I may rebuild my 92 Bird's engine this year, and I want to do it with quality parts and some go-fast goodies.

For a high-performance V6, what should I look for in a rebuild kit?

Is there an intake for this engine, or should I just port this one?

Cam? How wild can I go before reliability and mileage become a problem?

Heads? Or should I just port/polish mine?

Bigger injectors?

And what about the fuel pump?

If there is something I overlooked, please bring it up in your reply. Right now I'm only interested in engine parts - bolt-ons like hotter ignition, chip, and NOS would come later. For the record, I have no cat, a Flowmaster, and a K&N filtercharger (homemade).

Lastly, does anyone know what kind of a budget I'm looking at here?

 

I'm surprised nobody jumped on this!

From the factory, it seems as if 1989-up 2.8/3.1 motors received forged pistons STOCK. Most rebuild kits come with cast pistons; I know that PAW charges an extra $300 for forged pistons.

You're stuck with the factory intake. A port/polish might help things. Having your fuel injectors flow-tested & cleaned by Rich Jensen at http://www.cruzinperformance.com will also help - it made a big difference in my 2.8, and the cost was very reasonable!!

Cam manufacturers usually describe cam characteristics in their catalogs; and usually a computer-compatible cam will be street-friendly. I noticed you're in Florida, and I hear they don't have emissions testing- but here's some info anyway: There is no aftermarket camshaft that is 50-state emissions legal.

The "Generation II" (front-wheel-drive, 87-up) 2.8/3.1 motors received aluminum heads. These heads also had a splayed valve arrangement to increase power. A swap to these heads would require you to obtain the correct Gen II pistons! These pistons have valve reliefs cut into them- Gen I pistons are flat-topped and would smack the valves of the Gen II heads. You will also need pushrods for a Gen II motor, since they had different lengths for intake/exhaust rods. As far as I know, nobody has gone this route yet with heads. I haven't seen/heard of anyone trying this.

If you want to stick with your Gen I iron heads, you can get the 1.52 or 1.60 Magnum roller rockers from Crane.

Bigger injectors are probably not needed; have yours cleaned & flow-tested by Rich instead.

Fuel pump: Should be fine. You have some possible upgrade options to try, though. The stock TPI V8 (not TBI!) in-tank pump goes to the same high pressure (60 PSI) as the MPFI v6 pump, but the TPI one flows more! This might be a possible upgrade. You won't -need- this, though! It would be something to think about if your in-tank pump ever dies.

Edelbrock (and I think Holley?) make a high performance TPI in-tank pump, which probably flows even more than GM's stocker.

Budget?


------------------
-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!

 

Thanks Tom! I appreciate your thoroughness. Probably no one else has replied because this isn't a typical "ram air/ignition/chip" question.

I thought I had heard there was a better intake, but I'm probably wrong. I've been thinking about porting/polishing mine, so I will definitely go that way when the time comes. Your other suggestions will also come in handy. When I get to work, I'll print this out for my "tech stuff" file.

I don't plan on rebuilding this engine just yet, I'll wait till later in the year. I've been thinking of trading the Bird in for a 91-92 T/A with a 350, but I really like my car and that little engine does quite well.

I'm thinking it will cost me another grand or two to get the T/A, so I'd rather just put some of that money into my engine.