This is my first thread on this forum.

My car is a 1989 base Firebird with the 2.8 V6 and the automatic transmission. This was my first car when I got my drivers license back in 1996, and it has been in my possession ever since. In 2004 I joined the Marine Corps and the car went into a sealed CONEX container at my Dad's house, where it sat until about a year ago when I had it shipped to me in Texas. My Firebird is in great shape overall. It needs a little interior work, but the paint is good. The body is rust free as it spent its entire life in Southern California, mostly in the high desert. Ultimately I plan to LS swap it, but that is a ways down the road. When I parked it in 2004, the car was running fine, but now I can not get the fuel pump to turn on. I'm not really planning to drive the car with the V6, but I'd like to at least be able to move it in and out of the garage under its own power. And thats where my question comes in...

I think my Firebird needs a new fuel pump. This is well within my ability and I'm not to worried about getting it installed. But it kind of looks like a PITA, and something that I'd like to avoid doing twice. I dont really want to drop the tnak to put in a stock fuel pump just to drop it again when I do the LS swap to put in the pump that the LS requires. Can I put in a pump such as:

https://www.hawksmotorsports.com/l98...it-racetronix/

and run the 2.8 off of it? Or is that pump incompatible with the 2.8?


I'll add a few pictures just because I always like to see pictures of people's cars in forum threads. The first three are from 1998-2003. The last two are the day it got delivered to me in Texas, and where it sits now in my garage.

2003

1999

2003

The day it got delivered to me in Texas.

Where she now sits.

 

My gut feel is it will work okay. The fuel lines are certainly large enough to return the excess fuel to the tank. I don't know the maximum flow rate of the 2.8 pressure regulator though. Worst case scenario is the regulator just can't pass enough fuel and your line pressure goes up. If that happens then the engine will still run but just not run right. Car will move around the property though. If the regulator can flow enough then it'll run just like normal.

 

Nice car...

 

I agree it'll probably run well enough to move around even in the worst case where pressures are extra high. I don't think it would be unsafe. Of course, you could always install an external regulator capable of handling the flow and bypass the factory one, but that might require custom work not worth the investment in the platform.

 

I vote for whatever pump will run that 2.8. Leave the car stock, drive it, and enjoy it for exactly what it is: A cool piece of 1980s history.
My first thirdgen was a 2.8. Loved that car and enjoyed every minute driving it, just didn't bother racing anyone in it (I bought a V8 Z28 for that).

 

What kind of power are you looking for with your LS swap? If you are staying around 400 hp or so a walbro 255 works just fine. You don't need anything crazy.

 

Shifty Capone -
That's a good question. I want to say 400hp would be plenty. But every time I start looking at parts, I find myself wanting more and more and more. I'm sure a lot of folks can relate to that. I'm thinking that I am going to by a drop out, ideally with the transmission, do the swap, and then put something more powerful in it a few years down the road. Once the physical installation of an LS is complete, then changing to a different LS is relatively simple and straightforward. I'm going to stick with an aluminum block, so maybe an LS2 drop out. That'd be around the 400hp mark. Then in a few years I could put in something more powerful if the need suits me. I have an '05 GTO with an LS2/T56 combo, and its plenty of power, honestly. But I also have a 2010 Tahoe with a custom built LS that is way over 400hp, and its a lot of fun to drive! So I'm not sure where I'll end up.

 

Aaron R. - I get it. I really do. But I've wanted to put a V8 in this car since I got it in 1996. And now I have the means and ability to do it. And truthfully I have two other cars with LS's in them from the factory, and frankly I am just amazed by that family of engines.

 

Qwktrip & Komet - Thanks for the opinions guys! I appreciate it.

 

400hp goes a long way in a 3rd gen. IMHO, that's the best power range for these cars before extreme supporting mods become critical. You can still use a single 3" exhaust and stockish suspension, car is easy to drive and blows most things off the road.

 

Point taken.

 

Curious if you ever upgraded the pump and how it worked out? I'm basically looking at the same scenario, and don't want to bother with dropping the tank twice if I can just go ahead and put the plastic 4th gen tank in with a pump I can use when I get the swap finished.

 

I called Hawks and they didn't seem real keen on this idea and told me to put in a pump for the 2.8 and then upgrade it later when I do the LS swap. I'm probably not going to do that since I don't plan to actually drive it with the 2.8 in it. I just want to be able to move it in and out of the garage. I think I'll install a trap door when I do it either way so that this isn't an issue in the future. Probably going to order a pump soon that is LS capable, but I haven't done it yet.