500 rpm, you'll get more out of it. Plenty of people (that haven't owned one) will tell you that these engines are crap, but anyone that has built one will tell you that they're much more durable than they're given credit for. They come with forged rods, a nodular iron crank and natural balance because of their 60 degree bank separation, unlike 90 deg v6's. The factory pistons aren't the best because 80's aluminum castings sucked, but new replacements with cleaner aluminum can be had cheaply. Good stock 2.8's can handle a 75-100 shot of nitrous without a problem, not many other stock engines that size can. If you want to get the most out of it you'll have to either revv the crap out of it, nitrous it or put a turbo on it because they don't respond to many of the 'quick' mods typically done to larger v8's.

 

Ya I have had several people tell me that motor is crap and that if I drive it at all hard, I will be putting a new one in. But I'm pretty impressed with it. And I definitely cant complain with the mileage!


What about headers, a hi-flow cat, and new exhaust system? I'm pretty sure i want to do these mods. I also thjought about a chip but that would come after the rest. I'm not that jazzed about NOS and I dont Really have the money for a turbo set-up.

 

bottom end will handle UP TO 7000 rpm, but the top end wont hold up to that kind of revs. the stock redline is 5500, and its probably a good idea to stick to that, unless youve got it built. you can push it past that, maybe 6000rpm for a second or two, but if youve got any kind of high mileage on your engine, i wouldnt recommend doing that.

On a stock intake setup, your car is gonna fall on its face at about 4500 rpm, unless you maybe have some inteke work. the intake manifold just cant really support a whole lot over that though. i ported parts of my intake manifold out and it will pull a lil bit passed 4500, but its before 5000 that its dying out again.

 

I've held it just below 7k before and never had a problem, although it was after a recent rebuild with 3400 springs. Not quite stock, but still OEM.

You can easily get the valvetrain past the 7k mark. Just needs the right parts. Beehive springs, roller rockers, a solid cam and a roller timing chain should get it well past 7k.

If you want to make any power with this engine the first problem to get around is definately air delivery. Like drdave88 said the stock intake manifold is crap. It's modeled after a tuned port setup which, although it provides decent torque, hinders high rpm airflow and horsepower. Don't waste your time porting them. The heads aren't any better, some stock aluminum heads can outflow fully ported iron ones. You should consider replacing the entire top end with 3100/3400 components or better. The proceedure is well documented on sites like www.60degreev6.com

As far as headers go you're pretty much limited to pacesetter headers for iron heads, stock manifolds or custom ones for aluminum. A high flow cat and exhaust system for any v8 f-body can easily be made to work with a little modification to the Y-pipe. Chip reprogramming is a neccecity with pretty much anything beyond replacing the exhaust or porting the stock intake.

 

i dont think its that simple to swap another head on these engines,a simple port and polish and a 75 shot of nos would be nice just my 00.2

 

I didn't say it would be easy, infact there's alot to it but it's absolutely worth the benefits.