Project: 85 2.8 bird

Here the deal: Looks like I'm finally going to sell the t-bird & get some money. I'm also going to get mt clothing allowance have bout $750.
The firebird was parked by the previous owner because he "found" coolant in the oil. Currently, the bird has a dead battery & the upper manifold off. He started to work on it, then thought better of it.
I was thinking..what if I just replace the battery, change the oil, put the manifold back on, and drive it untill I see white smoke pluming out the tail pipes.
Any thoughts of possible damge to parts, I will be getting some heads for about $75, & the cam kit from gm for $112. valves & springs are resonable the the general also.

------------------
85 Firebird. $150.00
2.8 Auto.
Blown Head Gasket.
turbo has arrived,

89-28gp

Coolant in the oil... sounds like a cracked block to me. I'm thinking whole new motor

KED85

You will do like I have.
Swap heads.
Don't worry about cam.
Put in new oil pump (your current one is shot) Drive it until it dies then get a 3.4.
IF ya lucky (so far, I've only done heads on my 2.8 S-10 Blazer) this oil pump swap may allow ya to run the old block. I'm hoping so for my mission. I'd don't have money for a 3.4 for my S-10 Blazer yet. I have other cars engines to build first. I've been awaiting a long time for my own 2 1/2 car garage!!


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

Project: 85 2.8 bird

need to find manual to swap oil pump, how much cussing involved when doing it underneath the car in a garage, not my own, & not having all my tools with me? Guess the turbo install will wait for a while

Since yall belieeve the engine will be on life support, which mods do you recamend?, currently I am not doing the 3.4 swap due to lack garage (base housing frowns on just oil changes in garage, let alone an engine swap)

------------------
85 Firebird. $150.00
2.8 Auto.
Blown Head Gasket.
turbo has arrived,

KED85

Here's how I am doing it on the street/garage.
PS I waited 17 years to have my own garage again!! Some projects have been in suspended animation since then, too! NOT KIDDING!!
Subject-1985 2 Wheel Drive S-10 Blazer. Same engine-auto.
I plan on disconnecting the tranny mount bolts at tranny cross member & the motor mounts (remove the bolts). I plan on jacking up the engine (at crank snout) & tranny (wood on pan) SAME TIME to clear front cross member. I undo all the pan bolts. Drop pan, undo oil pump & put on new goop/tube sealant. Slap it back together.
PS I HOPE I HAVE CLEARENCE, TOO!!!
Bolts-
pan are all 10mm
oil pump is a 15mm.
The pump you get will not have a screen. You need to reuse the old one. IT WILL HAVE TO BE WELDED ON. Just a tack weld will do! One two quick touch!
I actually rebuilt my to be swapped in oil pump from two old oil pumps, made into one good one. The gasket for the pump I made cost me $4 from GM. Buddy had two 2.8s in his yard. I know this from disassembling his old ones to get to these oil pumps.
I haven't done this mission yet, as I am relocating. I'm actually towing my Blazer over to new place to do this job. No time to experiment & get stuck.
I have to pack & move & redo hardwood floors and paint old place for sale/showing. That's important. Can you say PROFITABLE!
Swapping heads was a VERY LONG entailed job, too. LOTS OF CLEANING!! LOTS!!!!!!!
FOR THE EFFORT, find a good 60* V-6 & slap it in! Guaranteed success instead of hoping.
HONEST.
I HOPE MY S-10 Oil Pump swap will work in my case.
This is why I did the Firebird 3.4 swap. Guaranteed success, instead of rebuild & all that $hit.

STRONGLY CONSIDER YOUR OPTIONS!!!
IT'll be worth it in the long run.

Cause in your car, you MAY have to raise the engine higher (cherry picker) than I am in my S-10 Blazer. Blazers have lots of engine room. I HOPE I can do mine from below with floor jacks!!!

BE forwarned & the seasons are changing!

ANOTHER THOUGHT-
Pull the engine, do a compression test to see pressure in cylinders, do work outta car, slap it back in, running. Way easier on the body and the project!

My Blazer original engine at 211,500 miles has 75-90 compression. It starts and will run, but the bad worn down oil pump keeps it from running longer than 5-10 minutes! I just need this truck to "run", not for Land Speed Records. I will install a 3.4 in this truck, one day. I have other more pressing projects to do!

------------------
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 September 20, 2001).]

Project: 85 2.8 bird

I'll goahead & do the oil pump change, will just have to get the car in my garage then. The head swap will be fun, yet edjamakational. Still thinking of putting the manifold back on & drive to my home, only bout 1/4 awy if that.

TomP

Why would the current oil pump be shot? Why not spin the oil pump with a drill, and see if oil pressure comes up? Oh, or, would it be rusted solid (or just rusty) from the coolant?

You might not want to go with the motor... remember the 2.8 swap I did? The motor turned out to be junk... probably because of sitting for so long. (Never found out what was wrong with it... oh well. It had some clunking noise that I never heard.) Maybe you could find a junkyard where the guy guarantees the motor, or, if it was at least running when it was brought in, and swap 'em. You wouldn't -need- all the injection stuff if the guy says he'll charge extra... maybe if you get just a block he'll charge less? Of course I don't know why he'd separate the manifold/injectors/plenum from the motor.. but it couldn't hurt to ask.


------------------
-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l)

Project: 85 2.8 bird

My biggest prob would be doing an engine swap. right now with work, the current world sitiation, spending time w/my family, more work at AZ, not a lot of time to play. I should be able to get the car to my place and do just about anything except pull an engine. Ya never know who would bitch about it & get me kicked outa base housing. The auto hobby shop would work, but therre's that time issue & they aint free.

TomP

Oh, you're on a military base? Yeah, you might've been able to pull off a swap a couple months ago; not now.


[This message has been edited by TomP (edited September 21, 2001).]

KED85

I've discovered the pump goes shot from sitting in the chocolate milk mix. It clogs the screen, I'll bet. I won't know until I drop my pan to tell ya exactly why it went bad. I can tell ya, every time I start it, pressure goes up to 40-ish, then drops down to zero, if I don't shut it off within 5-10 minutes.

The top of my engine (where lifters are) was immaculant & chocolate milk free. Then heads were full of the chocolate milk mix.

Oil was eeechhhh gross!!! Lots of water.

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

Project: 85 2.8 bird

Would motor flush help, always made the oil changes a lot darker, plus a little thinner never hurt