I bought my timing chain, and gaskets. What is this tensioner? I don't remember my Blazer having to have one, but I remember someone saying I need one. Tom...any info on this? I need to know what else I will need for the timin swap, and yes, I'm having someone do it. It's not that I don't know how, but I have absolutely NO time. 50-60 hr work weeks are killin me. I have a guy going to do it for $50, and he'll even put a cam in it for me if I want to add $100. So, I'm THINKING of buying a cam, BUT if I can't squeeze 25HP out of a cam, I don't want to do it, so someone let me know something on the Cam situation. Hey 3.1 Firebird, IF I get a cam...I want your headers. I'll probably beat all other bidders, so I'll let you know if I get them. Also, if you don't mind...can you gimme a list of all your mods? If I do all this, and get your headers, I should be fairly close to you, right?

Ok, now if I'm getting a cam, I need some suggestions on cams. I don't have emissions, I don't care too much about gas mileage, and I have my chip not that that helps any. So what cam will give me the MOST power without making this a non-streetable car (...10MPG is way too low).

Hey Karl..I installed something you might like.....a vacuum gauge. Here's a ? for you. Is there any place I shoulda spliced into for the vacuum line? I spliced into my Cruise I think. It ran off all the other vacuum lines. I can move it though if needed. I'm running at 20 at idle, and between 10-15 normal driving.

Tom, I know you're the man on finding diagrams...any way you could get me a diagram of the serpentine system on these 2.8/3.1's? I'm trying to figure out something. It's not a big deal, just kinda wanting one.

ONE MORE question. Why does my car feel like it's bottoming out? New Springs and Shocks, and still when I have weight in the back, if I go over even a small bump, I hear a LOUD thud. And yesterday (been there, just never really noticed) I found that where my car bows out for the RR fender...if you look down it, you can see a small hump....can't explain, I'll have to get a pic.

 

How long do plug wires last? Plugs? Coil?

I know it's a lot of questions, but I didn't want to clutter up the board w/ a bunch of posts....

 

Let's ask a simple question
I understand that plug wires cost about $10 for some brand a short time ago?
It's worth the few bucks to change them if questionable. Same with plugs. Or just get/have them media blasted clean.
Coil, that can fool ya. You cannot see when it goes out, only that it does & will eventually. Mine went out at 100,000 or 15 years later. Upgrade when you feel brave.
Tensioner is that plastic block in between the valley of the timing chain. If the guys says change it, do so. I never have, but, if it's cheap, go to it.
Where to install a vacuum gauge.
I took a line off the back of the intake, to a canister, that got vacuum, right by the wiper motor. Sounds like you got a great spot.
You're pulling 20 at idle & cruising with it and using it for fun & better milage?
And you have 16-17 in" in gear?
GOOD JOB!!!!! How do you like using it? It's kinda fun.
IF you do the cam, you whole intake must come off to get in new lifters.
IT IS TEMPTING....But, costly.
Gain 25 HP, quite possible, but......
The best cam you can score is from the 3.4 engines. Made/designed by Crane! for GM! GET heavier springs for 6500RPM joy buzz! So stated in the 1998 GM Performance book.

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

 

REPLACE THE TENSIONER NO MATTER WHAT!!!!! Mine broke at 140,000 because the chain had streched and began slapping the tensioner and broke it. I had pieces floating around inside my timing cover!!!! It's about $15 but you will have to order it. Nobody stocks it.

Lets see, plugs last like 30,000. Wires should last longer but you'll break them replacing the plugs so you might as well do them at the same time. Dunno about the coil.

The serpintine diagram.....don't you have the little picture of it on the radiator support??

Uhh, if you actually found some sucker to install a cam for $100 then go for it. And the $50 for the chain is good too. It took me 5 hours the second time. My guess is a shop would charge 4 hrs + parts = $300+

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-Dan
-1990 3.1L RS
-Mods? no
-Slow? yes

[This message has been edited by CaliCamaroRS (edited June 10, 2001).]

 

hey if the guy only wants to charge 100 for the cam swap go for it! KEd is right about the 3.4 cam, it has a more agressive profile than the crane 2030 cams. The cam probably will give you 10 hp, but 10hp is alot on an engine making 140hp. IT might not be emissions legal though. If you have an intake,cam,exhaust, and 3.73's, you should be close to a 16 flat.And for 50 bucks go ahead and let him change the timing chain. As far as the headers go, I;m still trying to save all my money up, so I'll have this car for awhile with the headers on. If I decide to pull the headers off its going to be awhile.

 

Actually, I do have a diagram somewhere in the basement... it's not the real thing, but I traced it off a junkyard car when I wanted to convert mine to serpentine.

Check out the rubber on the edges of the tensioner. If the rubber's deeply grooved, or if pieces of the rubber are missing (exposing steel), replace the tensioner. Fun fact- I couldn't re-use my tensioner with my Cloyes true-dual-roller chain. The sprockets hit the tensioner- the back of the Cloyes box even said that my engine wouldn't re-use the tensioner. As cheap as the piece is though, you might want to do it. It just looks like a "V", and sits between the cam sprocket and crank sprocket- it almost doesn't look like you'd think a tensioner would. For $15 bux tho, that's hard to beat.

Plug wires last a while... I try to replace mine every year, but I'm a fanatic. Looks like there's still some of those $8 plug wire sets left- go to http://www.cranecams.com , and click on "Performance Store" on the left-hand bar. Scroll to the bottom of that, click on "wire closeouts", click on "chevrolet", and you'll see "87-88 Camaro V6". The 8.5mm wires for $10 are GONE, but they have 8.0mm wires for $8. That's still a better wire than you'll find locally for $40...


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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!

 

You have real good friends that work cheap.
You must be the Supervisor at your business!!

I never realized the 3.4 cam was designed by Crane until I read that one line in the GM book.
TRY TO FIND ONE IN THE YARDS! Just add new lifters!!

OR
Phone around for a 3.4 cam swap using the 2.8-3.1 one as bait. MAY BE ABLE TO GET IT FOR ABOUT $75-100 total (including lifters!0
Try local engine rebuilders!!!
Even with your good exhaust system - the cam is not a bad investment for the labor.
But........ gotta find it cheap!!
let us know how well you like the new chain set up. I'll bet you'll really be able to feel the diff in the set of the pants. It will have more pep.

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

 

Decided just to go with the timing chain. Too many bills right now. What's the part ## on that tensioner?