So, I'm sitting here, putting off an annotated bibliography, and daydreaming about when my car will run again... Check out the plans. Notice prompts for suggestions or opinions, please respond!!

All plans I menitioned before (spring break plans, etc)were put on serious hold because I got screwed out of a high paying job. Here's the new idea:

This fall: dynomax cat back, new stock cat, 95 Z28 tips (the black rectangles), and new shocks and struts all the way around, possibly urethane bushings, though I've heard they tear (any input?).

Next Spring: ASCD Ram Air hood, 91 Aero wing, 16x8 Formula wheels, fresh coat of black paint, B&M Megashifter (all in time for spring of last year in college, que bella!)

Summer '02: Get my spare 700R4 rebuilt into a serious machine, B&M shift kit, corvette servo, performance friction parts, etc. Dexron III fluid though. Acquire the 3.4 crate GM High Performance longblock, and just stare at it drooling for a few months...

Winter '02: Build up with 1.6 roller rockers and forged pushrods, paint engine (suggestions?), Accel #24 injectors, possibly a spare MPFI setup to port and polish (except upper plenum), AFPR, install boost and fuel pressure senders, fab on powerdyne unit and FMU

Spring/summer '03: transfer accessories, bolt rebuilt tranny to now killer 3.4, transfer upper plenum, swap engines and trannies, install gauge pod and gauges, go for a drive

Whatcha all think?

-Reno

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'88 Firebird LB8
"Cerberus"
-Supercharged Hybrid LB8/L32 Project-
"Got a green light, got a red light, no cop, no stop, man I don't care, every one of you could be the same, every one of you could play this game, got a green light, got a green light but you're going nowhere..."
http://www.angelfire.com/il/Firebird28/index.html

 

I think college is a wonderful place to expand your mind.
I see it still is!
Buy the 3.4 now from a yard, save the extra dough.
With saved extra dough, go get the hood.
Then shocks & suspension. Beef up the tranny, install new drivetrain (it'a already built, now with the money saved from using a used 3.4 block), paint.
You're done!
How's the ignition going? I hope, too!

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

Personal Opinion, leave out those square exhaust tips!

 

I've already got them though, they'll be transfered over sonce I love them so much. =) Overrurled on that one. Hey KED, wou;dn't a nice brand new squaeky clean block be better for boosting though? I think you're jealous that I have the patience to get the new one.

-Reno

 

Sounds sweet. Sice your waiting a few monthes might as well get the valve covers and oil pan chromed.

 

Actually, a seasoned block is much better for building. The core shifting/seasoning process has been completed.
Then the rebuild will be upon a solid block foundation.
Besides, with the money I saved, I can buy those goodies!
NOW.. Funny guy,
If ya really smart,
You'd keep the car, looking nice, get a great paying job, socking away the money in a money market investment & then, buy a NEW CORVETTE instead!
Why spend the effort on daily transportation?
Like me, it's cheaper to put gas my Corvette, and do what a big V-8 car should do, paint asphalt!

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

Just out of curiosity's sake, I looked around, and founf a 93 Camaro 3.4, 85k miles, $550. That's about $1200 cheaper then I was expecting. tranny will only cost $700, which leaves $400 for the supercharger fund...

Here's a question. When you're running boost, is it even worth it to port and polish? I mean, hell, is the air is pressurized, who needs smooth passages?

-Reno

 

i may be ignorant, but id personally say if it wasnt a straight shot ud lose a little power since the air could hit an imperfection and cause turbulence...

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1989 Firebird
2.8 v6, t5 swapped in

Ram Hi-po clutch, Cold Air, 1.6 rockers (ready to install), Lakewood LCA's, Lakewood Lift bars, Wonder Bar, 3" y-pipe, Random Tech Cat, 3" I-pipe, Flowmasters, MSd 6a, MSD Coil (Fireball in future) Accel 8.8 wires, MSD Ignition Module, 4th Gen Seats (not front yet)

" I'd rather run last in a full out race, than to NOT run at all ".

 

These heads do not have much to modify.
Not like the old Small Block Chevy heads of mine, I'm working on now.
Wish there was a street legal supercharger.
Hoping to hear good things from Vic Edelbrock, too.
Ya never know?

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

Street legal? What you mean? I thought they all were street legal? Or are you talking about a roots blower?

Do you think I'd need a rebuild? I thought just redo the pan (are they the same?) and drop it in. Just keep it externally oil tight.

BTW, KED, I asked you for a full rundown on the swap a month ago or so, if you don't mind, I need every little detail in my email, looking like it may happen sonner then later now. EVERYTHING if you don't mind.

-Reno
Reno9114@aol.com

 

I believe superchargers are emissons legal, But, they need that "50-state-legal" red-tape BS to happen for them. If you're adapting another SC to fit your motor, I don't think that qualifies as emissions legal.

The plan sounds good! I haven't heard of urethane tearing.... the key is to put everything together loosely- no final torque. Then, you lower the car to the ground. With the weight of the car on all 4 wheels, that's when you tighten down the control arm & sway bar bushings. The same actually goes with rubber bushings. If you tighten 'em down with the car in the air, you induce a preload. When the car's lowered down, the rubber (or urethane or etc) bushings all "twist". The car would actually look raised!

Also, I betchya you could rebuild the 700r4 yourself! You know your stuff; there's really not that much to a trans! (Here I go on my Haynes rant again...) I bought the Haynes Techbook for GM Transmission Overhaul, and it looks to be of medium difficulty; the hardest thing being getting everything back together correctly. It's a lot of double/triple checking & measuring. The http://www.haynes.com book gives a pic-by-pic rebuild, and shows how to use normal tools in place of high-dollar ones.

Buying a used 3.4 might be the best bet, too. That way you could rebuild it the way -you- wanted it, and it might cost the same! Plus, if the "new" 3.4 blows out, and GM finds out you had a supercharger on it, there goes your warranty!


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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
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