So I bought an 88 Firebird last Friday. Beautiful car that has been 98% restored to original. Didn't really want the 6 but could not pass this car up after a 3 month search and finding nothing but major projects.

My question is this: Has anyone here chipped their V6 and gotten better acceleration and overall pick up? Is there anything else I can/should do for better performance off the line? I am not looking to race but at the same time I would like to lay some rubber down every now and again.

Any and all replies and or suggestions are very much appreciated!

Steve

 

I don't really know much about making power in a V6 other than most of what works in a V8 car works with a V6 car. Headers, exhaust, tune, cam, heads etc. The problem is that the selection of such parts for the 2.8L V6 is probably not nearly as large as it is for V8 cars. I do know that most of the off the shelf "chips" aren't worth a ****. They are too mild to do much good and they are basically tuned for stock engines. Given how much they typically cost and what little they do for you, they just aren't worth the money.

 

If you know anything about burning chips go it the PROM board, there's a thread called something like "all V6 owners read this". If your just talking about like Jet chips or something, they're not worth the money if the car has no other modifications.
There is a decent size aftermarket for these engines, not even close to as big as the SBC market, but there's really no shortage of things you can do to increase power.

Before anyone makes suggestions though, they're gonna want to know: what's your budget, mechanical ability, and goals.

 

there is also the 3.4 swap to get a little more out of it.

 

An enigne is an air pump, free up the intake and exhaust to get a 60* to rev fast n hard, which will cure what ale's ya.

super low restriction to no air cleaner, unless you live in a dusty climate with air the comes directly from outside the car. [The open filter in the corner is not good enough.]

Remove cat and run a straight shot bullet muffler, no axle loop, straight, straight out the back.

You can thank me later.

Why mine is still a V6 10 years later.

 

That may just be the ticket! Will start with the dual staights and go from there. Any tips on what exhaust I should put for the best performance?

 

just get a 350

 

It had to be said.

 

This has been covered soooooooooo many times. At least once a week there's someone asking how they can make more power with a V6. Dual exhaust will be major overkill and will cause you to end up losing power.

 

Trust me, run an air filter. You might get .5 HP with no filter over running a decent one. Is it worth possible destroying your motor over? Also a V6 does not need straight dual exhaust. Just get a decent cat back and be done. I use to have a V6 Firebird. Key word, "USE". Be realistic with what you have. A V6 can be quick car but unless you sink major money, it wont be fast.

 

I didn't even notice the air filter thing!
Yes, do run an air filter!

 

I never said it would add HP, all it does is let the engine breathe better and rev out faster n harder.

And it will not destroy an engine, unless your in a sandy/dusty climate.
Then don't do it.

Which I don't have. 10 years with a very very very low restriction setup.
Bought with 165,000, has amost 240,000 now and runs just as good as it did when first modded in the 170xxx range..........

And duals are a waste, run the pipe straight off the Y on back, but straight, no axle loop, no 45 out the side, straight. You can have a lazy bend but no sharp ones. [a simple 45* on the end out the side killed my ability to rev out the same, bye bye it went ]

And you use a bullet straight shot muffler you can see straight through. [brand don't matter] It wll tuck up into the side in that valley between the door n floor pan just fine. [use the better alston SFC not the crappy permiter ones that use that space. http://www.top-downsolutions.com/pro...products_id=90 ]
might need to cut a hair off the Y pipe end to shoot it down that valley better like I did.


Non of those will add any HP, what it does is let the engine breath to use what HP it has better.


In all stock form, my V6 was a slug, opening up the ends fixed that.
[no other performance mods, chips or anything....]



Anyone can feel free to stop by for a ride anytime, All of my car buddies gave me crap for buying a V6, after a ride they shut their trap and have yet to ever make a peep again.

 

If you are thinking bolt on equipment will make it a v8 killer it won't happen without major financial investment. I am on my seventh f body and it is my first v6, a super clean 1988 RS with the 2.8L v6 and 700r4 automatic. I purchased it from the original owner last month with 80,000 original miles on it, always garages and in great shape. I purchased it with the intent of swapping in a v8. After a few days of driving I decided to do few little things to see if I could get it run a little better. A full tune up with plugs, wires, cap and rotor. Sea foamed it in the brake booster, oil and gas. Set the timing and it made a world of difference. So much so that I decided to sideline the v8 swap for a while. Had a local shop install a magnaflow cat back system and a new hiflow catalytic converter and threw in a set of accel kool blue filters (k&n style) and the car is running so well that I have decided to keep the car as is and use it as a daily driver. It most certainly is not a v8 contender but the simple tune , exhaust and air filter made the car sooo much smoother and fun to drive. The car feels like it has better acceleration and gas mileage is slightly improved to 21mpg in town and 25+ on highway trips with the cruise control on. Now to find an Iroc for a play car!!!!

 

I'll let you know if I ever come to North-West Ohio then

 

RPMs between shifts is important too, bit easier with my T5 gotta get it above 3000 in first if ya plan on doing anything, so that once in 2nd your not laggin

 

My train of thought got interupted there.

Where I was going is when you own a V6 you are either on it or not when you take off.

There is very little inbetween room at low speed, so ya best crank them RPMs up in 1st or just putt around. [Less your at highway speed n drop it into down,] but on take off, there is no half azzin it.

Redline or don't bother.

For an auto, id get a nice hard shift kit that won't slip the clutches any,
and a 1800-2200 stall speed TC to make up for not having a stick shift

 

+1 on the shift kit, I forgot to say that when I had the transmission serviced that I had a transgo shift kit installed. Firmer shifts and better performance in mountain driving. I doubt that anything I have done really made the car any faster but it definately improved the drivability and fun factor of my 88 RS with the little 2.8 V6

 

Yep, that all you can really do is get the most from what you got as there is room for imporvement over the stock config.