Got a dilema. Now that I found this site I've seen lotsa tips to ram colder-fresher air into the engine. Since I don't want to ruin my fuel mileage, would ram air(or a K+N filter setup at least) go ok w/ an MSD ignition+coil. As far as MSD, what exactly would be best for my situation if you know? Driving an 89 firebird 2.8EFI auto at about 5000 ft.alt. in Germany w/ hills everywhere and doing 95-110mph avg(give or take 10)on autobahn. More power at high speeds would be great, but don't want to burn more gas than I do already. Since my foglights don't work I might use them as intake ports.

 

I would use the MSD 6A ignition box, MSD Coil, Accel Module, and MSD Wires with drop in K&N's with the bottom of the box cut off exposing the filter to the elements.

 

I think either jegs or summit has a good price on the crane firebal HF6, or something like that: you get the box w/built in rev limiter & matching coil for like $162.00 or clsoe to it.

 

I second what Brian K said. You will definatly feel the difference at high-speeds with all that stuff.

And definatly use those foglights for intake ports... with ram air, thats all the more SOTP difference you'll feel.

You could even take it a step further and port and polish your intake/plenum/TB... replace that drier ducting material with a piece of PVC pipe (less turbulence) and use a breather instead of the air intake tube for the vaccuum.

Exhaust will help you out as well in both areas... a free flowing one will do the trick, just about anything is better than stock.

None of the aformentoined things will hurt your fuel milage in anyway... if anything you'll pick up a few MPG. And as always, make sure the engine is in tip-top condition to pick up even more lost power.

Good luck.

------------------
1985 Camaro SC - 2.8L, auto.

C'mon, spin 'em for papa...
http://www.xenodrgn.f2s.com/Frontright.jpg

 

Agreed; the easier an engine works, the better it's overall effeciency. Besides, (no offense meant,) people seem to have an idea that a modification will cause their car to go from 500 MPG to 6 MPG... that's just not going to happen. A more likely "drop" in gas mileage would be 33 MPG to 32 MPG... and that probably is a result of the driver speeding more often since the car feels more powerful.

Hell, I went from a 3.42 rear gear to a 3.73, and I haven't noticed any drop in gas mileage! Of course, I don't pay too much attention to it either... but it's not like I'm filling my tank up every other day!


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

 

When I typed the topic I actually meant to type MPG, not MPH, but you all seemed to understand what I was talking about. I do have a problem though with performance sometimes( quite major really) that I need to fix first. Need to experiment one more time tonight to best describe it though. I'll probably get back with that one tonight. I might take a new exhaust into consideration too since I have a few holes in my pipe and the muffler is mounted with coat-hangers. The input on intakes and ignitions was helpful though too. thanks (The white guage overlays I orderd should add a few hp too)

 

I just got my car and thought about useing the fog light holes for intake. How would I hook it up though? Also, would it affect my visibility at night. Because of taking the fog lights out.

 

Also, where can I get ram air funnels to put into the fog light holes? Thanks

 

Cool, we have a German on the site! I always told myself that if I lived in Germany I would swap out my rear end gears for some 2.77's, so I could get alot of top end speed on the Autobahn. Actually the good news is that most modifications actually increase gas mileage, so you get more power and better gas mileage, so you win all around. NJow if you get a bigger cam or something like that you will decrease your mileage. Ignition,high flow exhaust, and headers,intake, power pulleys should all be beneficial to gas mileage.

 

I found some at Home Depot. Go to teh rain gutter area.
You'll find them.
Cut to size.
They cost about $2, so have a blast!
Snowing back in PA yet?
I'm going to Poconos & Ct on 12/25 from LA

 

just like everyone else said it can only help mpg. i am running the cold air setup you probably have seen pics of with the pvc, along with the MDS GM blaster coil and their 8.5mm superconducter wires and the car runs smooth and MPG went up. you really helping the car out in the long run and in return getting more kick in the pants.

KED85, it snowed up here in CT about a week ago....got a solid three inches. of course its all gone now, but we are expecting more on christmas eve. maybe you'll get to see some.....lol.

 

Well I'll tell ya 1stgenracer, I just came up with the idea of using the foglight holes a few weeks ago and now it's been either cold, raining, or snowing since then to all I've managed to figure out is it won't be easy to run hose from down there up to the airbox. (I don't have a garage to use unfortunetaly.) I think unless I cut out some metal all I could do is split each intake into several smaller hoses and run them anyway possible. I need to do a little more planning and experimenting before I have many answers. I couldn't tell about the illumination difference since my foglights have never worked since I owned the car. If the setup works I'll have pictures of it.
For now I think I'll redo the ignition and replace my fuel filter along with lotsa other little things. My muffler is held on with coathangers and there's exhaust shooting out of 2 different holes along the pipe. I need to verify it, but I think I'm leaking trans fluid and it might be getting on my exhaust pipe which would hopefully be making the burning smell I notice when stopping after driving slow for a couple hundred yrds or so, but I doubt it. I might do my fuel pump also. It needs everything to be sure. That might be the reason it doesn't run as good is from all the little things getting worn out.
The macewen white overlays for the gauges sure look cool though.

 

Tom , You are so right in the first paragrapgh where you say "A more likely "drop" in gas mileage would be 33 MPG TO 32 MPG...and that prabably is a result of the driver speeding more often since the car feels more powerfull ." I have installed ramair ,better flowing exhaust , you see the sig ..Well today I did alot of driving and it seemed like ALOT on a half of tank .I was not driving as fast .It hit me just then when I read your post as to why I got better gas mileage .But , Tom is so right about this guys ...I drove about 50 miles on almost an empty tank ! WOW !

 

a stock 89 bird v6 doing 90-115 ... damn

how long before u reach that speed ??

and does the MSD 6A ignition box, MSD Coil, Accel Module

all fit in perfectly or does one have to play with the wiring ???

for MPFI that is

 

Yea well I am!

 

Wayne, I notice too, that when I'm driving on a long trip (like to MD or VA), I go forever on a tank of gas, just because I'm cruising. It's all my zipping around town that eats fuel like crazy!

89camaroRSV6, the hardest part about the MSD 6A (or 6AL) box and MSD coil is finding a spot to put the damn things! They connect just as they would to a V8 TPI motor. In fact, if you buy the MSD plug-in harness for "GM dual connector remote coil HEI" ($26 from Summit), the hookups are cake- you just have to hook up power, ground, and your coil. Otherwise, you need to splice into your current engine wiring harness. I used the plug in module- that way, if my car ever dies on the side of the road, and I think it's the MSD box, I can plug in my original GM coil as a "backup".

The Accel (or Holley 891-103) spark module goes inside your distributor, and replaces the stock spark module. If your distributor's never been rebuilt, it's an easy $100 worth of parts to give your car a swift kick in the butt! The cool thing is that a stock GM module is $60, and the Accel or Holley module is also $60. Add a $12 pick-up coil (also internal to the distributor), and a $25 cap/rotor kit, and your ignition system is back to where it should. It takes about 20 minutes to rebuild the distributor once it's out of the car.

 

89camaroRSv6, I'm not sure how long it took exactly to get going that fast. Unfortunately where I'm usually getting on the autobahn at is in a big dip so it's a little uphill both ways and I kinda take my time at speeding up, but I'll have to time it next time at another spot. The fastest I've really bothered to try to get it to was 119 mph. I was on a long slight downhill stretch and at about 118 when I pressed the gas a little more it down-shifted and started to speed up more, but half second later I had to slow down quick because of upcoming traffic. Next time I try it though it won't really be stock because I just got my MSD 6A and blaster coil so I'll be installing those tomorrow. Getting some MSD 8.5 wire too.
At the moment the car doesn't even hardly run. Sometimes it barely starts and doesn't have enough power to move. I kinda think it's my coil, but tomorrow I'll find out when I get everything hooked up. I decided to go crazy and replace everything. Timing chain, O2 sensor, etc. Need to decide if I want to buy new injectors or send current ones off to get cleaned and matched. New would be quicker, but the other way is lots cheaper.
Here's a scary story: try riding in a 95 hoopty Ford Fiesta diesel with crappy tires and bad alignment doing 110 mph(down hill of course)

 

hey tomp,

can u give me a list for the IGN mods u did...

and i have a brand new distributor.... cos the old one used to make noise... i have a stock GM coil


and if udont mind can u tell me what u did exactly...

i have platinum +4's thouhg