i have a 2.8 and im puttin out around 135 horsepower i want a 454 but my funds are limited right now so i was looking into a performace chip and some intake and headers to take me up to 200hp for the time being i need some opinions

 

IMO the best thing you can do is start saving up for a small block and a 700r. Personaly I don't think the 2.8 is really worth wasting much money on. Besides 200 hp is'nt gonna do much in a 3,000 lb car. Sorry for the bad news bro. but I think you'll be way better off with a v-8.

 

I think 200 HP would be noticable but it is unrealistic without major mods. THe 3.4 is a huge upgrade for the 2.8 and it out puts 165 HP. With the above mods the 3.4 will out put about 180 HP. Even if you did figure out a way to get 200 hp the bottom end of the motor would fail pretty quickly. Without major mods 150 hp is a more realistic goal.

 

easiest mod to get the 2.8 to get up and go, is ditch the stock 3.23 rear gears. swapping to a 3.73 or 4.10 gear will get the car to move a little quicker. the factory heads on the 2.8 SUCK. they're about par with the 3.1 heads (which don't flow at all above 4500rpm), and that's not saying much.

 

My opinion is a 454 would not be good in a car thats a daily driver.bad gas mileage.you could get plenty power out of a small block.from i have been told them chips dont work for the 2.8.

 

Google 3x00 swap where they take from the pistons up to the intake plenum off of late model Grand Am GT's Alero's even Azteks G6 Gt's any thing that is 3100, 3400, 3500, 3600
I think from 98+ (grand am's etc) you will get about 70 hp more also being aluminum heads it shaves off 50 pounds. in a 3.4 i figured it would crank out 235 hp (manual trans) Ive heard that guys with the 3x00 top end swap can keep up with LT1's.


Im thinking about putting a 355 in my 3.1 the pain of upgrading a v6 still doesnt compare to the power behind a v8. Go for a 400 small block. They have tons of torque my first camaro (86 z28) had a 400 mated to a 700R-4 and I loved it, headers into true duals with glass packs.

 

I know I am new to the 3.4 but how can putting the head off and 170 hp car and putting them on a 165 hp car get you 235 hp? My understanding of the upgrade is with the old 3.4's the heads where a limiting factor. If you wanted to build a 235 hp motor the first step is the heads but you still need Cam/rockers, compression, intake, MAF and exhaust to make the car 235 hp. The cost of this would be greater then a 350 upgrade.

Oh 235 HP on a 2.8 is a rolling bomb waiting for someone to push the plunger.

 

first off 454 in a 3rd gen is a hell of a lot of work. you gotta chop the fire wall just to get it to fit not to mention custom everything , small block would be a much better idea which is still a bit of work but much more manageable since you can strip parts from any 3rd gen with a v8. small block 400 was my original idea i even have half the motor still although i abandoned the project until i get a camaro with a solid frame under it. if you are really dedicated thou they do make parts that after a lil welding basically put a solid frame under your 3rd gen. as far as upgrading the 2.8 its pointless you will et minimal gains and that engine will never be fully reliable better to build a 3.4 and get some decent horsepower without sacrificing reliability, however if you are looking to build a 400 small block i got a blck crank and pistons for sale sorry but i already sold my camelback heads

 

^^^who told you that you have to cut the firewall to fit a big block in a 3rd gen??? i've NEVER heard of anyone having to modify the firewall on a third gen for a BBC to fit. i've seen one that had to have the firewall modded to fit the 180* headers on a SBC, but never for fitting a big block.

 

is your camaro a carb or fuel injection if carb up grade also adding small things makes up like a computer mod or ram air intake same asa kandn air intake a muffler system lunati lifters and head set cheap like 47. um clean out your fuel injectors accel spark plugs and cables well try to get 8.8 cables better distributer cap headers a msd coil box all can be done 4 around 250 and u will notice the difference the reason i didnt swich to a 305 is cause the gas rising in price and 8mpg i have done alot to my camaro i blew the motor racing an mazda rx8 but hitting that 200 mark is hard mine is an 1988 i just recently blew the motor and it was pushing 185 if u do all u will hit maybe 220 im also standard