Just for giggles, I brought my Sport Coupe over to Lebanon Valley last night. I only got 1 run in though. I had all of my crap in the car. Stereo, tool box, camera, coke cans, etc. The car has a BAD exhaust leak at the manifold on the passenger side. The car has 156k miles on it. I don't know if the motor is the original or not. Anyway, I only got 1 run, so I didn't get to experiment with launches. I launched at 2k rpm and bogged hard off the line. I still pulled a 2.5 60' though. Anyway, I ran a 17.5 @ 78 mph. I'm real happy with that number considering. I think if I fix the exhaust leak, take some weight out and launch better, I may be able to get this 156k mile bone stock 2.8 into the 16s.

Then goes on the turbo sitting in the garage.

------------------
The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah

 

Plan on swapping another exhaust manifold.AND check your mounts for cracks.
Those cracked mounts lead to broken manifolds.

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

 

The leak is between the manifold and the Y pipe. I can spin the donut by hand. The threads on the bolts are very rusted, and there's no chance in hell that I'm going to be able to get it off without breaking the bolts. A proper repair will be a major hassle, and since I paid $100 for the whole car, I'm not sure I can justify it. I may try JB Weld or Walker Acoustiseal and some sort of half-assed clamp setup.

------------------
The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah

 

Sounds like you had a better night than I did, Jim! That's a great time, considering your stereo system in the back!

As to the exhaust, you only have to move one nut to get that spot to seal; how long has that leak been there? I'm betting if the leak just started, then one of the nuts had to loosen on the stud, and it'd be easy to tighten. Of course if you read down on this msg board, you'll see where I did some porting on those donuts- and snapped both of my manifold-to-y-pipe studs in half, so you might want to ignore my advice here!


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

 

the studs on the pipe are SHOT. Everything looks tight, but I can freely and easily spin the donut, so I'm sure that's where the leak is. It's been that way for a few months but hasn't gotten any worse. I'm going to try to build some sort of clamp to pull the flanges tighter without touching the stock nuts/bolts.

------------------
The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah

 

I was looking thru a JC Whitney catalog a few months ago, and they sell an exhaust manifold stud clamp. It's got two points on it; one point digs into the back of the stud on the manifold side, the other goes into the hole on the y-pipe's flange. Looks like something that could be made at home with a file...


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

 

Be wise.
While ya can, go get another exhaust manifold with every bolt you can score. Include obtaining the exhaust gasket.
IF YA GET LUCKY, you end up wasting money on the exhaust manifold (mine cost me $10!), but atleast ya got it on hand when ya try to get lucky!

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

 

There's nowhere in my area to score cheap parts like that. There's only 1 junk yard, so he overcharges. I miss the pick -n- pull back at school.

------------------
The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah

 

Nah, get new exhaust manifold bolts; I posted the specs before on this site. Plus there's no exhaust manifold gasket from the factory; as long as the sealing surfaces are flat and clean, the system won't leak.


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

 

Plus there's no exhaust manifold gasket from the factory; as long as the sealing surfaces are flat and clean, the system won't leak.

IF ONLY I COULD REALLY TRUST THAT!
I cheat, so call me an idiot. I always get a gasket in there, to be sure of no leakage.
I'll bet others are far luckier, than myself, tho.
Tom does have very good knowledge.
Actually, I found my manifold, on a an engine, sitting on the ground.
I couldn't believe how lucky I was to score that exhaust manifold that bloody easy!
That story is almost like "I found this 1957 Fuel Injected Corvette sitting in a barn that was ready to be torn down. Onwer needed it moved, so I did. To my Garage after he paid me to move it!".
Soak all the bolts to be loosened for several days prior. And be sure to start the engine, to. That will allow the stuff to soak into the threads, better. (heat expands-allows trickle down theory)
Good Luck!
Those nuts are 15mm and the manifold to engine is 10mm. When I went ot the yard, I also got extra bolts for the engine to manifold part, for sure seal, in case I screwed up.

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

 

It does not sound to bad.... 17.5.... My buddy with his 92 RS, more mods than me ran high 18's his first time due to a poor combination of mods.

Here is a good idea on how to mod your car:

Stage 1: Dynomax catback and high flow converter

stage 2: Power Pulleys, K&N Filters, Fastchip

stage 3: MSD Coil, Wires and Full Tune Up