I have a 1987 Firebird with a 2.8L(173 cid)V6. I have only owned it for about 4 months, and the only thing i have done so for is change the oil and keep an eye on all the other fluids as well. I plan on taking my car to my school soon to replace the doughnut gaskets and the fuel filter.

I want to build the crap out of the motor in this car and restore the car itself to.

The only performance parts i have found for this car is a set of pacesetter headers, a MSD distributer cap, coil, and distributer inards, fuel injectors, and other ignition stuff. I would really like to know where i can find major performance parts for this car. Also i would like to know how much i can bore out this dinky little motor.

Will have pictures soon.

 

Performance Parts for this apllication is a oxymoron. You said it yourself "dinky little motor" and that is what it is.

 

You'll have much better luck posting this in the V6 section. If we post anywhere else about upgrading a v6 we get ridiculed by all the V8 drivers.

 

unfortunately K-slice is right, many v8 guys like to rag on the v6 guys. But there are plenty of mods to make your car faster. Don't let the v6 part hold you back. Just upgrading the ignition would make your car run better. You can always do pocket porting on the intake. You also have slightly more extreme options like Nitrous and there is even a thread on turboing your 6 banger with junkyard parts. I would definitely check out some threads in the v6 area...and welcome to TGO!

 

Moving to V6 board...

 

I used to know this guy with a Fiero... He had a 3.1 all built up, every aftermarket hop up part under the sun, headers, roller rockers, ported everything. He spent a small fortune on the engine and machine work. He talked a lot of smack about racing, but kept avoiding actually lining them up. When it finally happened he lost by bus lengths to a stock 350TPI. He had more invested in that stupid bored out 3.1 then I had in my entire car. The next week he was asking me about finding a TPI V8 to put in his Fiero.

The point is that it's not easy, or inexpensive to modify a V6 to reach even the performance level of a stock V8. On the flip side it's as easy as falling off a log to build a V8. Unless it's some kind of religious crusade for you, you'd be further ahead dumping the V6 in favor of something better. Honestly, the cheapest, easiest, answer is to just dump the entire car and buy something that's already what you want.

 

Ok thnks for that scenario. I'l most likely put a 305 into my car since my stepdad is pulling one out of his '86 pickup. It has a knock but i was going to rebuild it anyway

 

I'd keep the v6 before I put a 305 in it! I had a built 3.1 in my Camaro. Total, I probably had $1000-1500 in the motor. Not very much for a full rebuild with a big cam and all of that stuff. I out ran 305s left and right. If you're going to go v8, here's what I'd suggest...fix that 305, sell it and use that money towards a 350.

 

A solid running 305 is worth a couple hundred if you find a sucker, but they really shine as bartering material. A rod knock that changes things. It'll cost every penny as much to rebuild that 305 then it will to rebuild a 350. If anything it'll cost MORE because the 305 isn't as common and parts are marginally more expensive... My advice, Throw that 305 away. Save up $100-200 and buy a 350 block. Get a balanced rotating assembly and have the block machined to match. Buy a good set of heads, and top it with your choice of induction, and you'll be hauling *** for a couple grand.

But then I still recommend dumping V6 cars in favor of buying a V8 outright. Here's why... To do a V8 swap correctly, you need the engine, transmission, motor mounts, engine accessories with brackets, appropriate fuel delivery, matching exhaust system, front passengers side brake line, and coil springs. Assuming you're piecing it together, along with the machine work to get a solid V8, you're looking at between $2-3,000. Now if you go out on Craigslist (www.searchtempest.com) you shouldn't have any problem finding a V8 car that runs and drives for within a couple hundred dollars of that $3,000. If you sell the car you have now, you can just add that profit to the $3,000. At around the $5,000 mark you can buy one hell of a car someone else is sick of modifying, or a really nice original car that will run rings around a V6. Keep in mind many of those V8 cars have better steering, bigger sway bars, 16" wheels, higher flow exhaust, upgraded hoods, upgraded interiors, and the list goes on. You get more for your money.

 

What I say is. If you want a V8 car sell the one you have and buy one, they're easy enough to find and selling yours shouldn't be a problem. Much easier and cheaper then attempting an engine swap.
Your 2.8 will never be a V8, a well tuned one may be able to outrun an old 305, but there ya go. If you want a car that's easy to work on, cheap to own (good MPG, abundance of parts), and looks cool then stick with what you've got. If you're not happy with the power you have or the 20+ more HP you'll gain with bolt ons and porting then buy a v8.
Unless you can afford a turbo or are interested in building a hybrid, then it's a different story.

 

Some of those hybrid builds that several people here have put together are making serious power. I read an article posted here about a guy with a hybrid that whooped up on a stock Z28 convertible. I'm looking at either building a hybrid or doing an LT1 swap. I like the idea of whooping V8 cars with a 6 banger.