hypothetically..
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24
From: Arlington, TX
hypothetically..
hi everyone--
just for grins--what are some ways to modify my 2.8 six-cylinder in my 89 r/s..i am heavily considering doing the LS1 swap in the future but i am just curious as to what can actually be done to give my motor some more pep if i decide not to do the swap..anyone ever tried anything??let me know what your ideas are and if you have any successes..thanks one and all...sinjin 89r/s
just for grins--what are some ways to modify my 2.8 six-cylinder in my 89 r/s..i am heavily considering doing the LS1 swap in the future but i am just curious as to what can actually be done to give my motor some more pep if i decide not to do the swap..anyone ever tried anything??let me know what your ideas are and if you have any successes..thanks one and all...sinjin 89r/s
Registered User
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,779
From: Denton, TX
Originally posted by ibanez6rg
Basic bolt-ons
Basic bolt-ons
Check out also C/FBV6.com. There is a section dedicated to 3rd Gen sixers. You might find some help/ideas from there, too.
Good luck!
TS
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 412
From: SAY Town
As far as all out power, its not the answer you are looking for because its so general, but it really truly comes down to how much money you want to spend.
You could have a machine shop bore the cylinders out, use a set of custom forged oversized pistons, forged stroker rods along with a forged stroker crank. Run a minimum of 10:1 compression, unless you plan on running a lot or boost or nitrous - then 8:1.
With the bottom end taken care of, you can either port and polish your stock heads, or have someone custom mill you a set of heads. Install larger valves, stiffer springs. Port match your stock intake. There are a number of cam companies that will make you a custom grind.
Probably the most effective way to gain horsepower in terms of a budget would be to install a complete high performance exhaust. From headers to tips.
Ram air.
Run steep rear gears like 4.10's.
And get Edelbrocks:
Upper intake PN:3785 $238.95,
Lower intake PN:3787 $131.95,
Cam Kit PN: 3790 $182.95
----------------------------------------
Edelbrock parts Total $553.85
You may be able to use PaceSetter headers made for the 2.8L in an S-10 truck. Then, once you have that, use whatever V8/IROC exhaust you like that is made for your Gen 3 body.
I think you will have spent between 1,000 to 1,500.
Be close 40 extra horsepower when you are done. And if you figure in the gain you get from the 4.10's, that will be like adding another 37 horsepower.
Theoretically you could put down near 175 horsepower normally aspirated. But with 4.10's it'll feel like 212 HP.
With a forged bottom end you could research turbocharging. Running 25 pounds of boost, you could manage into the 300 HP mark.
Or with a 250 shot of nitrous, manage 425 horsepower total when you are engaging it.
A smaller shot would be much more economical though. That's all out racing (above).
You could manage a 50-75 shot on the stock bottom end, for about 300 bucks. So that when you go to race, with the Edelbrock parts, 4.10's exhaust, and ram air. You could manage a respectable 225-250 horsepower. Should be enough to put you into the 14's if your suspension was built to put the power down. But 15's for sure. You'd probably beat most stock 3.8L F-bodies, and just any about any ricer that pulls up along side you.
You could have a machine shop bore the cylinders out, use a set of custom forged oversized pistons, forged stroker rods along with a forged stroker crank. Run a minimum of 10:1 compression, unless you plan on running a lot or boost or nitrous - then 8:1.
With the bottom end taken care of, you can either port and polish your stock heads, or have someone custom mill you a set of heads. Install larger valves, stiffer springs. Port match your stock intake. There are a number of cam companies that will make you a custom grind.
Probably the most effective way to gain horsepower in terms of a budget would be to install a complete high performance exhaust. From headers to tips.
Ram air.
Run steep rear gears like 4.10's.
And get Edelbrocks:
Upper intake PN:3785 $238.95,
Lower intake PN:3787 $131.95,
Cam Kit PN: 3790 $182.95
----------------------------------------
Edelbrock parts Total $553.85
You may be able to use PaceSetter headers made for the 2.8L in an S-10 truck. Then, once you have that, use whatever V8/IROC exhaust you like that is made for your Gen 3 body.
I think you will have spent between 1,000 to 1,500.
Be close 40 extra horsepower when you are done. And if you figure in the gain you get from the 4.10's, that will be like adding another 37 horsepower.
Theoretically you could put down near 175 horsepower normally aspirated. But with 4.10's it'll feel like 212 HP.
With a forged bottom end you could research turbocharging. Running 25 pounds of boost, you could manage into the 300 HP mark.
Or with a 250 shot of nitrous, manage 425 horsepower total when you are engaging it.
A smaller shot would be much more economical though. That's all out racing (above).
You could manage a 50-75 shot on the stock bottom end, for about 300 bucks. So that when you go to race, with the Edelbrock parts, 4.10's exhaust, and ram air. You could manage a respectable 225-250 horsepower. Should be enough to put you into the 14's if your suspension was built to put the power down. But 15's for sure. You'd probably beat most stock 3.8L F-bodies, and just any about any ricer that pulls up along side you.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 273
From: El Paso TX
Originally posted by 95GRNZ
Exactly. It's an engine just like any other one. Whether it is worth it, is up to you, of course.
Check out also C/FBV6.com. There is a section dedicated to 3rd Gen sixers. You might find some help/ideas from there, too.
Good luck!
TS
Exactly. It's an engine just like any other one. Whether it is worth it, is up to you, of course.
Check out also C/FBV6.com. There is a section dedicated to 3rd Gen sixers. You might find some help/ideas from there, too.
Good luck!
TS
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 210
From: Glen Carbon,IL
swap that 2.8 out for a 3.1,or better yet a 3.4
if you live in an area that dosen't do emission testing the get the edelbrock 4bbl intake(or better yet one of the old offenhuaser 360* equal ports,but you'd have a better chance of finding oil in your yard) and a 390 cfm holley, and a nos squre bore plate system, big cam,port the heads headers from a 4th gen or s truck willl fit,but ether way thell a lil bit of persuasion to fit
basically what biggida said
it'll scoot,its not and ls1,but it'll scoot
if you live in an area that dosen't do emission testing the get the edelbrock 4bbl intake(or better yet one of the old offenhuaser 360* equal ports,but you'd have a better chance of finding oil in your yard) and a 390 cfm holley, and a nos squre bore plate system, big cam,port the heads headers from a 4th gen or s truck willl fit,but ether way thell a lil bit of persuasion to fit
basically what biggida said
it'll scoot,its not and ls1,but it'll scoot
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 338
From: Clearwater, FL
Originally posted by 95 3.8
thats what they told me first time I asked...
thats what they told me first time I asked...
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 273
From: El Paso TX
Originally posted by stale
Yeah, I caught flack for asking that question a few years back myself. I did end up finding out all that needs to be done to my '96 3800 in order to drop an LT1 in... forget that! It's so much work that it's not even worth it
Yeah, I caught flack for asking that question a few years back myself. I did end up finding out all that needs to be done to my '96 3800 in order to drop an LT1 in... forget that! It's so much work that it's not even worth it