I need HP fast!

I have this 87 Camaro 2.8 V6 that needs some life. Is there any way to kick up the HP a little (or a lot)? My wife has a 4 cylinder 2000 Stratus that can blow me out of the water. Someone please help!!!!!

Headers, Exhaust, Cold Air Intake, Camshaft, Tune up.

After all that you could, if you want to, look into a little PSI from a Turbo, I wouldn't, but thats just me.

-V8-
A 2.8 is a small v6 so you will prob still lose unless you get a turbo or something crazy like that.

I'd suggest getting a new/different engine.. but first tell us how much money do you have to use?

LT1... stratus's sure as hell won't beat u, let alone just about anything else on the road...

Well it does in the condition my car is in right now. Ha

LT1... stratus's sure as hell won't beat u, let alone just about anything else on the road...

Lt1 or a 3.8.. or if you got lots of money the new 5.3.. :lol:

let alone just about anything else on the road...

I'm pretty sure there are quite a few cars that will still beat you with an LT1, they are a strong engine but they aren't that great...

I'm pretty sure there are quite a few cars that will still beat you with an LT1, they are a strong engine but they aren't that great...

Yeah.. like an Ls1 :evillol:

Not much extra money. More like a "little at a time". I just want to work with what I have but clean it up.

I'd suggest getting a new/different engine.. but first tell us how much money do you have to use?

Not much extra money. More like a "little at a time". I just want to work with what I have but clean it up.

Well the bad thing is that there isnt much aftermerket for your 2.8

Really...that sucks. Do you know of anything besides of course a tuneup or some of those other basic things that I can do different to at least get a few extra horses? You can probably tell I'm new at this stuff. But I LOVE it!!!!! I feel like I punch it and something's missing.

Probably a V8!!!!!

get the crank out of a 91-92 3.1 model, get the heads re-worked, 3.42 gears, port and polish the intake, open up the exhaust, CAI, and maybe a 75 shot.

get the crank out of a 91-92 3.1 model, get the heads re-worked, 3.42 gears, port and polish the intake, open up the exhaust, CAI, and maybe a 75 shot.

If you do this.. it wont be overnight and cheap.

that v6 is crap.
Get a v8

If you do this.. it wont be overnight and cheap.
It never is.

that v6 is crap.
Get a v8
Wow, what I great idea, why didn't the rest of us think of that, we're so dumb...

anyway...

"Not much extra money. More like a "little at a time". I just want to work with what I have but clean it up."

guess you missed that part.

Wow, what I great idea, why didn't the rest of us think of that, we're so dumb...

anyway...

"Not much extra money. More like a "little at a time". I just want to work with what I have but clean it up."

guess you missed that part.

yea, i have noticed that, that seems to be the biggest responce to v6 hp questions, 'v6's suck, get a v8', now thats all great and all but what about ppl like me with no garage, no drive way, no back yard, no nothing? granted you wont be able to do some mods but you sure as hell arent gonna be able to swap a v8 into your v6 in the matter of 2 days or so, if you car dont move the cops will tow it off as abandon.

yea, not many ppl here incorporate common sense into their replies.

hell u wont get that thing fast at all...sorry to be so straight up but u wont. not a big market for that engine and im not sure if bolt ons will help it out much. hell if u really want hp fast ill tell u what, spray the damn thing. in the long run u may blow it up but thats about the only way u will get her fast quick and cheap

Twin leaf blowers!

You can always rent a garage. But getting a v6 to go fast is tricking and costly

So if to be realistic lets make that tread about getting more miles out of a galon and making the car respond better! Cost effective. You guys skipped that too.

Also old engines suck too and they arent worth a lot of perfomance upgrates exept free once like cutting off cat and mufflers, thermostats,weight, etc.

Put on some stickers (for products that you don't have installed of course...) , a body kit, altezzas and a good sized wing on there and presto ---> Fastest car in your mind...

Yeah for this car.. i'd definately just keep it as a project or sell it, as with its current state it wont go much faster because the little aftermarket that is out for it.

maybe get a camaro with a real motor in it. just a thought

Wow...another person with a real thought out response. Thanks for putting a lot of energy into your answer... GENIOUS
maybe get a camaro with a real motor in it. just a thought

Wow...another person with a real thought out response. Thanks for putting a lot of energy into your answer... GENIOUS

I was kidding, I agree with Rally you need to fix it up make it look nice and sell it. Your not going to beable to get huge HP out of a lil 2.8 V6. The 2.8 is a shitty motor. Did not mean to come off as an ass, like I said I was kidding. I apologize

But I don't want huge horsepower from it. I just want to utilize what I have. I just want the thing to run well and to put as much life in it as possible. I bought it from a salvage yard and have put a lot of my time into restoring the interior and body. now I'm on to the engine. I can't just get rid of it.

I was kidding, I agree with Rally you need to fix it up make it look nice and sell it. Your not going to beable to get huge HP out of a lil 2.8 V6. The 2.8 is a shitty motor. Did not mean to come off as an ass, like I said I was kidding. I apologize

But I don't want huge horsepower from it. I just want to utilize what I have. I just want the thing to run well and to put as much life in it as possible. I bought it from a salvage yard and have put a lot of my time into restoring the interior and body. now I'm on to the engine. I can't just get rid of it.

Well I did not read everyones post here. So if you want more power you need to make it breath better so get a high flow exhaust on it cat back etc. Get a good hair filter K&N. Not real sure what else to do short of rebuilding the whole engine. Good luck with whatever you do. Oh take pics of the car and post them we like to see other people's rides.

Well I did not read everyones post here. So if you want more power you need to make it breath better so get a high flow exhaust on it cat back etc. Get a good hair filter K&N. Not real sure what else to do short of rebuilding the whole engine. Good luck with whatever you do. Oh take pics of the car and post them we like to see other people's rides.

Will do...

I'm pretty sure there are quite a few cars that will still beat you with an LT1, they are a strong engine but they aren't that great...

hahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

ok i'm done, but seriously, lt1's are only weak in the knees when they are factory with all the restrictive intake and exhaust. let it breathe is what you have to do.

btw, i run dead even w/ supercharged cobras... just about how many cars do you see everyday on the road that can take those out?

Eh just any LS1 with an exhaust system and CAI, and it would do. :loser:

Eh just any LS1 with an exhaust system and CAI, and it would do. :loser:

i've killed more than my share of ls1's w/ exhaust and cai... the ls1 would at least need a cam swap if it wanted to run w/ me or s/c cobra's

i don't think u know very much about what you are talking about

Well I think you need to pull your head out of your ass thinking a LT1 swap is unbeatable dude, I mean that's all you go around saying these days

Lt1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

umm i dont think this thread is for arguing about a lt1 swap. anyways broke i have a 88 camaro with a 2.8. umm to tell you the truthe the 2.8 is nothing but dead weight. 290 lbs of it actually. well heres my story. i had a 2.8 in it, and it died at 140000 along with a few other 2.8s at 140000 so if your about there dont touch it. let it die and replace it with something bigger. mine died and i replaced it with another 2.8 that is remanufactured and i put a msd ignition blaster coil in and that helped alot! also i took my cat off and replaced it with an empty tube. helped some. but if you have emissions testing dont do it. then i got some k&n air filters and that helped. then i cut the box up under the filters cause there pointless(just as useless as the motor) and i took the screen off the mass air flow sensor(dont know if that helped but its supposed to i guess) and then i got a little performancve chip thing and that helped out noticably. and i think thats all. oh and replace your spark plugs, wires, pcv, cap, rotor, idle air control valve, and you can grab a magnaflow exhaust system for like 160 i think. all that woill help but it will still be slow. i can beat a 97 sunfire though if that matters. but a 4.0 jeep cherokee will beat me by like 1 car maybe 2. and you still cant burnout. but like i said if you have almost 140000 miles its useless. anyays im selling mine to buy a v8 maro. i test drove one saturday. damn it was bad ass. im telling ya they hold you in the seat nice. and it was modded. burned out throught 3rd gear then had to stop for big ass speed bump. didnt buy it though cause there was too many little problems. anyways 2.8 is a waste of cash...

damn that was longer then any essay ive ever written, sorry

wow great story 88, what are trying to do make longer posts than i do? anyways if u can man swap your engine for a newer v6 or a v8 if u can. if not everything the other guys said is pretty much all u can do short of rebuilding the entire engine.

im gonna try to sell mine on ebay to buy a 3rd gen with the 2 cylinders that fell off my engine at the factory.... yeah i want a v8

hahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

ok i'm done, but seriously, lt1's are only weak in the knees when they are factory with all the restrictive intake and exhaust. let it breathe is what you have to do.

btw, i run dead even w/ supercharged cobras... just about how many cars do you see everyday on the road that can take those out?


Ok, so let me get this straight... Just by changing the intake and exhaust you consider the LT1 a competitor to the LS1? What the hell are you smoking???

Well I think you need to pull your head out of your ass thinking a LT1 swap is unbeatable dude, I mean that's all you go around saying these days

some1 is getting pissed... he said he wanted hp, and an lt1 swap is a way to get it... i'm not getting all huffy and shit, you need to chill

Ok, so let me get this straight... Just by changing the intake and exhaust you consider the LT1 a competitor to the LS1? What the hell are you smoking???

lt1 was rated at 275hp while ls1 was rated at 300hp... are you telling me intake and exhaust won't give you 15hp? what are you smoking? haha. anyways, both engines made more power than that, that's just what they were rated at.

some1 is getting pissed... he said he wanted hp, and an lt1 swap is a way to get it... i'm not getting all huffy and shit, you need to chill

Nobody is getting mad, I just told you to that you need to get your feet on the ground and stop thinking that your car is invincible against other cars.

i'm just gonna tell you that i was shocked as shit the first time i cut my car loose, i didn't expect it to be so fast... but when i got in some runs w/ s/c cobras, and beat a couple, plus i got into a run w/ a honda cbr600 from 90-130 so now, i know i'm fast... all i'm doing is recommending it to some1 that has a third gen and wants power. my recommendation is perfectly valid thank you.

my comment about you not knowing what you're talking about is because you just seem to blindly assume that ls1's are unstoppable, of course ls1's are amazing engines, but far from unbeatable. as is the lt1

Well YOU blindly assume Lt1s are unstoppable, so im going to just stop even trying to tell you that your LT1 isnt all that badass.

sorry to say rs92 but your car isnt all to fast right now......lol but cant we all just get along?

have you ever rode in an lt1 or an ls1? genuine question here... i have ridden in both, lt1 3rd gen (mine), lt1 4th gen, ls1 4th gen (ss slp version). and if you read my whole post, i said

"of course ls1's are amazing engines, but far from unbeatable. as is the lt1"

you just read what people say, you have little or no experience on anything.

I know my car isnt fast, but atleast I dont say its unbeatable against other cars in its same class.

my race built 355 sbc TBI is gonna own LT1's and LS1's :D



stock to mildly modded ones at least.

have you ever rode in an lt1 or an ls1? genuine question here... i have ridden in both, lt1 3rd gen (mine), lt1 4th gen, ls1 4th gen (ss slp version). and if you read my whole post, i said

"of course ls1's are amazing engines, but far from unbeatable. as is the lt1"

you just read what people say, you have little or no experience on anything.

I have alot of experience in things, mainly how to not get a freaking huge ego on a little thing. And yes I have ridden in a 4th gen Camaro before.. its not like asking have you ever gone to Alaska, because you know that there is a real world out there with millions of Camaros, right?

the average year-long sales of the 4th gen camaro was less than 100,000 a year, with very few of them being z28's or ss's... so if each year had less than 100,000 of sales and there were only 9 years of the 4th gen, then it is not possible for there to be millions of them... and there are far from a million z28's or ss's... so why would i assume that you had rode in one... all i know is you have a v6 camaro that last time i heard doesnt run, and a 3.8 monte carlo, and you spend your life on here. you said intake and exhaust mods would make an ls1 faster than a 03-04 cobra, when you really have no idea... so you are blindly assuming that an ls1 is amazing. when it is an awesome motor, but not unbeatable. and i never said the lt1 was unbeatable. but i have first hand experience how potent a lt1 is in a third gen, which is exactly why i recommend the swap to people who want a fast third gen.

I know my car isnt fast, but atleast I dont say its unbeatable against other cars in its same class.

never said i was unbeatable, what i did said is that i am faster than just about all the cars you will see on a normal day... 12 sec 1/4 mile is fast period. that can't be denied buddy. and most cars won't run anywhere near that

f*ck your bullsh*t i'm goin to bed

If you read correctly you'd see that I said CAI and exhaust would take your car on if thats the only thing you did at the time, not against Cobras. Also I know what real power is because my dad had a 2nd gen Camaro that was exactly like Jim's Camaro except it was an older 2nd gen.

Also I dont know why you're going around crying trying to make what I said seem like I dont know my stuff when I know how much HP Cobras have and I know how much more CAI and exhaust adds

lt1 was rated at 275hp while ls1 was rated at 300hp... are you telling me intake and exhaust won't give you 15hp? what are you smoking? haha. anyways, both engines made more power than that, that's just what they were rated at.

Rated at? Like GM just takes a guess at what the engines put out or says hey I know let's build an engine to put out 275hp so that they are all the same then we can call it "rated hp". When in fact they take a bunch of the engines off the line and test what they are putting out and then they average those numbers to give a figure closest to what most of the cars will have at the flywheel. So the engine is really rated for shit, those figures are an average of a certain number of the number they build. Every engine is different too especially so since engine builders just have to get things in between the tolerances and it's ok, not like they blue print all the engines so they are all perfect and putting out exactly what the manufacturer says they are...

But whatever, I'm sick of arguing about this so this is the last you will hear from me on the subject.