Project: 85 2.8 bird

3800 back out, in preparation of car being pushed out of garage to get 3.4 out (having the car be more than 400lbs lighter is a big help )

While out here are my plans:

1. Rust control & engine bay prep/paint
2. Finish painting block & pullies
3. Gaskets for tb, valave covers, upper intake & replace rear main seal while out (if you see this gasket/seal, it's reallt f'd up compaired to what th 2.8~3.4s have)
4. Replace log exhaust manifolds w/tubular ones (header like)
5. Get 4th gen radiator for better hose placement.
6. Finish off a/c delete box/pcm shelf support.
7. Order VATS bypass box
8~infinity finis odff the little stuff.

I'm kinda hoping to get car done by AIS3, but I'm not sure.

Also will be out of the game for 2wks, going to school in Biloxi. mmmmmmmmmmmmm, Warmmmmmmmm (at least compared to here)

Not really a big list, and about 80% of all the wiring has been identified.

KED85

Keep Blazing the new trials for all of us!
Have a safe journey!

90firebird

WOW. i'm happy with your progress... i havent visited this thread in a while. boy, that angled throttle body is just perfect for hood clearance, isnt it? when you had it in, did you get to drive it at all, or was it just to get everything to fit up? well, anyway, great work man! i will continue to check up on your progress!

89V6FBIRD

How'd you get the fender emblem so shiny?

TechSmurf

Since noone was able to answer this previously, due to GM not having put it in anything at the time of the post, update! The 4L65 is there to take the torque the LS2 is producing. Uses 5 planet gears per planetary system rather than 4, distributing the load better between the sun and ring gears, probably other mods too, haven't seen the magazine article.

Stock transmission for 2005 C6 corvette.

Project: 85 2.8 bird

89V6FBIRD, That's just how I got it. Car didn't come w/one on the pass side though , but I got spares off of e-bay.

OK, first off, I'll be getting the brackets either this Friday or Saterday :lala:

now for some pic links as to what I've been doing in the mean time in my slightly motivated turtle pace:

3800 oil pan "gasket" 1
3800 oil pan "gasket" 2

yeah, kinda looks like a low buck windage tray. $38.00 for it too.

95-99 Stock "log" exhaust manifolds
My new Tubular Exhaust manifolds. Can you say factory shorty's

Please refere to prior pics as to what the engine bay looked like before, and now.....
Engine bay prep 1
Engine bay prep 2
Engine bay prep 3

Did the rust sanding, rust convertor, & white primer. Ended up like.....
Looks good 1
Looks good 2
Looks good 3

I think it's lighter in color due to being over the white primer & new touch up paint. Also clear coted the areas. It's all good

KED85

Really coming together quickly!
Paint took well in the cold temps, too.

V6sucker

I might be interested in the 3.4 in the coming month/EARLY this summer.
price tag?

AM91Camaro_RS

Dale already has it.

Project: 85 2.8 bird

Dale bought the 3.4 & tranny. Check out this thread: https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=225564

sounds like a good deal going on for his 3.4

Project: 85 2.8 bird

2 New updates,

1) Brackets are DONE!!!!!!



2) Got me an aerowing (traded extra front marker & rear tail lights & my wing for it)



I'm now just waiting on the exhasut manifold gaskets to come infrom dealer & I can see about dropping the enigne in (hopefully for the last time)

90firebird

LOL... love the muppet in back there!

KED85

Looking for a center 1985 tail light piece, not Trans Am!

pasky

Damn man, that thing looks like it is coming along great. Great job on the motor mounts.

devianb

Plans sound really great. Id love to do a 3.8l swap, but I am work adverse. Extra power would be great, but I don't know if I could go through with all the work required to put the engine in. Can't wait to see it finished and maybe some time slips once everything is working right.

Project: 85 2.8 bird

tHANKS, i MIGHT GET A WILD HAIR UP MY AS... i BE ABLE TO GET THE ENGIEN DROPPED IN TONIGHT. dEPENDS ON IF i CAN FIND CHAIN USED FROM A CERTAIN ENGINE SALE . Brackets were the worst so far as I just procrastinated on them (& then bytch about how long swap is taking )

85f-bird

Karl, i'm planning on using my center piece for a display i'm making w/ my lights and a shaddow box....i can probably find ya another one though, there are tons of early 80's birds in the yards, and the t/a firebird ones are close to the same, atleast as i recal. I took all my ole' 85 bird stuff offthe back in replacement for 85-90 T/A lights.

And no project, ya know we don't have those fugly 3rd brake lights

chevyrumble83

wow man thats kool, what made u decide to swap a 3800 and not go for a sbc 350 or higher?? what u think she will do when all done?? it just looks so strange to see those pics with that engine in a thidgen.
good luck!

Project: 85 2.8 bird

Due to unforseen & unwelcome engine fire & fan relay blown fuse to cause overheating while on fire, engine harness got toasted, along w/other items

Why not the sbc?

1) I'm a Poncho man, and that's the only V8 fer me
(w/certain exceptons, of course)
2) The 3800, tranny, ecm & harness were to be had for $200, I pick up.

How fast? well, my 99 GPGT w/same motor & about 3.23 gears can do 15.5@88. IF I don't get low 15's I'll be very disapointed, yet happy that it runs

Project: 85 2.8 bird

yeah, it seems like a shameless ttt, but engien is mostly in, gotta break out the dremel tool a little to get the braket & mount holes to line up.

Also, this is what happens when you get too anxious , working alone, and tired:

I get to buy a brand new brake fluid resovior yeah, I know

pasky

Damn dude that sucks, pulling an engine by yourself is easy but putting one in aint no easy task, just dropped in my LT1 tonight with my father in law and we had one heck of a time, I actually had to stand on the motor to get the clamshells to get past the new rubber on the motor mounts. Keep us posted im interested and see that puppy running.

P.S. What exactly is it with that animal mupphet?

KED85

I took out the fan sensor switch.
All part of the fun!
I'm always happy to hear about parts for sale!
I just advertised my 2.8/3.1 rebuilt heads w/new head gaskets for more space. Maybe taillights?
I wonder how my car would look with the two rear spoiler options (side & full rear hatch wide wing & the off body full rear hatch wide wing).
I'd have to get new struts, & I hate spending money.

Dale

iTrader: (12)

sorry to here about the break system. Atleast it will nice and clear now

Always some little tweaking to do with custom parts. I think whoever invented dremel was a DIY person, lol.

Yes, engine out is easy, but going back in took 3 people looking like some monkeys on a... well, you get the idea

Project: 85 2.8 bird

Well, resovior replced for only $13 from Autozone

Now for some updates:
I had to trim teh a-arm support some to get the pass side manifold to fit & not hit it. I also ended up taking the manifold to the benchgrinder. Here's a shot of the WORK

Both motor mounts are in, tranny connected to engine, connected to k-member. Noe to bolt up intake, tb, fuel rail, radiator hoses, etc. Starting to come along good.

Now for some pics of stuff I picked up today which I held off on before waiting for car to get nearly done:

Bling

Blingity Bling........sail panel birds

FbodTrek

Off of a Fiero???

Project: 85 2.8 bird

Don't know, the only other FireChicken the place had was of a 4th gen T/A, and I really don't like those. This looks cool, different.

edit: yes, this late post means I've been working again, but no posts till I wake up. Engine looks nice though w/fuel rail, intake, tb, injectors & wiring hooked up though

Project: 85 2.8 bird

actually, link to pics.

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=230451

Not all that dial-up friendly (I think) but some good shots of the engine almost ready to fire up

90firebird

great to see the progress once again... best of luck with putting it all together....

oh, and dont worry, i'm sure your wife wont mind too much if you force-feed that bugger!

KED85

Progress is most satisfying.

Project: 85 2.8 bird

Especially when you have the CORRECT wire going to the starter solinoid while trying to bump it over

(yes, I have the 2.8 wire going from teh ignition to nothing, & the purple 3800 wire going from the solinoid to nothing)

KED85

Try ME!
In haste to start the 3.4 in the Blazer, I wired in battery wrong (pos post to neg cable &...).
Needless to say....
I am still chasing those gremlins I caused myself!
Now I need a new alternator (that works out OK in the end for me).
BUT upon correct idle speed, engine sounds so decent I may NOT have to readjust valves.
I'm starting on adding the "additional vacuum leaks" (the vacuum hose routing of this vintage engine), now.
Ya should see the metal tubes & rubber hoses & vacuum pot "straws" this 1985 2.8 2SES carb federal version thing is meant to (emission correct) breathe thru.
Try finding these smog vacuum pot things in California, too! An engine made only 3 years with this emissions set up. I was lucky and had a friend send me his left over smog vacuum pot & metal tube stuff from Indiana!

I'll bet you finish yours first, tho!
I have a two week time limit on my project, before I torn away to another big project.