Im getting a blown 1984 firebird with a 2.8 carbed v6 and wanted to know what i could do to build the 2.8 to a little more power? i was thinking of getting a blue racer cam and some new pistons and roller rockers. what paret numbers from where and how much power increase would i see?

 

If its blown I would suggest looking for a 3.4 block out of a 93-95 Fbody and rebuilding using that. Search the board for 3.4 boogie swap for more information on that. If thats not the route you wanna go, check out http://www.engine-parts.com/GMV6/gm28stroker.html They also have all the performance parts that you would need there too. Good luck on your car, and welcome to the board.

 

See your lucky and unlucky.. You can get a nice Edlebrock manifold and small 4 barrel holly carb. Also you can get a super and a cheap NOS kit. Convert to an electric fan and get 10HP. Also get the wildest cam you can because you do not have to worry about a computer like the rest of us.

 

i heard the 84's were computer controlled carbs? what the hell is a computer controlled carb?

 

I think that these are the the part numbers for that Edelbrock intake and for the 4bbl Holley carb are:

Edelbrock Manifold (base) P/N 3785

Edelbrock Manifold 4V (top) P/N 3789

Holley 390CFM 4-Barrel Carb P/N#0-8007

 

there are actually a lot of little tricks you can do to your 2.8 if you want some ideas look at my signature. i have the blue racer cam. i like it. after all my mods i definitly feel a difference. i think its worth it

 

If it were an 85 or above I would suggest the 3.4.
But its a carbed 2.8. You could build it up if you want to.
But for Money/difficulty the most effective thing to do is swap in a V-8 engine.

But if you do want to do the 2.8 Swap your at an advantage with not having to worry about the computer. But a disadvantage with starting at 107hp.
Good luck

 

Here's what ya do.
Ready?
Go find a LATE MODEL V-8 F Body.
Get that V-8 suspension because you're going V-8!!
You have it so lucky.
No nothing to deter you from the joys of swapping in a V-8.
You need V-8 springs and sway bars.
Any V-8 will do.
Add all smog stuff needed, including street legal V-8 header with smog fittings.
Do what 90%, including myself, wanted to do, with a F-body & blown 2.8 piece of $hit v-6.
Don't spend a single penny on that V-6.
Go V-8 and reap the rewards of this wonderful 3rd gen platform.
Yea, from me, that went 3.4 V-6.
Non FI cars, GO V-8, save your effort with this V-6.
1985 and above, go the 3.4 swap route. Saves ya all the effort of trying to do what our 1982-84 V-6 friend can do. Add a V-8 without complications.

 

"Piece of $hit 2.8 V6 !!! ??" , Get a GRIP, Ked85!
There are plenty of reasons why I love my little 2.8 -
(Drag Racing's just not one of them). But everybody isn't trying to be the next Big Daddy Don Garlith, it depends on what you want to do with the car.

 

I've read all about the 2.8 since they arrived in 1982.
You can only do so much.
I figured out a decent swap worth ones effort, based on the 60* V-6 foundation. And it's economical!!
Back in the beginning, Grumpy Jenkins made headers and an intake manifold for more HP from the first 2.8's. Found a "Custom cam".
Total was about 180 HP.
It was tempermental and one off stuff.
Chevy race Shop made a hopped up 3.4 in a Berretta for the 1990 Indy Pace Car, It only made about 200+ hp, on a GM BUDGET (UNLIMITED!!!!$$$$$)
Modern technology has offered us ways to gain more HP from that foundation (today's 3.4 @ 160-170 hp 200ft lbs torque).
If ya wanna put the effort out (hop up a 2.8), the gains are kinda small.
THEY ARE KINDA SMALL!!
I've experimented with my 2.8 (in my S-10 1985 2-barrel carb'd Blazer) since 1989, (211.5K mi.-77K mi=) for 133.5K mi and over ten years of LA/state of CA driving.
I'm now swapping in a 3.4 under that Blazer hood.
Why spend the effort and money on a little thing (2.8), when the better, instantly running (no engine building) solution (3.4) is available, cheap, plentiful and used.
It's your wallet.
Add up the costs and gains for your 2.8.
Swap on anything (timing chain, distributor, exhaust, ignition) that will make it to a swapped in 3.4 block. Then you are smart. Your ride is stronger, more reliable amd more economical. But it's (2.8) not worth machining costs for more HP.
THANK YOU FOR KNOWING BIG DADDY DON GARTLIS!!!! :hail:

PS
Max speed in my 1985 2.8 S-10 Blazer w/modified ignition and exhaust & ram air w/K & N system was 85+ with a good wind. 3:42 rear.
Yes, it is a brick.
Road was the new Century Freeway (the one used in movie "Speed").
Firebird, NO BRICK 3:42 rear
2.8
top was about 85 or so, struggling. New timing chain & hopped up ignition.
3.4.
Top speed is unlimited. I go off the speedo. I have raced a new Porsche 911 on Sepulveda Blvd, MPH off the speedo, kept up & had fun. Swap cost $800 including engine.

 

Well, I've been faster than 85...

The computer controlled carb is the E2SE carb. I forget what all that stands for ("been a while"), the E=electric choke, 2=2bbl, and I can't remember S or E. A rebuild of it is documented in the Haynes 82-92 Firebird manual. And, if you can find "Tuning the Rochestor Carburetors", by Doug Roe, on the internet (try http://www.bn.com ), it'll tell you how to rebuild that CCC exactly.

Don't waste your coin on a computer chip for your carb'd car. On your car, a computer chip will ONLY change the ignition timing, and delay the TCC lockup (if you've got an automatic trans). You'd be richer by spending $40 for a timing gun, advancing your timing yourself, and spending $5 to make a TCC delay switch- as opposed to an $80 chip.

 

AgentD:
Ked85 (& most of th other guys) and I are at opposite ends of the spectrum here; I'm building a 'WAXER' (leaving my engine mostly stock for now, working on the body), & I can hear him muttering "More Power!" under his breath.

IF YOU WANT A BADASS DRAG MACHINE GO V8, if you want a rugged, dependable little motor that will get good gas mileage for a larger car, rebuild the 2.8. (I'm getting around 17 city, 28 -29 hwy).
There are lots of cheap modifications you can do to boost performance -


First, take the E2SE out in the back yard, dig a hole & bury it - go to a junk yard & get a 2SE & a vacuum advance distributor from an S10 truck/Blazer.

Take the smog pump, bury it in the same hole, plug up the holes in the manifold.

A hotter Ignition coil - (check out the wiring digram in the Chilton's manual.)

Swap the water pump driven fan for an electric one W/ a thermostat kit.

Swap the heads to those off a '86 or later. (according to TomP - they have larger ports)

That Edelbrock intake should make it breath much better.

Clear out the exhaust path, Catback - exhaust system off a larger car, what ever - just make sure its unrestricted.

Cam if you want it.

Fuzzy Dice are good for an extra 5mph.
Just take care of that old bird 'cause they don't make 'em any more.
- Happy Landings.

 

lol karl u surely mustve gone faster than 85....

i have a 2.8 and i peg the needle ...

 

After I killed the original Firebird 2.8 engine, inside of it looked like a coal mine.
It was hurt all of it's life (previous owner was one sweet lookin' girl )
I made that 2.8 give final hurrah,tho!