WaynesRS

how much does it cost to ?
1. polish and port heads
2. " " itake manifold
3. throttle body
Thanx , Wayne

KED85

How about asking some people that prepare their cars for NASCAR or local racing circuit.
AND best if ya can find a spare set to beef up, while your car is in one piece.

I'd like to know, cause I've spent 10 hours on one V-8 head. I want to know what my time was worth. Three more heads to go, also!

These V-6 don't need much work beside new valve guides, new springs and retainers (part numbers 12363215 & 12362316).
Already got the bigger valves and better flow design.
Don't forget to add gasket set cost.

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

WaynesRS

Thanx Ked , I was thinking about getting another set of 2.8 heads out of the junkyard .hmmm wonder how much they would cost ? Or could i put 3.4 heads on there or even 3.1 heads, If I could , would there be any benefits ?....how hard is it to port and polish ....Thanx , Wayne

1991tealRSt-topGuy

yeah, i've been wondering about this myself.......how much would a compatent machine shop charge to port and polish my heads and my intake manifold?

KED85

GET THE LATEST FREE HEADS YA CAN.
If ya score 2.8 for free, great
IF ya score 3.1 heads for free, ya score.
Either way MAKE SURE they are MPFI heads.
AND GO TO GM DEALER AND GET THE GM PEERFORMANCE PARTS BOOK. Best $6 you can invest in.
AND page 136 has the pics of the aluminum heads and WHY you cannot use them on the F body cars.
Again, I paid $800 for a running perfect 3.4 40K mile long block (others have paid less for a 3.4, too). Add $100 for gaskets.
Figure same physical effort for both jobs.

I want to see a cost comparision to this port & polish question.
As my swap did/has all this stuff, already (better heads (springs/retainers/cam).

------------------
Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

WaynesRS

Thanx for all your help Ked , I assume your meaning free flowing , meaning flowing better , I wish could get some free heads , hehe , in my dreams .Im thinking of going to U-PULL IT junkyard , where its cheaper cus you pull the parts yourself and you deal with them on price .I know I wont have any trouble finding any , there has got to be wrecked camaros there .The only V6 heads I could not use out of those cars would be the 3.8 heads right ? Im not doing the 3.4 swap because I have a new 2.8 in it with less than 10k miles on it .When I made the swap I was just thinking 350 , but it was going to take to long and cost to much , so I setteld for another 2.8,its not bad though at all , I know the 3.4 is much better though .Any other parts you know of that can be swaped on the 2.8 from other cams that will benefit ? ...Thanx for all your help Ked , and anyone who replys

WaynesRS

I couldn't use 3.4 cus there aluminum right ? hmmm

x55Cam

Wayne, porting/polishing heads/intake ( including competion valve work and resurfacing) costs about $950 depending on where you go. If you want more info I'll be glad to help you out.

[This message has been edited by x55Cam (edited August 13, 2001).]

WaynesRS

Thanx so much for your help X55cam I was thinking sence it cost that much , Just starting with the heads .Maybe it would be cheaper to get some heads out of the junkyard and take them to a machine shop , So I would not have to pay them labor to take them off and put them on . My friend can install them for me .Think this would be cheaper man ? plus I can buy the heads , then when I get more money p and p them Wayne

x55Cam

Try looking for heads from 93-95 Camaros with 3.4L. You'll stand a better chance of getting ones that are rebuildable.
I've already extablished a minimum of 20hp gain using some software that takes data from flow benching BUT, you'll have to chuck the stock throttle body for a better flowing one that will take advantage of the port work. Otherwise it'll negate or the P/P you'll be doing.

WaynesRS

X55CAM ,
Thanx so much man , Its so great to get a hp number like that , now I kmow it will be worh the money and time and will want to pursue this project THANX Wayne

WaynesRS

X55CAM , what size throttle body should I get ? ..thanx , Wayne

KED85

Try pricing this part number
14054884.
NEW GM 2.8/3.1/3.4 heads.
These are from the 3.4 engine, I have under my hood, now.

------------------
Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

x55Cam

Wayne, you can try the Fieo store :
http://www.fierostore.com/pegasus/index.html
Whom sells a big bore TB $200 w/core. I'm not sure what size it is, you'll have to give 'em a call. The one I have is a 62mm type that I got from a guy in Finland that sells them for about $160. I can send you pictures if you'd like. It requires that you transpose some parts from your old TB to the new and it eliminates the need for the coolant lines.

KED85

Hi X55Cam
I viewed the Fiero Store pages.
REAL CURIOUS.
3mm is going to MAKE that much difference?
I CAN understand IF there was an air splitter in the way, as is with the V-8 Throttle bores.
May I see a pic, Please?
I'd like to recreate that throttle bore increase in size. It should be kinda easy.
Those throttle bores are a dime a dozen at the wrecking yards. Then I can score the Fiero valve covers, too. Only wish I had them when I swapped engines.
Those engine kit prices are way high. I paid $800 for acomplete running engine with no machining costs.
The Accel coil, I just bought from Kragen for $36.
I LOVE FIEROS. One of my Favorite rides.

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

WaynesRS

Yeah , I like thos fieros to .My neighbor just got one , it looks like brand new . I can't belive he got it in that great of shape. It's silver and sounds like it has flowmasters on it ....Thanx for the help again guys , well be checkin out those parts.That's a good price on that throttle body , I saw one somewhere else (62 mm) for $200 and I thought that was kinda high. I'd like to see a pic of that throttle body X55Cam ,Thanx Wayne

WaynesRS

Ked ,
I looked up that part number you gave me for the 3.4 heads , $408 thats not to bad of a price .Im thinking though if I find some in the junkyard ,maybe I can get them for around $200 .But I might just go ahead and get the new ones .Wayne

3.1 firebird

check out NuTek racing. They have 3.4 heads with performance options.

x55Cam

KED, it seems that the Fiero Store TB is a bit smaller than mine. Mine measures 68mm/2.7" at the bore. The stock GM one measures 52mm/2.0625". When I insert these numbers to the analyzer, CFM ratings jump from 337 to 819! The stock unit has to be removed to measure it accurately. I can post the photos here on the board tomorrow as I don't have acess to my web at this time.

3.1firebird, NuTek use to be Norris Racing, correct? They certainly know how to work up the 3.4L. I almost went to them for my work, but found a local shop. I think they dynoed a 3.4L Camaro at 115rwhp and after all the engine work managed something near 170rwhp, within street specs. Thats well over 200hp at the flywheel!

WaynesRS

do ya know what Nu tek's racing website is ? Wayne......thanx

KED85

What was the foundation of your throttle body?
Fiero?
FBody
FWD 2.8/3.1/3.4?
THAT IS A MONSTER OF A SIZE INCREASE!
Must be able to increase the air flow to the engine ALOT (then ya need this size increase) to warrant usage of that size you've got.
I do agree 337cfm is way small for this V-6.
But how much air can ya ram in? For my Firebird, not much at all.

Those NEW heads MAY be a wise choice.
Figure cost of cores from yard
Figure new springs called out in GM Perf. Parts Book, along with retainer, machine work for new valve guides.
I'll be you can bargin those new heads down abit.
Our 60 Degree V6 looks like the throttle bore for the New Corvettes, one large air inlet, unlike the two blade inlet of the past 80's-90's Corvette.

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

WaynesRS

Ked ,
It is 2.8 mpfi camaro , Is that what you mean by foundation ? What size throttle body you recomend ? Thanx , Wayne

x55Cam

Here's one pic that shows the TB in a car (not mine). The parts labled A/B/C are the ones transfered from the stock unit.




These TB's will compliment the port /polishing/head work that is done to the stock unit, if thats what you mean by 'foundation'. They are made to take advantage of the P/P work, otherwise it would be almost a total waste of time and money to just replace the stock unit, alone. In actuality, the total CFM including P/P amounts to about 790 CFM so the intake/head combo is really restricting the TB. The weakest link is the upper and middle intake based on the Flow Bench data.

WaynesRS

Awesome , Thanx X55cam , is that a 62mm or a 68 ? ..Wayne

x55Cam

It measures 62mm/2 7/16" at the flange side. The opening is about 2 3/4"

WaynesRS

Thanx X55Cam ...hmm I was just wondering would these heads work with Cranecam 2030 or would I have to use a different cam ?

KED85

That is a fine looking piece of machining.
Is this a car you know of (friends) or apic you found.
The foundation I was referring to was, what design of the throttle body? A FWD or a Fiero or a F body car.
This guy made the housing and sold it for $170? Fair deal.

------------------
Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

x55Cam

Ked, I know that the maker of this owns an F body 3rdGen but he didn't specify that the TB can only be used in certain 2.8/3.1/ cars. I would think that this unit can be used for any car that uses a 2.8/3.1 intake. Though a Fiero's upper is slightly different, for example, it should fit since the length of the TB is almost exactly the same as the stock unit, maybe slightly longer, but I would have to take some measurements to verify this.

WaynesRS

Ked , its an F-body , 88 camaro 2.8

Brian K

We should do a GP on this... 125 a piece....

KED85

That is a nice bit of maching work. I do agree with ya about the actual real world usage.
Would you think that guy would let go of these for a buck and a quarter?

------------------
Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA