I have a 1988 GT V6, 5-speed and I want to modify it.
Currently all I have is a homemade ram air duct. On the intake side, which is better? A cold air intake, or the stock air box with a K&N, ram duct, positive crankcase ventilation delete, and throttle body heater delete?

I am going to pull the motor and rebuild it (it has 92,260 miles on it) and while it is out everything is getting ported. I was considering a 3.1 or 3.4 pushrod swap but my local salvage yard wants $1175 for a 3.1 longblock. Can I find a 3.4 cheap somewhere? Or what about just doing the 3.1 crank swap? How much will it bump my compression on stock 2.8 rods? Can it be installed and ran with only changing the crank itself or do I have to buy a ton of extra stuff? I have been finding 3.1 cranks for $100-$150 and that is a lot more appealing to me.

Who makes a good, cheap camshaft for the 2.8L?

Who makes solid lifters for the 2.8L?

How big of valves can I squeeze into the Fiero heads, and where should I get them?

What chip will add power without halving my MPG?

I read that by cutting one coil out of the stock front springs it will bump the spring rate enough to make the car handle better, and drop the front end by an inch, is this really true or am I just ruining my springs?

What other GM car shares brakes with the Fiero?

Where should I look to get my throttle body ported?

Sorry for this many questions but what can I say I love my Fiero and I want it to go faster.

hunt down a 3.4L from a 93-95 camarobird, the top end will bolt up from the stock 2.8 and the 3.4 bottom end is more reliable, and will give you more horsepower than the stock 2.8 being rebuilt stock for stock, and then if you add a nice cam and all the head work and stuff you'll have more power than a rebuilt 2.8 with performance goodies

Welcome to our obsession!
(That makes 3 Mr. PBodys. All with slightly different spelling. )

I also would recomment the camarobird 3.4. Years 93-95.
The long block is externally identical to the Fiero with just a couple minor differences.
The heads are identical to the 2.8.

For a solid lifter cam, you're going to have to go with a Crane or Crower.
Most everyone here is using higher lift hydraulics. (Most people don't want to have to remove the valve covers to do regular valve adjustments.) Anything over ~.455 valve lift is going to require different springs and head work (or at least a check) to make sure the springs don't bind at full lift.

If you are after maximum power go with a Trueleo intake and headers. www.trueleo.com
These foks are members here, drive Fieros, and build these things especially for the Fiero community. There are several "build" threads here, using their stuff.

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Raydar
88 4.9 Formula IMSA Fasback..........................88 3.4 coupe................................................

Read Nealz Nuze! Praise the Lowered!

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 10-07-2006).]

Welcome, Mr.PBody. The Fiero came from the factory with a cold-air-intake, as it pulls air from outside of the car instead of from the engine bay. Performance-wise, there's not much that can be done to the original intake that will actually do anything. Chips don't really do anything to the stock 2.8, but if you change out the engine then a custom chip might help out. A Camaro/Firebird 3.4 switches out nice and easy...

Darn, I thought Mr. P Body was original and wity. I am going to make my own "race" headers that are true duals with no cat and possibly no mufflers if I can stand it. So was that a yes or a no on a hard line intake with a cone filter? I was running a cold air intake that put the crappy paper cone filter down by the EGR pump and it made more noise than HP. If I put another intake on I am going to get the K&N cone ($70) and mount the filter over where the stock air box is. I am thinking just putting an OEM K&N in condidering it is only $31. I found a 3.4 long block for $400 but I am going to check and see how much just the shortblock is.

Here's my experience in locating a 3.4... Junkyards are claiming they are "rare" now and trying to charge a premium. I have found a few on ebay for around $250.00 but in unknown and probably trashed conditition... remember these were in the cheap camaro and firebird so the engines have been ragged, driven hard and probably not maintained well.

Citymotorsupply.com can get you a 3.4 short block shipped to your door that is 100% new remanufacturered for $800.00. if you are having your heads ported it would be silly to pay for new heads. port and polish, get some new valves and springs in there and some 1.6 rockers to get a bit more air in there. oh buy some 17lb injectors and the adjustable fuel regulator.

If you are a master at welding build your own intake and exaust manifolds, if not..... truelo is your only answer.

if you do the above you are probably looking at arould $4500.00 total for all parts needed to get a 3.4 that will do near 200hp and have an advnatage of being a new motor throughout instead of a junk yard mystery that may blow up at any time. you can spend lots more if you want. you could add another $3500.00 in blasting and high temp powdercoating for lots of parts and having you oil pan chrome plated, chrome Alternator, custom aluminum diamond plate cut and bent for the firewall, etc....

if you are willing to travel a long distance there is a member here selling a 3.4 with low miles on a rebuild. for around $500.00, but will still need lots of parts as you want the heads ported and polished, so you might as well replace all the upper end parts for reliability.

doing a 3.4 all new and high HP is dirt cheap. only 5 payments on a new Vette will pay for it.

ba-bump

for your chip i am currently haveing a chip burnt form gmtuners.com, this company takes all of your info i mean down to speedo correction and burns a chip / eprom you may have to send him your prom but he can set it up for nitrous turbo anything its only 45 bucks here's the link for the form anbd he will contact you via email in a couple of days. http://dtcc.cz28.com/eprom/quickform.htm