V6 Discussion and questions about the base carbureted or MPFI V6's and the rare SFI Turbo V6.

How my car feels after the 3.73/posi/disc swap!

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Old Sep 11, 2000 | 01:07 PM
  #1  
TomP's Avatar
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 13,414
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From: Central NJ, USA
Car: 1986 Firebird
Engine: 2.8 V6
Transmission: 700R4
How my car feels after the 3.73/posi/disc swap!

Wow, glad to see TG.O back up! Some of you know, but some of you don't- I did my 3.73/posi/disc swap two weeks ago!

I had trouble with the brakes (bad master cylinder) that took me a week to work on, but everything's working fine now.

The car feels GREAT! Wow! When I punch the gas at a stop, the car really pins me in the seat. It roars to life much faster, and as a bonus, my 1-2 shift got harder! Flooring it on a highway gives me the same ear-to-ear-grinning results.

As to the posi? Well, I haven't had much opportunity to try a burnout. On the one chance I had, I heard the left (cool!) rear tire start to spin, but my BRAKE warning light came on. I saw that and let off the gas right away- I must still have air somewhere in my brake system.

I built a homemade pressure-bleeder for my brake system when I did the swap; at the time, I used it directly on the brake lines. Maybe this weekend I'll adapt it to work directly on the master cylinder instead.

I want to get to the track soon!

Any questions? Fire away!

-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
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Old Sep 11, 2000 | 01:28 PM
  #2  
crazeinc's Avatar
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Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Naperville, IL USA
i also swapped in a 4.10, posi rearend labor day weekend...what a f'ing blast!!

------------------
-'82 Z28 (350, 4.10's, plenty of goodies)
-'91 S10 (nice daily driver)

AIM me at: Unitedhope
ICQ me at: 77979548
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Old Sep 11, 2000 | 01:28 PM
  #3  
IROC-ZTWENTYGR8
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Thats good TomP, sounds like it went the way u wanted, but I have a different question for u. A while ago u posted something on your insurance and how low it is. I'm paying like $445 quarterly and I think thats way too much. How much are u paying again and what company do u have??
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Old Sep 11, 2000 | 01:36 PM
  #4  
Get Blown ?'s Avatar
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From: Allentown, PA
Reminds me of when I had my v6 Camaro. With the 3.73 Z28HO rear on it I could out run LG4s all the time. Sure do miss that rear...however I don't miss the poor mileage I got from it.

------------------
My car is the perfect women. She's braless, won't talk back and loves a good beating.
1989 Camaro RS L03 w/ WC T-5
http://350.StreetRacing.org
ICQ: 61342629 AOL IM: BlackSunshineZ28
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Old Sep 11, 2000 | 02:39 PM
  #5  
Garmer's Avatar
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From: Mendon, IL, USA
Tom what are all the mods you have done to your car and what are you latest et's?

------------------
91 RS Camaro
3.1L
Cat Back System, K&N filter, Fastchip Stage 2, 160 thermo, Rapidfires and Bosch Wires
CD Player
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Old Sep 11, 2000 | 09:45 PM
  #6  
Jason E's Avatar
2011 Norwood Gathering
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,435
Likes: 4
From: Sarasota FL
Car: 99 WS6 / 00 SS / 11 CTS-V / 13 300
Engine: LS1 / LS1 / LSA / 5.7 Hemi
Transmission: 4L60E / T-56 / 6L80E / W5A80
Axle/Gears: 3.23 / 3.42 Auburn / 3.23 / 2.62
Glad to hear the swap went well!!

What happened to the speedo though?? That still working ok??

As for the insurance question, I guess $445 a quarter for a V8 isn't horrible, depending on your driving record. I pay $1,150 a year for a V6 with no points added, after 4 good years of driving. Hope this helps a little.



------------------
Jason E
'89 Camaro RS 2.8
Medium Grey Metallic/700R4, T-tops
Hypertech Street Runner
2 K&N filters/Modded air box
Eclipse CD head unit
Infinity RS 4x6 plate front, and Kappa 6x9 rears
Alpine Alarm w/ Keyless entry
IROC tailights
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Old Sep 11, 2000 | 11:07 PM
  #7  
85f-bird's Avatar
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 2,028
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From: St. Louis, MO
Car: 85' Firebird (Project), 92' RS
Engine: 2.8L, LS1
Transmission: 700R4, 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 3.42 Open , 10 Bolt (ukn)
heck jason, i thought you just liked responded to the topic. You also kinda sounded like a little kid saying "daddy are we there yet. are we there yet. are we..." while asking about the speedo. to tom, i'm glad to hear the accel's up where all v6's should be, fast!!!
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Old Sep 11, 2000 | 11:07 PM
  #8  
Graeme'sFirebird's Avatar
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From: First one out of liberty city, burn it to the ground
Hey Jason Easily Fixed

------------------
89 RS
305 TPI...

Previous:
2.8 s/c'd firebird
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Old Sep 12, 2000 | 12:45 AM
  #9  
Kevin S's Avatar
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Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 384
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From: Pt. Pleasant, WV (Home of the Mothman!)
Hey Tom,sounds to me your having fun with that swap.:P
I only have one question for ya,what are your rpm's at cruising speed(55 or 60mph)?

------------------

Kevin S
10.9 @ 62.87 (1/8 mile)
89 RS 2.8(bored .030)
B&M shift Improver
B&M Mega Shifter
Perma Cool trans cooler
Accel Wires,
Ignition module,
Super coil
Streetrunner chip(for now)
Flowmaster
1.52 Roller rockers

Things You Will Never Hear a Man Say....

Damn, too bad this car isn't a four cylinder.
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Old Sep 12, 2000 | 08:59 AM
  #10  
Get Blown ?'s Avatar
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Joined: Sep 1999
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From: Allentown, PA
Originally posted by Jason E:
As for the insurance question, I guess $445 a quarter for a V8 isn't horrible, depending on your driving record. I pay $1,150 a year for a V6 with no points added, after 4 good years of driving.
Your getting ****ed. My old 86 v6 cost me 900 a year and my 89 RS costs me a grand. I've only been driving for 2-3 years now.
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Old Sep 12, 2000 | 01:42 PM
  #11  
TomP's Avatar
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 13,414
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From: Central NJ, USA
Car: 1986 Firebird
Engine: 2.8 V6
Transmission: 700R4
Thanks guys!

Crazeinc, that's the only way to spend a holiday, right? Cool to hear I wasn't the only one! The axle swap itself took me a day and a half, the brakes took a week

GetBlown, I've already noticed the drop in mileage. However, with my tall tires (P275/60r15's), my "effective" rear gear ratio with the 3.42 gear was a 3.18. Now, with this 3.73 gear, my effective's a 3.46- so my car's close to "stock" again. If I got shorter tires- woah!

JasonE, my speedo is pretty much back to normal (see my paragraph above). It's actually reading a bit "fast".. it used to say 50 when I did 55... now it says 50 and I'm probably doing 49.

My insurance was $3000/year, with accidents. Now that I'm an old man at 24, I'm paying $800 a year.

Oh and as to the difference between Jason E's insurance and Get Blown's old insurance- it matters alot what state you're in...

-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
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Old Sep 12, 2000 | 10:22 PM
  #12  
Jason E's Avatar
2011 Norwood Gathering
ThirdGen Firebird Rep
 
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,435
Likes: 4
From: Sarasota FL
Car: 99 WS6 / 00 SS / 11 CTS-V / 13 300
Engine: LS1 / LS1 / LSA / 5.7 Hemi
Transmission: 4L60E / T-56 / 6L80E / W5A80
Axle/Gears: 3.23 / 3.42 Auburn / 3.23 / 2.62
Hey Graeme's, thanks for fixing my stupidity!!

Tom brings up a real good point...I live in Massachusetts, which supposedly has high insurance rates compared to other states. What's funny is I pay the EXACT same rate ($1,150/yr) with full coverage that my parents paid when it was new!!

If I didn't want collision and cut some of my liability down, I could ensure it for under $700 a year. But with the school I go to (UMass Amherst) and the traffic I deal with, it just isn't worth chancing a hit-and-run with the body of my car being so good.
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Old Sep 13, 2000 | 03:31 AM
  #13  
Kevin S's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 384
Likes: 0
From: Pt. Pleasant, WV (Home of the Mothman!)
It must be a good thing to get old.lol
At 28 I pay about $1800.00 for one 89 RS,an 89 Pontiac Bonneville and my house.
I guess WV isn't all that bad.

------------------

Kevin S
10.9 @ 62.87 (1/8 mile)
89 RS 2.8(bored .030)
B&M shift Improver
B&M Mega Shifter
Perma Cool trans cooler
Accel Wires,
Ignition module,
Super coil
Streetrunner chip(for now)
Flowmaster
1.52 Roller rockers

Things You Will Never Hear a Man Say....

Damn, too bad this car isn't a four cylinder.
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Old Sep 13, 2000 | 01:02 PM
  #14  
TomP's Avatar
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
 
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 13,414
Likes: 6
From: Central NJ, USA
Car: 1986 Firebird
Engine: 2.8 V6
Transmission: 700R4
Oh hey you guys were asking about collision, too?

I don't have collision... I just have liability. I'm insured against lawsuits, my car isn't insured against damage. I figured they'd look at my '86 with (now) 205,000 miles on it, and say "It's junk, here's $500, and go away please." At which point I'd flip out, they'd call the cops, I'd get arrested, etc etc- it's not worth it. j/k

-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards

<table BORDER=3 CELLSPACING=3 CELLPADDING=3 >
<tr><td>Run #</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td></tr>
</table>

[This message has been edited by TomP (edited September 18, 2000).]
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