V6 Discussion and questions about the base carbureted or MPFI V6's and the rare SFI Turbo V6.

2.8l engine more power??

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 17, 2012 | 02:55 PM
  #1  
Na8eR91's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Algona,Iowa
Car: 1990 camaro rs
Engine: 2.8
Transmission: TH400
Axle/Gears: 3.73
2.8l engine more power??

ok, i just bought my 1990 camaro rs that has 80xxx miles for $350 and i replaced the timing chain and gears and flushed out all of the fluids. It is a 5-speed with a posi rear end. i put flowmasters on it, and i built a custom cai and an MSD ignition but im still lacking the power that i want. I like the v6's and dont really want to do a swap. Any help i need more power and i dont know what to do next
Reply
Old Aug 17, 2012 | 04:01 PM
  #2  
Base91's Avatar
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,928
Likes: 1
From: Georgetown TX
Car: Base 91 'bird
Engine: 3.1 v6
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 9-bolt 3.27 & PBR
Re: 2.8l engine more power??

You can get headers from Pace-setter. Then you're into porting etc. etc. Or go 3.1 or 3.4.
Reply
Old Aug 17, 2012 | 05:21 PM
  #3  
fasteddi's Avatar
Supreme Member
15 Year Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,287
Likes: 41
From: Northwest Ohio
Car: 1991 Camaro RS
Engine: Lq4 6.0 SBE s485 turbo E85
Transmission: Fsi th400 stage 4. TSI 5500 st
Axle/Gears: Strange S60 4:10s
Re: 2.8l engine more power??

Originally Posted by Base91
You can get headers from Pace-setter. Then you're into porting etc. etc. Or go 3.1 or 3.4.
Agreed:
Headers
Port and polish the heads(which is basically free)
Delta 260 or 272 in your case since its a stick, Cam
Tune the car with moates stuff and your golden.
Reply
Old Aug 17, 2012 | 05:59 PM
  #4  
Guest
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Re: 2.8l engine more power??

Turbo. Fairly painless and most turbo v6's on here will give the mild v8's a run for their money
Reply
Old Aug 17, 2012 | 06:29 PM
  #5  
project89's Avatar
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 10,401
Likes: 5
From: Utah
Car: 89 RS 89 iroc 87 firebird
Engine: 3.1 Turbo/ 355 twin turbo
Transmission: a4 w/ 4500 stall/ a4 / t5
Axle/Gears: strange s60 /w 3:42's
Re: 2.8l engine more power??

i agree on the turbo, theres a guy selling all the big parts needed to turbo a car in the classifieds section for 320 bucks
Reply
Old Aug 17, 2012 | 11:15 PM
  #6  
fasteddi's Avatar
Supreme Member
15 Year Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,287
Likes: 41
From: Northwest Ohio
Car: 1991 Camaro RS
Engine: Lq4 6.0 SBE s485 turbo E85
Transmission: Fsi th400 stage 4. TSI 5500 st
Axle/Gears: Strange S60 4:10s
Re: 2.8l engine more power??

Originally Posted by jayhawk
Turbo. Fairly painless and most turbo v6's on here will give the mild v8's a run for their money
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2012 | 01:57 AM
  #7  
Na8eR91's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Algona,Iowa
Car: 1990 camaro rs
Engine: 2.8
Transmission: TH400
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: 2.8l engine more power??

I was looking for pacesetter long tube headers but i can seem to find them, and by way of a turbo what am i looking at for a PSI i have put turbos in cars before but never on a 3rd gen is their going to be a lot of fab work or is it a bolt on and should i put a different clutch in it as well..............i have 3.73 rear gears should i swap them out for something different or leave them as they are?????
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2012 | 08:22 AM
  #8  
fasteddi's Avatar
Supreme Member
15 Year Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,287
Likes: 41
From: Northwest Ohio
Car: 1991 Camaro RS
Engine: Lq4 6.0 SBE s485 turbo E85
Transmission: Fsi th400 stage 4. TSI 5500 st
Axle/Gears: Strange S60 4:10s
Re: 2.8l engine more power??

3.73's are great gears Id personally leave them as is. If you have a manual car and you turbo the car in time, youll need to upgrade you clutch as I know it will eat through that clutch in no time.

For the turboed PSI I run 14psi most of the time anymore and its a hellish ride. Even though I've had my share of problems but it is still worth the time to work on it to have such a fun riding car.

Theres a good amount of fab work required to turbo the car, mainly the charge piping and the exhaust piping. With a welder, some piping, and creativity you can get it done quite easy.KI
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2012 | 09:50 PM
  #9  
KrisW's Avatar
Supreme Member
20 Year Member
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,777
Likes: 7
From: Casselberry, FLA
Car: 88 V6 'bird/89TBI bird/85 T/A
Engine: 2.8/TBI/TPI
Transmission: V8 T-5/700R4 x2
Axle/Gears: 3.42 open/2.73 open/ 3.27 9 bolt
Re: 2.8l engine more power??

A 90 Camaro with a 2.8? My 90 Firebird had a speed density 3.1 from the factory. Don't you have a 3.1?

Anyway, if you are stuck on the V6, you should start with a 3.4 from a 4th gen, or the HT 3.4 crate engine. My local pick your part yard has 4 of these 4th gen setups here, I just don't want to do it.

Here's the crate engine:

http://www.jegs.com/p/GM-Performance...61682/10002/-1

Anyway, you do that first to get the largest engine under your hood with the smallest amount of modification required. Next, you have a fork in the road. Iron heads or 3x00 front wheel drive top end swap.

I'd say start looking for the 3.4 now. I wouldn't buy the headers yet, because once you search these forums a bunch you're going to change your mind a bunch on whether you want that top end swap or not.

Good luck!
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2012 | 09:57 PM
  #10  
fasteddi's Avatar
Supreme Member
15 Year Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,287
Likes: 41
From: Northwest Ohio
Car: 1991 Camaro RS
Engine: Lq4 6.0 SBE s485 turbo E85
Transmission: Fsi th400 stage 4. TSI 5500 st
Axle/Gears: Strange S60 4:10s
Re: 2.8l engine more power??

Originally Posted by KrisW
A 90 Camaro with a 2.8? My 90 Firebird had a speed density 3.1 from the factory. Don't you have a 3.1?
Good point and it says he has a TH400 trans in his sig not a 700R4(4L60). Mabey he swaped it but its very doubtful.
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2012 | 10:05 PM
  #11  
Na8eR91's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Algona,Iowa
Car: 1990 camaro rs
Engine: 2.8
Transmission: TH400
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: 2.8l engine more power??

The guy that had it before i did swaped the TH400 in and yea it a 2.8, ive found turbo kits and i ordered one but should i hold off on the headers and leave the flowmasters on it and what should i put in for the clutch?? or forget all of it and just go for the 3.4 swap??
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2012 | 10:09 PM
  #12  
haisud's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: EU
Re: 2.8l engine more power??

can you give link to this turbo kit?
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2012 | 10:19 PM
  #13  
project89's Avatar
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 10,401
Likes: 5
From: Utah
Car: 89 RS 89 iroc 87 firebird
Engine: 3.1 Turbo/ 355 twin turbo
Transmission: a4 w/ 4500 stall/ a4 / t5
Axle/Gears: strange s60 /w 3:42's
Re: 2.8l engine more power??

u do not have a th400 behind ur v6 for one it dosent bolt up without an adapter plate and other mods
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2012 | 11:47 PM
  #14  
fasteddi's Avatar
Supreme Member
15 Year Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,287
Likes: 41
From: Northwest Ohio
Car: 1991 Camaro RS
Engine: Lq4 6.0 SBE s485 turbo E85
Transmission: Fsi th400 stage 4. TSI 5500 st
Axle/Gears: Strange S60 4:10s
Re: 2.8l engine more power??

Originally Posted by Na8eR91
The guy that had it before i did swaped the TH400 in and yea it a 2.8, ive found turbo kits and i ordered one but should i hold off on the headers and leave the flowmasters on it and what should i put in for the clutch?? or forget all of it and just go for the 3.4 swap??

OK so you have a auto trans?? I would be willing to bet it is a 700R4 (4L60) And if so you dont need to worrie about a clutch as you dont have one, you have a torque converter in its place on a auto.

What turbo kit did you buy??? If you did theres no sence in buying headers and youll wana tear off the mufflers anyways in time if you anything like me. 2 months now and ive been running nothing but a goold ole turbo to quiet it down.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
BRoss99
Electronics
28
Aug 10, 2025 05:08 PM
Vintageracer
Camaros for Sale
12
Jan 10, 2020 05:33 PM
Azrael91966669
DIY PROM
25
Jun 20, 2017 04:04 AM
InfinityShade
Transmissions and Drivetrain
15
Aug 22, 2015 08:00 PM
bradleydeanuhl
DFI and ECM
4
Aug 12, 2015 11:48 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:49 AM.