Found a 1986 2.8 Firebird at a repo auction. $250 took it, just need to get a title for it. In the meantime i've been wondering if there's any cost-effective and worthwhile mods that would give it a little more "go".
I'm not looking to set a V6 speed record here, just simple stuff that might make a 5hp difference without turning it into a hotrod project.
Previous owner already ! the cat and a.i.r, and I cut that angled lip off from the air filter lid 'cause it looked like it would get more air from the gap between the headlight and hood, kinda like the carb and tbi snorkles do. I was thinking maybe ditching the silencer box and tubing the MAF to the throttle body could help the intake air flow better; anything else I can do?

 

congrats

i mite get my first 8 car soon

 

If you search the forum, you'll get a lot of info on this kind of stuff; but yeah, that rectangular air duct is a big restriction. The Firebird hood slopes too low to use the Camaro style dual-snorkel intake, so GM left us with that piece of crap duct. I used a 3" 180 degree J-bend exhaust pipe from Hooker (ordered thru Summit). I cut the J-bend in half so it became a 90 degree pipe.

Then, I scored a Camaro's TB hose, which is round on the intake end (as opposed to a large oval on the Firebird). That fit the exhaust pipe perfectly.

Then, I used a 3"-to-3" flexible sewer pipe connector, found thru Home Depot, to connect the pipe to the MAF. I also replaced my air filter box with a really big K&N conical, located "under" the air filter box tray, underneath the car. The tubing runs inside the passenger side fender.