all i can find is websites of 85 and up 2.8's i can't find any for 84 and older, do any of you guys know of any?

 

hey guys here's a question for you, what mods can i do to my car. it seems like every mod i want to do i cant because my car is an 84 and carburated(grrrr). i can't do a chip because there is no computer, i can't do pulleys because i have a v-belt system. what can i do?the only mod i can think of is a 4 brrl carb from edelbrock but i don't know if i have enough out flow for my exaust.come on guys i really need help with this.i love my car, its my eleanor, but it's way to slow.its my first car and i will never sell it, so i have to make it faster. i have about a $1,000 to spend on mods.anything, and i mean anything will help. thanks.

[This message has been edited by SkyF41 (edited June 10, 2001).]

 

CAT BACK K&N filter MSD ignition new coil that should help oh and a FULLL TUNEUP

 

$1000 ? Since your car is already carb'd I think the cheapest thing to do would be is put a clean running V8 in there. Since no sensors to mess with I see that as the best thing. Reason guys mod their 2.8L MPFI cars is because they have decent hp to start with and they gotta keep their emissions down. I wouldnt recommend modifying the 2.8 carb. You'll need to spend $1000 on getting someone to modify the internals of the engine and then you might be on par with 2.8L MFI power with a 4 barrel. I'm sure there are a lot of guys that buy a 82-84 v6 to put a 350 in because the gears are 3.42s (like the above years if im not mistaken), and they're dirt cheap.

You can do your exhaust from the cat and back because that should be the same with a v8 if you decide to do that.

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

 

hey thats a good idea, thanks matlock. if i put a carbed 350 in then i won't have to mess with the wiring because there is no computer involved. i don't really want to get rid of the 2.8 because it has only 80,000 miles on it, but i do want the power of a v8. can i change the tpi off a 350 to carbed?and how?

 

You sure only 80,000m? Wow thats low for an 84. Check the wear on the interior and brake pedals, if there is lots its probably 180,000 :P. But besides that its good to hear you're inspired to start right with a 350. I wouldn't even throw away your money with a tuneup on the 2.8 unless you're going to be driving it for a little while. Good plugs and correct timing (among some other things) will give you full power of the motor and full gas mileage. I'm not sure where you live but around here a used 2.8L is about the same price as a used 350. So find out about selling it. Good luck.

 

SkyF41, if that car was made in the U.S., then yes, you do have a computer. 82-84 US 2.8 f-bodies w/carb's got computers. I even have an '84 computer, from my '84 2.8l parts Firebird, in my basement- maybe it'll come in handy some day.

I went thru some mods you can do before, here's the quick listing:

0. Major tuneup.

1. Don't bother with a computer chip. With your carb, all the chip does is control timing, and it might delay TCC lockup (if you have the 4-speed automatic). So you'd see the same benefit if you spend the $100 chip money on a $40 timing light, and advanced your timing.

2. You can do an easy ram air intake. You can add an exhaust if you haven't already. You can upgrade the ignition.

3. You can put stuff on from an 85-up MPFI motor. 85-up heads have larger ports, and bolt on to your '84. The '85-up STOCK cam is more aggressive than your '84's. You can pull the thermostatic clutch fan off your '84, and put an '85-up v6 (or v8!) electric fan on it.

4. You can upgrade the automatic trans (which from '84-'92 was the 700r4). You can put a shift kit into your trans (if you think it's in good shape). Put the polyurethane trans mount on. You can add a trans cooler. You can put on an aftermarket shifter.

4a. Manual trans? Beats me; but I'm sure there's a clutch and shifter out there for you.

5. Lower rear gears (numerically higher): If you have an automatic transmission, it's the 700r4, and your rear axle gears should be 3.23's. You can put an '85-'89 2.8l MPFI rear axle into your car; those came with 3.42 gears. You can also hunt like I did for the '83-'85 Trans Am/Z28 3.73/posi/disc axle, and swap that on.

6. You can upgrade the suspension. The cheapest "start" is replacing the stock (and 17-year-old!) rubber anti-sway-bar bushings & end-links with polyurethane stuff. Later model V6's (and of course V8's) got larger front and rear anti-sway-bars than your early model f-body.

7. Rebuild the 2bbl carb. Doug Roe wrote a book called "Rebuilding the Rochester Carburetor", which has a section on the CCC's (computer-controlled-carb's). Buy a junkyard one for $40, rebuild it, and if all goes well, rebuild yours. Yours is probably full of crap from it's 17 years of operation.

My website will cover the 82-84 v6 mods, but that's far off... but yeah, theres' stuff you can do.


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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!

 

Tom, we are having this discussion again.
You're educating me.
That/those 82-84 F-bodies received some type of computer?
I do not doubt you, but, looking at my stuff for my S-10 Blazer (same drivetrain) I do not have one.
Again, I don't doubt ya at all, but.....

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

 

hey thanks for the info TomP, oh and it really does have only 80,000 on it. it was owned by a doctor who kept it in his garage for his daughter when she turned 16, well she only drove it for about 5 or 6 years then she decided she wanted a different car. then i got it (hehe).

 

All the 82-84's I've seen have a computer. Even the '81 f-body got a computer. It could be that SkyF41 has a Canadian f-body, like Blade, like your Federal blazer. Are you in Canada, Sky? Plus, aren't Blazers under the "truck" category, with different emissions requirements?

Easy check: Sky, do you have an oxygen sensor on the exhaust by the engine? I don't think it's possible to have an oxy sensor without a computer.. is it? It'll look like a silver spark plug with one wire coming from it.. and it should be on the Y-pipe, between the engine and catalytic convertor.


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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!

 

I honestly don't think all those mods are worth much more than the "fun" of doing them. Modding your car can be a good hobby, but IMO those wont produce significant results. Sounds like he'll be needing so many parts from a newer f-body that he might as well sell his and buy one.

Sure SkyF41 there are things you can do to modify the car you have now, but dont expect huge improvements unless you open your wallet really wide.

 

Dude don't listen to those guy's except Tomp he is very on target. Do exaust mod's first no duals but dual tips are OK 2.5 pipe, change your chip sorry tom some chips cange the trany controls very worthwhile,heads go for the small chamber iron heads the edelblock manifold and holley is very hot u choose the 390 or the 450 cfm also everyone makes a cam you choose 1.6 rockers are hot and if you get headers go for nitros 75/100 shot and have fun .smoke a few 8's and be happy with your insurance payment and yes if you want there is a supercharger out there for your car it came in the jeep's the same year as your's 84's rule.

 

he tomP, it does have a computer. its just not in the regular spot.sorry for the confusion.i searched for hours and i finally found where it was, and it wasn't under the passenger dash.sorry tomP and thanks for all the info, you've helped me the most on this board.

 

THANKS FOR LETTING ME KNOW.
Your statement of "truck emissions" must be dead on.
If ya wanna hop your six up, try these tricks.
New coil - Accel or MSD
New plug wires (they still sell those for $8, ask how)
New plugs.
Go get an Accel or anyones distributor advance kit (with springs and such, you only need the springs), install a heavy and medium spring on the weights.
New Accel cap & rotor.
New cat onvertor (2 1/2 in & out from Don's Hot Rod, in Tuscon for $60 800-888-8892 & new muffler like suggested).
Install those parts and create a ram air set up, you're getting there a lot faster, now!
I did all of these tricks oin my S-10 Blazer engine.
Started at barely making 65 MPH, highest speed my Blazer has gone is 90-95 MPH.

Or for REAL FUN, go get the GM Camaro V-8 carb crate engine swap set up. All street legal, but, you'll need a new tranny!
IF ya have the F-41 suspension, you have a great canyon carver. Check that option out!
Enjoy your pamperped ride. IT's just barely broken in at 80,000 miles!

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

[This message has been edited by KED85 (edited June 11, 2001).]

 

Thanks for the "proof" on the computer, guys... I didn't know how I was going to do that (buy an '84 & drive it to Cali? Hm, still sounds good... I'd love to escape NJ)!

Where was the computer, Sky?

True, but you could say that about any one of our cars. Granted, swapping heads isn't an easy job, but it'd make more sense than porting his '82-'84 heads.

And if you ignore his engine for now, and ignore the "get newer heads, get newer stock cam", the rest of the mods I mentioned would help any car out.

By the way, the only reason I mentioned the stock 85-up cam was because I think that cam would be an emissions-legal swap into an earlier 82-84 car. There is not one cam out there that's emissions legal (aka CARB certified) for our 2.8's. That doesn't mean an aftermarket guy won't pass emissions, it just means they're not certified. I was told that if a v8 TPI cam has a similar grind to a v6 MPFI cam, and if the v8 cam is emissions legal, then the V6 cam should also be legal. It seems to make sense... but I don't think anyone's tried emissions yet with the "new" IM/240 dyno-test.


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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!

 

As an FYI

The 1985 cam is the same as ANY 2.8-3.1 MPFI cam design.
The HEADS from the 2.8-3.1 MPFI are the exact same heads.
Try to find a shop that has the stuff and swap them for each other.
BUT, that is alot of effort.
I was able to get a 2.8 MPFI cam reground for $55 & then new lifters for about $40.
Nope, to much $$ for this 2.8 carb'd engine right now.
I want another 3.4!!!!
ONLY when ya jump to the 3.4 engine does everything change (for the better, too!).
I am still in the process of trying to remove the carb on my Blazer.
My friend, I'm still trying to get his help. At least my back is better, now, for that mission.
But, today is tranny day on the Firebird. Fresh fluid/filter. Hopefully better working tranny, too!
Think cost effective (NOW) and save for the 3.4 block with the edelbrock intake set up of the carb.

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

 

One thing I did was make an open element style air cleaner. You have to reroute some hoses and get a valve cover breather to eleminate the PCV valve.

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Dale Earnhardt was a scholar of the race track that drove with the spirit of a warrior.

My Camaro: http://home.earthlink.net/~singleton052095

 

Edlebrock Manifold and small 4 barrel carb..

 

If you some better preformance out of your car, do what I did.

if you have a factory scoop buy a k&n filer lid to have instant ram air, then tune the carb, then buy a flowmaster 80 series mufler w/ single 2.5 inch inet and dual 2.5inch outlets and put it on. Then if your are really luck you con find a set of headers and put those on too.

Robert

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Chevy 2.8L, k&n filter lid, Headers Soon!!!