Granted, I'm not doing a rebuild until Spring of '02 anyways, but I wanted to start developing a plan for my car. For the engine, I have 2 ideas:

1) Rebuild the 2.8 with a cam, RRs, etc
2) Get a GMPP HT 3.4, leave the bottom end stock and get a lotta good bolt ons and custom ported top end.

My goal is 200hp. The reason why I won't go into the bottom end of the 3.4 is because I want to keep the 3/50,000 warranty that comes with it. So whats the best road, rebuild or 3.4? Remember, the goal is 200 reliable, emissions-legal HP.

Ideas?


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Jason E
'89 Camaro RS 2.8
Hypertech chip/K&N filters/Accel 8.8 wires,coil/RapidFires
Eclipse CD and 100x4 amp/Boston plates and 6x9s
JasonEE98 on AOL IM

"I feed my car plenty of rice...keeps it healthy!!"

 

Heres the rebuild that someone I know did in his Fiero...sounds pretty tight to me!

Bored from 2.8 -2.9
New higher compression pistons 9.50-1 with Chromoly Rings.
New cam and main and rod bearings bearings, block was hot tanked.
Heads got decked .010 and a multi angle valve job.
Also installed 1.52 ratio roller tip rockers
Camshaft lift at valves is .426 intake and exhaust. (stock is .393 and .410)
Exhaust Manifolds are ported for better flow
19# injectors were installed to keep up with added displacment and fuel req. of the camshaft.(stock are 15#)


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1991 Firebird Formula, 305, TPI, Auto...stock till I get some money!!!
Former owner of an 88 2.8 Firebird....RIP

 

oh yeah, heres a link to his site!
http://www.geocities.com/capt_fiero2000/capts_page.html

 

Know what's strange about the PAW catalog? They don't offer any upgrades for the 2.8 internals, other than forged pistons (same compression ratio), and file-fit SpeedPro rings. They also don't list any pistons designed for the Gen II (splayed valve aluminum head) motors' valve clearances.

I assume that means I have to call, but damn! Their catalog is +1200 pages long, and cost me $6- it should have EVERYHING in there.

Unless this guy's higher compression pistons were a 1-time custom-run $1000 job...


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

They are Federal Mogul pistons and they were purchased from a place called Wintek Auto in Richmond BC Canada.

 

mill the heads if you dont want to buy pistons

 

So whats the consensus? 2.8? 3.4? Gimme opinions guys.

 

I'd personally say stick with the 2.8...it'd be cheaper in the end.

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1991 Firebird Formula, 305, TPI, Auto...stock till I get some money!!!
Former owner of an 88 2.8 Firebird....RIP

 

Anyone have an idea how much it would cost to have a 2.8 professionally redone with the following??

-Rebuild entire engine, adding Crane cam, Crane valve springs, RRs, forged pistons
-New injectors ($300)
-Port heads and intake

Also, if I end up being unsure about whether or not I would want to try the install myself, anyone have an estimate as to how much a take out/rebuild/install would cost??

 

id go 3.4..but i got a price for fully rebuilt 2.8 for 1000...for the hipo cam they wouldnt charge for install since they'd have to install one anyways...

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Flowmaster 80 series, Random Technologies Cat, 3" intermediate pipe, SS
Hand Made Tips, 3 1/4" out, Accel 8.8 wires, MSD Coil, MSD Ignition Module,MSD 6A Box
Currently Working On:
T5 swap
Next to buy:
Slp dual cold air intake!

1982 z28..
350 4bbl black leather inside and black outside...no mods yet except for maybe the exhaust from my firebird

 

I plan to rebuild my 2.8 and in the process:

1. bore 30 over
2. shave the heads 1thousandth bring the compression up .5 a point
3. forged pistons
4. crane 2030 cam
5. comp cams 1.52 roller tips
6. gasket match the heads
7. double roller chain

 

Graemes, I didn't mean to come off like I thought it would cost more for labor to put a Crane cam vs a normal cam in it

I was just wondering if anyone had an idea how much it would cost to have someone assemble an engine like that, taking into account what the aftermarket parts cost.

 

oh..whoops lol sorry

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Flowmaster 80 series, Random Technologies Cat, 3" intermediate pipe, SS
Hand Made Tips, 3 1/4" out, Accel 8.8 wires, MSD Coil, MSD Ignition Module,MSD 6A Box
Currently Working On:
T5 swap
Next to buy:
Slp dual cold air intake!

1982 z28..
350 4bbl black leather inside and black outside...no mods yet except for maybe the exhaust from my firebird

 

DL, I read that on the website; but we need more!

Jason, just to give you a gauge- PAW shows a rebuilt kit for the 2.8 with forged pistons (Federal Mogul) to be around $600. Cast pistons gets you down to $300ish for the kit.


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

What do ya need to know?

I'll ask him next time I talk to him

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1991 Firebird Formula, 305, TPI, Auto...stock till I get some money!!!
Former owner of an 88 2.8 Firebird....RIP

 

Just if those higher-compression-pistons were an already-made part # or if it was a custom job that Federal Mogul did for him!

Thanks,


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

Nope, not a custom job....he doesnt have any catalogues and the shop where he got them has since shut down, but he says they should be in either the GM Performance catalogue or the Federal Mogul catalogue.

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1991 Firebird Formula, 305, TPI, Auto...stock till I get some money!!!
Former owner of an 88 2.8 Firebird....RIP

 

hello party people...

ok heres a far out suggestion.

get a Norris RAcing Tech 3.5L OHV Custom Built engine. they run about 3k. they are out there in the mideast somewhere...

a guy i know, James Montoginy on the CamaroZ28.com board has one, in his 1994 Firebird, with an auto tranny, and he is putting down 204 REAR WHEEL HORSEPOWER yes that is an exact count, and he has a small gremlin riding under his hood somewhere, he is looking for it as we speak. but if you want 200 solid horsepower, and are figuring on buying a 3000 3.4L, might as well go that route. (p.s. new 3.4L is 2300.00 without computer, ignition system or likewise)

(edit)
DAMN i was wrong..ok my bad, James posted 208/176, and then went on to say TQ/HP..i was so impressed, my brain went dyslexic lol...he has 176 RWHP, and 208 RWTQ (which is pretty good for a 3.4L i might add...

[This message has been edited by 94Camaro (edited December 12, 2000).]

 

Cool, I remember James M... didn't he sell his 3rd gen to buy a 4th gen?


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

Hmmm well I rebuilt my 2.8 this summer I ordered the master ebuild kit from PAW on the hopes of getting forged pistons.. however they informed me that they were unavilable. I ordered the cast ones, substited in a compucam 2030 and and them balance the the rotating assembly. That totalled over a grand (then they sent the wrong crank, pistons AND rings to boot.. but thats another rant) then I had about 600 in machine work to the block and the heads, then all the little things that go along with a rebuild... it cost me near 2 grand (then add labor on top of that) , and I doubt I'm making 200hp even with the port and ploish work I did. I would suggest going with the 3.4 if you can.. I think those made near (if not) 200hp stock so that would be a better starting point.. though if you want the ultimate bang for your buck, 'HOT ROD' built up a 383 for less than 2grand that made well over 400 hp! (I still feel cheated by that one) however doing the swap would quickly make the cost skyrocket.. hence why I didn't do it.. its all lessons learned I guess

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"It should be REAL sleepy"