I've just joined the forum, and just picked up a long overdue 87 Camaro. Looking for some advice if I could.
I'm not sure if this is a V6 question, so if I'm in the wrong area, plse let me know and I'll move it to the right one!
I picked up a stock 1987 Camaro with the MPFI 2.8 V6 about a month ago. It's an automatic, but it seems to lack the "zip" my last 87 had (10 years ago, w a 5 spd). I know the auto trans will effect the car, but it is lacking something. It has only about 110K KMs and has been maintained by a lady owner, who has had the car since new. The owner just tuned it up (Cap, Rotor, wires plugs etc $600 in Jun 07) a month before selling. Generally, if it needed anything, she took it in. (her one fault is, most of the mileage is city, likely 90% was in town driving). I have all the bills for the last 20 years, body is great, all the options. I just had the fuel injectors serviced, and the fuel pump pressure was checked as fine (today).
I intend on keeping the car, (I'm no longer going through camaro withdrawl), but is there anything else that you guys might recommend (while keeping it stock)???
OUTSTANDING SITE, GREAT TO BE BACK IN A 3rd Gen F Body!!

 

Check the timing. I forget what the factory setting should be but I was in the same boat before I went 10 degrees of initial advance. Make sure to disconnect the distributer. The disconnect is on the firewall on the passenger side.

 

Run some seafoam through it, also. Everyone seems to love it.

 

The timing should be set to 10*. Sounds like a great car to start with.

 

Thanks Guys, I'm not much of a mechanic, so I'll book it in and see if the timing advance does it!
I'll update as soon as I get the car done. :-)

 

you can also instal the B&M shift kit in your tranny. it gives that strong, assertive kick into each gear.

 

what is seafoam and what does it do?

 

seafoam is an all around great product. when added to your gas tank it dries your gas, and it cleans your injectors, and it lubricates everything. when added to your crankcase it acts as a flush. they have an array of products from spray lubricants (which happen to be multi-functional as well) to transmission additive, to basic seafoam. check it out at most auto stores. I know auto zone and advance carry them all.

 

Seafoam Deep Creep(spray) is like WD-40 on steroids, acts as an amazing cleaner and can also be used as a starting fluid(ie, getting a lawn mower engine to start). The normal stuff is great too... pour about 1/3-1/2 bottle into your engine via the brake booster line. Another 1/3 into your gas, and another 1/3 into your oil.

The intake cleaning process is a bit vague for newbies(I had no clue what to do when I first got some), so he's a quick rundown:

Pry the brake booster line away from the brake booster while the car is running. You'll notice if you remove it entirely, the engine will die, so jusr crack it enough to allow a piece of rubber hose(I prefer clear) to be close to it. Stick your small rubber hose into the seafoam can, touch the other end to the brake booster line and let the vaccum suck 1/3 to 1/2 can out. The car may die before this is allowed to happen, which is fine. If it doesn't die, turn the car off. Let it sit there(turned off) for 15 minutes or so, then turn it back on. Be sure the rear end is facing open air. Pull the throttle and let it spit all the white smoke out(carbon burning off). When it's done, take it out for a spin.

Seafoam also sells a transmission cleaning product(TransTune), but I've never used it.

 

Just picked up the car, timing was at 10 degrees of initial advance, so in discussion w the mechanic, he moved it to 14, took it out for a run, and it seems to have a bit more go. He did not feel that it will have any impact other than a little better performance.
Will the 14 degrees have any negative impact on the car???
(It's a keeper, so I'm not looking at do any damage). My normal highway speed is only in the 65-70 MPH range.

 

yea, harder to start, possibly knocking. 12* would probably be okay but 14* seems a tad much.

knock is death to motors, and to power, if you want to add power via timing the correct way to do it is to burn chips. i don't see many v6 guys in the diy prom board but it's just as viable a motor to tune as the v8's.

i can't be sure that your engine is knocking, but i'd kick it back to 12. also timing is a basic procedure, i'd consider it the doorway to the more serious work but a good timing light was only 55$ the last time i bought one. great way to start learning the ins and outs of your car. theres a great timing thread in the tbi board i'll see if i can dig it up.

air cleaner might be your problem as well, dirty aircleaner sucks up power and mpg as well.

seafoam is one great thing can't go wrong there, another thing you could learn to do while you're at it.

working on your own car is rewarding in more ways then one. it's great to have money in your pocket, to pay for the parts that put a grin on your face!

welcome to tgo, it's one of the few forums worth the time anymore.
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https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=271895

your timing marks may be different but the timing procedure is the same.

 

 

14* is fine on a stock auto that is not revving too high. Onmce you start building it and getting into higher revs more frequently you'll find 14* flattens out a tad at high rpms. I run at 13*.

'87 v6 auto 2.8l here also, Just a tad modified though.

 

might not be anything wrong with it. I owned an 86 Camaro 2.8L/auto. Very slow. (although at the time I stepped up form an 83 Accord 5 speed--it it was faster)

I have also driven several 5 speed 2.8L V6 cars. They FEEL alot quicker. Might just be in your head.

 

Thanks, you might be right. My last was a 5spd 2.8V6 (mid 90's), the auto tranny does have an impact.
As an aside, I had compression checked, 90-100 across all 6 cylinders. I've been told that as 90% of the driving was in town, the engine has been "glazed". This also should reduce the power if what I've read is correct. I'll run some 89 octane, and see what it does.
Thinking I might need a leakdown test done, to see how to move ahead?

 

why would you run 89? the seafoam ought to do it all for you.
i had a 91 v6 car, cant remember if it was the 2.8 or larger. that thing ripped some mad donuts!

You ever think the problem might not be in the motor? have you checked your trans fluid and made sure the tv cable is adjusted properly? what about your differential fluid?

An automatic, especially a GM auto, will usually feel slower though, i'm just trying to turn over some rocks you might not have thought of.

 

Get some Lucas Oil injector cleaner, with upper cylinder lubricant, made mine feel more peppy...