Redemption

I aquire my Dad's 89 Pontiac Firebird with 104k original miles and it's stock and clean, he modded it to a Trans Am on the outside with T\A body panels and sticker kits and the interior, he was gonna junk it cause the motor was running really bad and he assumed it was junk but he used to let me drive this car when I was a teenager on date to impress the chick's so I couldn't let it go to scrap and I drove 4k round trip to collect it. Now that's over my dilemma, I fixed everything that was wrong with it and let me tell you it was alot! All new mount 7 new ignition and fuel injection sensors full tune and engine flush new tranny over drive lockup the list goes on, anyways got it running as good as it gets for a 27 yr old 2.8L V6 engine that sat forever, 70lb oil cold start 45lbs warm idle doing good but its gutless and I am now torn between keeping the original motor in it and beefing it up or adding a turbo, or go full nuts and drop a 350 with Vortec heads I have sitting in my shop that I just finished rebuilding last year. The sentimental side of me say beef it up keep the original motor but the temptation of a V8 is tempting, how far can I go and what can i do with that 2.8L before I spend more than it would cost to do a V8 swap...... Torn need opinions/options thanks

Redemption

I left out a few details about the car I feel I should mention, ok so it's it's a 89 Pontiac Firebird 2.8L V6 with a 200 R4 Transmission stock rear axel stock front end, Pretty much the way it was sold + T\A body panels

lizardkng

Welcome to TGO!

W.E.G.

You do realize that you can probably buy a running V8 third gen for a lot less than it would cost to do a proper V6 to V8 swap unless you have unlimited time and access to a very well-equipped garage and the know-how to do the swap without having a half-dozen debacles along the way.

If you've got a running V6, I say enjoy it for what it is.

fasteddi

iTrader: (2)

I would either turbo it if you really want to compete and beat v8s. or leave it like it is and just do little mods. dont think you should v8 swap it. If you want a V8 then buy a V8 car imo.

what kind of budget do you have and what all can you do yourself?

Redemption

Budget isn't really a issue for the car and I have my own shop and there isn't much I can't do in it, Im more of a 4x4 v8 offroad kinda of guy i have 6 trucks and suv's ive build up for off roading and 1 street truck with a 408 small block stroker i use for burnout contests so ive allways been a all bottum end torq builder, this is the first car im looking to build so im just looking for some input since cars are top end, I'm not looking to race it or anything like that I just would like it to perform better for what the car is but as it stands right now my work truck is a 2015 silverado with a natural stock 4.3l v6 and It leave my firebird in the dust which to me is just beyond sad. I would just get another 3rd Gen but as I said above this car has personal meaning to me for when I was a teenager so whatever I end up doing it will be to this car, to be honest I'm not very familiar with the 2.8l v6 and I'm sure there are mods for it but I'm gonna have to look around. Anyone got some suggestions for modding it or what to look for?