Time for a new engine, need advice
#1
Member
![](https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/images/ranks/tgo10.gif)
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Avondale, AZ
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Time for a new engine, need advice
I pulled my plugs and all of them were covered in oil. I have had nothing but trouble with this engine so I think it's time for it to go. What engine should I be looking at. I don't want to spend an arm and a leg, but I want the swap to be worth it. How much am I looking at spending?
------------------
1988 Camaro RS
2.8L five speed
Money pit from hell!!
1988 Camaro
2.8L automatic
t-tops
160* THERMO
Rapid fire plugs
------------------
1988 Camaro RS
2.8L five speed
Money pit from hell!!
1988 Camaro
2.8L automatic
t-tops
160* THERMO
Rapid fire plugs
#2
Member
![](https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/images/ranks/tgo10.gif)
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Chilliwack, BC
Posts: 415
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1992 Camaro RS
Engine: 5.7 V8 TPI
Transmission: T-5 5-Speed Manual
From what I've read on the board, the best swap for price/performance is the 3.4l V6, from 93-94 fbods. Check out this post: https://www.thirdgen.org/messgboard/...ML/000747.html
#3
Member
![](https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/images/ranks/tgo10.gif)
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Avondale, AZ
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks Canadian Camaro. Anyone know where I should look for an engine?
------------------
1988 Camaro RS
2.8L five speed
Money pit from hell!!
1988 Camaro
2.8L automatic
t-tops
160* THERMO
Rapid fire plugs
------------------
1988 Camaro RS
2.8L five speed
Money pit from hell!!
1988 Camaro
2.8L automatic
t-tops
160* THERMO
Rapid fire plugs
#6
2011 Norwood Gathering
ThirdGen Firebird Rep
ThirdGen Firebird Rep
![](https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/images/ranks/tgo10.gif)
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Sarasota FL
Posts: 3,435
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
4 Posts
Car: 99 WS6 / 00 SS / 11 CTS-V / 13 300
Engine: LS1 / LS1 / LSA / 5.7 Hemi
Transmission: 4L60E / T-56 / 6L80E / W5A80
Axle/Gears: 3.23 / 3.42 Auburn / 3.23 / 2.62
Rebuilding the 2.8 with some speed parts will be the easiest/most cost-effective solution.
#7
Member
![](https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/images/ranks/tgo10.gif)
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Avondale, AZ
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The best deal i've found so far is a 95 3.4L with less than 42,000 miles for $1,267 including shiping and a three year warranty. Does anyone know of any where on the web to look?
------------------
1988 Camaro RS
2.8L five speed
Money pit from hell!!
1988 Camaro
2.8L automatic
t-tops
160* THERMO
Rapid fire plugs
------------------
1988 Camaro RS
2.8L five speed
Money pit from hell!!
1988 Camaro
2.8L automatic
t-tops
160* THERMO
Rapid fire plugs
Trending Topics
#8
Member
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Try this http://www.tacreationsusa.com/v6.htm
I know my 3.4 is coming from them pretty soon and regardless of what you see here e-mail them because sometimes the ptices are lower than what they have posted
I know my 3.4 is coming from them pretty soon and regardless of what you see here e-mail them because sometimes the ptices are lower than what they have posted
#10
Supreme Member
![](https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/images/ranks/tgo10.gif)
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: First one out of liberty city, burn it to the ground
Posts: 1,777
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
tacreations will only ship 1400 miles from them in florida now for legal issues on engines...everything else they will. If u buy from them be within 1400 miles
------------------
89 Firebird (AKA "Money")
2.8 V6 w/ t5 tranny (383 tpi t56 12/01)
Flowmaster 80 series, 3" Intermediate, SS Tips, Random Tech Cat, Msd Coil, MSD 6a, Accel 8.8 wires, Cold Air Intake w/ K&N, Lakewood LCA's, Brushed aluminum Hood pins ETC...
Next:
Spohn Torque Arm, Lakewood Panhard bar, BMR Fabrication Sub Frame connectors...
-------------------------
My Site:
www.geocities.com/firebird89white
" I'd rather run last in a full out race, than to NOT run at all ".
------------------
89 Firebird (AKA "Money")
2.8 V6 w/ t5 tranny (383 tpi t56 12/01)
Flowmaster 80 series, 3" Intermediate, SS Tips, Random Tech Cat, Msd Coil, MSD 6a, Accel 8.8 wires, Cold Air Intake w/ K&N, Lakewood LCA's, Brushed aluminum Hood pins ETC...
Next:
Spohn Torque Arm, Lakewood Panhard bar, BMR Fabrication Sub Frame connectors...
-------------------------
My Site:
www.geocities.com/firebird89white
" I'd rather run last in a full out race, than to NOT run at all ".
#11
Supreme Member
![](https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/images/ranks/tgo10.gif)
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Central NJ, USA
Posts: 13,414
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes
on
6 Posts
Car: 1986 Firebird
Engine: 2.8 V6
Transmission: 700R4
There's one more possibility- what heat range are the plugs? Using plugs that are too "cold" will cause them to become oil-soaked & fouled.
Going to one heat range higher than stock might even cause the oil-soaking problem to disappear.
------------------
-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!
Going to one heat range higher than stock might even cause the oil-soaking problem to disappear.
------------------
-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!
#12
Member
![](https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/images/ranks/tgo10.gif)
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Avondale, AZ
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't know the heat range. They are NGK plugs if that helps.
------------------
1988 Camaro RS
2.8L five speed
Money pit from hell!!
1988 Camaro
2.8L automatic
t-tops
160* THERMO
Rapid fire plugs
------------------
1988 Camaro RS
2.8L five speed
Money pit from hell!!
1988 Camaro
2.8L automatic
t-tops
160* THERMO
Rapid fire plugs
#14
Supreme Member
![](https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/images/ranks/tgo10.gif)
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Central NJ, USA
Posts: 13,414
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes
on
6 Posts
Car: 1986 Firebird
Engine: 2.8 V6
Transmission: 700R4
You need the part # of the plug, hopefully NGK writes them on there! Be prepared for some tech & background:
A heat range describes how "hot" the plug's tip gets. A plug with a "cold" range means that the plug has a short path of heat conduction inside. A short path means a quick path, so the plug leaks all of it's heat into the engine's head quickly.
A hot plug has a longer heat path. The heat in the plug takes a while to get to the head, so the plug stays hot.
A hot plug reaches (and stays at) it's self-cleaning temperature longer. This means your plug can burn off deposits (such as oil). However, running with too hot of a plug can cause engine ping & detonation! A plug that's too hot will ignite the air/fuel mix on it's own, without a spark.
A colder plug will not cause ping or detonation; however, too cold, and your plugs will get covered in oil/deposits. Cold plugs are used for stuff like nitrous, where you want more of a controlled explosion. For a normally aspirated engine (no nitrous/supercharger/turbocharger), the rule of thumb for changing plug heat ranges is to "go as hot as you can without causing ping/detonation."
Starting in 1988, GM decided to use a "hotter" plug with a "special design" for the 2.8 f-body motors. I don't know what the special design means, and I don't think it's important. The key idea is that the heat range went up! Your correct "AC/Delco" (original stock) plug part # is R43TSK.
R43TSK
R = resistor
4 = 14mm thread
3 = heat range (coldest = 1, hottest = 9)
T = tapered seat
S = extended tip
K = special design (no idea about this)
Here's what I think's up: The 1987 2.8 "stock" AC plug number is R42TS. It could be the guy that handed you your NGK's gave you plugs for an 82-87 2.8l motor, and not 88-92! You should be able to get a cross reference somewhere; if not, try going "up" a heat range with the same plugs.
Oh- by the way: Make sure your gap is set to stock spec, 0.045".
------------------
-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!
[This message has been edited by TomP (edited January 18, 2001).]
A heat range describes how "hot" the plug's tip gets. A plug with a "cold" range means that the plug has a short path of heat conduction inside. A short path means a quick path, so the plug leaks all of it's heat into the engine's head quickly.
A hot plug has a longer heat path. The heat in the plug takes a while to get to the head, so the plug stays hot.
A hot plug reaches (and stays at) it's self-cleaning temperature longer. This means your plug can burn off deposits (such as oil). However, running with too hot of a plug can cause engine ping & detonation! A plug that's too hot will ignite the air/fuel mix on it's own, without a spark.
A colder plug will not cause ping or detonation; however, too cold, and your plugs will get covered in oil/deposits. Cold plugs are used for stuff like nitrous, where you want more of a controlled explosion. For a normally aspirated engine (no nitrous/supercharger/turbocharger), the rule of thumb for changing plug heat ranges is to "go as hot as you can without causing ping/detonation."
Starting in 1988, GM decided to use a "hotter" plug with a "special design" for the 2.8 f-body motors. I don't know what the special design means, and I don't think it's important. The key idea is that the heat range went up! Your correct "AC/Delco" (original stock) plug part # is R43TSK.
R43TSK
R = resistor
4 = 14mm thread
3 = heat range (coldest = 1, hottest = 9)
T = tapered seat
S = extended tip
K = special design (no idea about this)
Here's what I think's up: The 1987 2.8 "stock" AC plug number is R42TS. It could be the guy that handed you your NGK's gave you plugs for an 82-87 2.8l motor, and not 88-92! You should be able to get a cross reference somewhere; if not, try going "up" a heat range with the same plugs.
Oh- by the way: Make sure your gap is set to stock spec, 0.045".
------------------
-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!
[This message has been edited by TomP (edited January 18, 2001).]
#15
Member
![](https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/images/ranks/tgo10.gif)
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Avondale, AZ
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Damn. I was pulling the plugs to replace them so I just chucked 'em. I got AC delcs to replace them. R43TSK.
------------------
1988 Camaro RS
2.8L five speed
Money pit from hell!!
1988 Camaro
2.8L automatic
t-tops
160* THERMO
Rapid fire plugs
[This message has been edited by HIX5000 (edited January 18, 2001).]
------------------
1988 Camaro RS
2.8L five speed
Money pit from hell!!
1988 Camaro
2.8L automatic
t-tops
160* THERMO
Rapid fire plugs
[This message has been edited by HIX5000 (edited January 18, 2001).]
#16
Supreme Member
![](https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/images/ranks/tgo10.gif)
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Central NJ, USA
Posts: 13,414
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes
on
6 Posts
Car: 1986 Firebird
Engine: 2.8 V6
Transmission: 700R4
How are these new plugs doing?
For kicks I checked the Splitfire web site for 2.8 plug info. (I run Splitfires- no problems.) Anyway, they list the SF2C (my plug) for 85-88! They list the SF2D for 89-92. Splitfire runs their plug part #'s a bit differently than GM. Instead of AC/Delco's 1cold to 9hot range, Splitfire uses A to F, where A=coldest, F=hottest. Splitfire should've made the change to an SF2D for 1988.. instead, they recommend the old SF2C.
All this means that if Splitfire could make this mistake, then maybe other companies (like NGK) could.
And it just might be the argument for those splitfire owners that suddenly complained of "oh my god! my splitfires were ruining my engine! the car was misfiring; I pulled them and they were oil soaked! I threw them out and I suggest everyone do the same because they're bad!" Heh. I bet they just had the wrong heat range.
I'll have to remember to bring that up next time someone blasts me for using Splitfires.
------------------
-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!
[This message has been edited by TomP (edited January 19, 2001).]
For kicks I checked the Splitfire web site for 2.8 plug info. (I run Splitfires- no problems.) Anyway, they list the SF2C (my plug) for 85-88! They list the SF2D for 89-92. Splitfire runs their plug part #'s a bit differently than GM. Instead of AC/Delco's 1cold to 9hot range, Splitfire uses A to F, where A=coldest, F=hottest. Splitfire should've made the change to an SF2D for 1988.. instead, they recommend the old SF2C.
All this means that if Splitfire could make this mistake, then maybe other companies (like NGK) could.
And it just might be the argument for those splitfire owners that suddenly complained of "oh my god! my splitfires were ruining my engine! the car was misfiring; I pulled them and they were oil soaked! I threw them out and I suggest everyone do the same because they're bad!" Heh. I bet they just had the wrong heat range.
![](https://www.thirdgen.org/messgboard/biggrin.gif)
------------------
-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!
[This message has been edited by TomP (edited January 19, 2001).]
#17
Member
![](https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/images/ranks/tgo10.gif)
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Avondale, AZ
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I haven't put the plugs in yet. It's been kinda chilly here lately.
------------------
1988 Camaro RS
2.8L five speed
Money pit from hell!!
1988 Camaro
2.8L automatic
t-tops
160* THERMO
Rapid fire plugs
------------------
1988 Camaro RS
2.8L five speed
Money pit from hell!!
1988 Camaro
2.8L automatic
t-tops
160* THERMO
Rapid fire plugs
#18
Supreme Member
![](https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/images/ranks/tgo10.gif)
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Tucson, AZ, USA
Posts: 2,375
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: '99 Trans Am, '86 Camaro
Engine: LS1, Scrap
Transmission: T56, T5
Axle/Gears: 3.42 Stock ZT, 3.42 Open
Huh.. maybe that's why my #1 cyl was getting oil soaked.. running SF2Cs.. Thanks.. I'll remember to ask for '89 plugs next time I change them =P (ya learn something new every day...)
------------------
'86 Camaro SC, black /w silver racing stripes
2.8l MPFI/700r4
In search of new v8 engine & transmission
MSD coil, Accel 8mm wires, SplitFire plugs, Gabriel hijackers
------------------
'86 Camaro SC, black /w silver racing stripes
2.8l MPFI/700r4
In search of new v8 engine & transmission
MSD coil, Accel 8mm wires, SplitFire plugs, Gabriel hijackers
#19
Member
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Fort Worth TX, USA
Posts: 234
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Plugs? hermmm short of pulling the damn engine HOW do ya get the plug on the passenger side firewall? I have yet to be able to get it... thats why i built another engine.... honest... seriously tho how do ya get to it?
------------------
91 Firebird
3.1 w/
K&N filter, 160 stat, No TB heat, Direct Cold air, DynoMax CatBack, B&M MegaShifter, Performance Shift Kit,
Bosch platinum plugs,
7mm "stock" wires, Jensen CD330X Head unit, Jensen 120watt rear speakers
Stock front speakers,
0-30mph 4.25 Best 4.09
0-60mph 9.16 Best 9.09
------------------
91 Firebird
3.1 w/
K&N filter, 160 stat, No TB heat, Direct Cold air, DynoMax CatBack, B&M MegaShifter, Performance Shift Kit,
Bosch platinum plugs,
7mm "stock" wires, Jensen CD330X Head unit, Jensen 120watt rear speakers
Stock front speakers,
0-30mph 4.25 Best 4.09
0-60mph 9.16 Best 9.09
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
theshackle
Tech / General Engine
4
03-05-2017 06:37 PM