Pyroja

I don't see what the V8 guys bash about.. I love this car already, 2.8 or not, and I can't even drive it ( I have no license.. yet.)! It goes pretty fast from what I can tell. Nothing that's gonna knock your socks off, but I say it's fast. Only $1000, too. I say that's not bad for a first car. Now then, folks... Anything I should be aware of here, like, stuff to check right away? I notice that when it idles, the Check Engine light comes on, but nothing else seems out of the ordinary, and once ya take off, the light goes away. Any ideas on that? Also, I'd like some opinions as to what the best exhaust system is. I've seen Dynomax and Flowmaster mentioned, but I really know nothing of this stuf... Yet. And bascially, I want performance out of the exhaust. Sound is a secondary thought for me, I like speed. I can't wait to do the TomP Major Tuneup!

Dale

iTrader: (12)

Check engine light can be "scanned" with a paperclip and a simple 15bux haynes manual. Then buy part and install.

T.P.T.U. is good place to start.

Check your timing chain, search here, few different ways have been discussed on how to check it w/o taking engine apart.

Welcome to f-bodys

Project: 85 2.8 bird

What he said, & welcome to the very ELITE club of 85 Firebird ownership :hail:

p.s. The search button will be your best friend

Pyroja

I should've mentioned my car is a Camaro, not a Firebird, heh. Now I guess I get to see if I can figure out the "checking the codes" thing when I get home.

pasky

Nope, exact same thing. Arm your paperclips.

Dale

iTrader: (12)

firebird, camaro, ecm,repair part is all the same.

Find a haynes and/or chiltons manual from your local parts store, it tells how to get codes, plus has the chart for them. A "jumbo" paperclip and a good eye is all you need.

DO NOT disconnect the battery before you get the code(s) out.

Project: 85 2.8 bird

Not a FIREBIRD , oh well, ye shall be-ith tolerated

btw, AZ has the GM code keys for free when in stock.

TechSmurf

I love those things.. I eventually ran out of stray paper clips in my car, so now I run around with one of those autozone GM keys on my backup keyring all the time..

TomP

Congrats on the buy! For your next purchase, make sure to buy the GM Service Manual from http://www.helminc.com - it blows the Haynes out of the water as far as tech goes.

But the Haynes 82-92 manual is a good start, and I always recommend it to someone who's just starting out. But if you ever plan on doing diagnostics (like pulling codes, hint hint!), or checking electrical work, or anything in-depth other than brakes and oil changes, buy the GM/Helms book.

Sometimes you can find them on eBay.com too...

And you might as well buy a new owners manual from Helm, too.

Brian K

I am glad I had my 2.8.. I really learned a lot about cars. Now that I have a 97 Z I am able to do things I learned from the 2.8. The 2.8 is easy to work on and get at. It is a great first sports car because of this. Also the engine will never die.

camarogirl18

iTrader: (2)

congrats on a good find!

Pyroja

Gah, just my luck! I've had the car for little over a week now, and my dad's ben driving because his car has been in the shop...

At first, everything's all great, car runs fine has decent power, heater works (It's getting cold here, heh), all is well and I am happy. Then Overdrive decides to refuse to work. Oh yay. But we can still use D, it works good, and if we're going at highway speeds, then we can push the shifter to OD and it'll engage, so it becomes an annoyance, but nothing major.

But gah! Now the water pump is fubared! $250 for that to be replaced, sheesh. I'm gonna be broke for months I hope that's all that's wrong with this car, because I still love it, heh.

Just thought I'd share that with you all, as kind of an update or something. But geez, all these problems and I can't even drive the thing yet (Still no license)!

Project: 85 2.8 bird

Dude, the only thing that should cost $250 is a engine rebuild kit or tranny rebuild kit.

Gumby

Oh you know how the shop is. They go by the book and I bets it says its a 3 1/2 hr job as $65+ per hr and parts. Plus every shops charges 200% on parts up to a certain level.

Matt

Doward

JESUS H CHRIST NO!!! TELL THE MECHANICS AT THE SHOP TO BITE YOU AND SAVE YOUR CAR!!!

A NEW water puimp is $35. $35!!!!!!!!!

A Remanufactured one is $15!! $250 for a water pump? $250 will replace your water pump, AND GET AN ALUMINUM RADIATOR!!

You might as well have walked into that shop bent over, with your wallet across your rear. A water pump is no problem to replace - as long as you have the Torx bits for the bolts.

Pyroja

As little as I know about cars, I felt that it was a ripoff. Unfortunately, I wasn't there to make the decision. It was my dad who did it. He was driving the car, he was in it when it died, adn he's the one who went ahead with the $250 process. He called me after the fact, but of course, I get to pay it out of my measly paychecks, heh. As soon as my dad told me that the water pump had gone out, I was about to ask him to wait a few minutes. A friend of mine has an Acura, and the same thing ahpened to him and more. He has a friend that would've done it for cheap. But ah well, it's done now. I learned the hard way

Pyroja

I checked the codes (Whee, my first bit of maintenance I've done to my car. A milestone, indeed.) and I came up with two of 'em. Code 34 and 23. Seems to me that 34 is a common one, or at least.. Alot of the posts I've read have mentioned it. Has something to do with.. EGR? I don't even know what that is. Basically, the Check Engine light only comes on occasionally (it came on quite often with the bad water pump, but since it's been replaced, I've only seen it once or twice.). The car seems to run fine, though at idle the engine gets to such a low RPM that stuff rattles in the car. I have no idea what normal idle should be, I don't even have a tach in my car (I hope to change that, but that's for later.). Any ideas? I'm gonna be buying a manual for the car this week sometime, probably the Chilton's manual. It's the easiest for me to find. Ah well, yea just an update and the like. Have a nice day, folks.

Project: 85 2.8 bird

http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/325040/7

let me know if you get a code not on it, I can scan & post more.

Pyroja

Thanks for the scans, I found one for 34 but not 23. ah well, even just finding something for 34 is good for me. Now I know what to watch the mechanic look for, and I can learn and the like. I want to have this car running all normal and the like by the time I get my license. I'm under all kinds of peer pressure to make it fast, but I need to get it running as it should first, heh! Again, thanks.

Slightly unrelated, I guess I shold try posting pictures sometime.. Then you can all see the one spot where the otherwise sweet paint job is all messed up, heh.

Have a nice day, folks!

TomP

Hey man, just do a search (click <a href="search.php?s="><img src="images/top_search.gif" alt="Search" border="0"></a> , it's also in the upper right corner of this screen), search for messages with "code MAF" by "TomP" in the "V6 Forum" and you'll find everything you need to know.

Side note:: I LOVE LA, CA!! Rock N' Fish/Manhattan Beach (I flew to CA to get to Manhattan? It's an hour's train ride from NJ!) and Sharkees/Hermoso Beach!! Too bad Hollywood Casino had no slot machines

Y2KFirehawk

Congrats on the car man!! You'll have it up and running soon enough! I've gotten tons of help here on the boards!! And used the search button more then you can imagine.

I would definately second TomP's suggestion to get the Helm manual if you intend on working on your car. Just like Tom said, I too started with the Haynes manual, but then after working on my car for a few things, it just wasn't enough for me so I invested in the Helm manual for my car. VERY much worth the money!!

I hope to see 'er up and running! Then we can all help you to modifiy it

Dale

iTrader: (12)

Congrats on figuring out the codes.

Sorry on the water pump, that was major rip off!!

As for peer pressure to make it fast, watch this slide show..

http://www.picturetrails.com/gallery...3&gid=2573392&

Report back to me, then go give them the finger. Its your only means of transportation, it takes some serious cash and time to make it go fast. Just make it get you from a to b a little more peppy then the average v6.

Doward

That sucks, and don't get me wrong, I feel bad for their family, but come on. @ 136 mph, you're taking your life in your own hands.

People seem to forget that you're riding around in literally a 3000+ pound missle, looking for a target. Sir Isaac Newton is always driving, and you need to remember that the next time you're heading down a side road or anything of the like.

I've cruised 100mph down 315/316 into Ft McCoy. I also understand the risks, that if a deer were to jump out in front of me, odds are, I wouldn't be walking away.

Of course, I could be sitting in my house, taking a dump, and a meteor could land on me, killing me as well.

The difference? I KNOW I'm gambling when I run 100mph, and I KNOW the risk is there.. I don't KNOW a meteor is coming at my toilet.

People these days don't seem able to take responsibility for their own actions.

Pyroja

That's horrible, I feel for the family...

But, in my case, I'm not a 16 year old with a lead foot. Ya wanna know how my dad (who drives a little Hyundai, my car could outrun that thing any day) describes my driving? ".. Like Aunt Tilly in the old Ford Model T!" As in, I drive kinda, uh, slooooowwww... I don't intend to go hot rodding all of the time, but there's Sears Point such a short drive away, that's what I'm wondering about. I'd like to make it a bit faster so I can go there and have fun. I don't ever expect to be crazy fast, I know it's a basic V6 under the hood, but to make it peppy and quick would be nice. Then again, it's over 3000lbs.. There's nothing peppy about such a large car, heh. Ah well...

mike1986fyrbird

4.10 gears will own in the city, make it a hell of a lot peppier, and u can impress people by spinning your tires.. lol
But highway milage will suffer... a little bit.

Pyroja

Ok, so they're not too good.. Just frames from a little video I made of it to show off to my friends (Hehe), so the quality is craptastical. I'll get real still-shots soon.

Pyroja

And here we have a shot of the messed up paint I hope this doesn't cost too much to fix...

6cycbird86

my first car was a firebird,same color...... ahh to be young again ... wait that was 2 years ago, man i gotta get another firebird

85_ZED28

i know how you feel waiting to get your liscense! I bought my car when I was 15, and went crazy waiting to drive it!!

Christerray

Right on. My first car (and current project, since it's my ONLY car) was an 86 2.8l. Got mine for 850.00, with minor cosmetic problems. Mostly interior (need new headliner and seats) and a big dent on one of the fenders. Not to scare you or anything, but as soon as I started doing repairs, problems just kept springing up. Oil leak, bad timing chain, fubar alternator (Probably cause the one inside was an 85 amp, and not a 106 amp), and now the exhaust is hanging down. Once it's all together, though, i'll get the exterior looking all nice...It'll hold me until I get enough money for my dream car, the 1969 Stingray *drool*

Congrats on the find, man. Hopefully you have a Mako shop out there for the paint job.

Gumby

First few years I had my car I used them color match spray cans to touch it up. I have a black car also and around the top of each fender was faded bad.

It helps to have a little paint knowledge but I feather it in nice and you could not tell unless you were inches away.

They do a really good job of making sure what comes out matches and performs like real paint.


Matt

Pyroja

Ok, I finally got my still-shot out and took some good pics, so.. here they are!

Pyroja

It's the messed up part again.. I must get that fixed.. When I have money, heh.

Pyroja

I think I should replace the exhaust.. The tips are getting rust on them. noy good for the girlies to see when I start drivin' this thing to school !

Pyroja

Ok, and here's my question.. The bra, which my dad keeps telling me to keep on there.. I am right in that it covers the intake, right? And if so.. Isn't that, um.. Not good? Is this gonna cause problems?

Dale

iTrader: (12)

looks clean except for that right fender.

The bra, its not hurting air flow into the engine. What it is hurting is the paint that it rubs off from wiggling and vibration, dirt, water, etc.

Johnny Ray

Congratulations on your 'new' car!

The 2.8 will last forever if taken care of.

Pyroja

Thjanks for the comments. Whee, I love my car, heh. I got stuff I need to do to it though. Let's see, I think the list is as follows:

Fix the problems that cause the Engine light to come on (Codes 34 & 23 if anyone is curious.)
Fix the two lights that don't work (The brights aren't so bright when only one light is on..)
Fix that darned paint
Fix/replace the headliner thart's ever so slowly falling down. It drives my dad nuts, heh.
Replace little plastic piece that's missing on drivers side. It's uh.. Right where the door is, it goes vertical.. Um, Ok, forget it, I suck at describing it. Basically, passenger side has it, but driver's side does not, hence I know it's missing.
Figure out why my passenger side door rattles when the engine idles
Replace the.. things that lift up the hatch and the hood. They're not working as they should.
New stereo! I have none

And then the dream stuff:
Posi differential
New, better exhaust. I don't really like how mine sounds at the moment.. It's not bad, but it reminds me too much of my grandma's car, just.. louder.
And definitely, definitely, definitely a newer, better engine. Like.. a 3.4L or maybe a 3.8L if I could magically have the skills to put in either, heh.
And then.. Turbo it!

Have a nice day folks! (stupid class bell just rung )

Daishi

WOW $250 for a water pump, I got a rebuilt one for $45 and the gaskets kit for another $15. All cdn monies.. crazy

Xophertony

a car bra is a large debate

on one hand SOME people (your dad) think they look good, this is opinion (i for example think they look like white trash)not trying to disrespect your dads opinion, my opinion is just different.

there are also the facts:

FACT1: they "protect your paint from rock chips
FACT2: they destroy your paint by vibrating rubbing and trapping dirt and moisture against the paint
FACT3: they are black (i have run out of facts)


anyway, i would loose it. but thats just me.

on the "shocks" that hold up your hatch and hood, good luck, i managed to find some brand new ones in a junk yard camaro that work when its warm, but not cold. the dealer has them priced at eighty bux a set, just get a broom handle and call it good.

by the way, welcome to the boards. i have tried others, this is the best 3rd gen forum on the net. good choice. and sweet camero. i want a camero, but i love my firebird, if i ever wreck the fire bird:knock on wood: i am buying a 92 RS v8 camero, teal i think. with no spiler. oh yeah! yours looks great by theway, good luck on the drivers test. and watch out for crazys. they seem to target third gens.

kretos

all i can say about my new v6 is it has some ***** i mean its not like my buddies 5.7 v8 but it does its job plus its good on gas

Pyroja

Ok, I realized the AC on my car doesn't work. Odd, but not required, seeing as it's Winter and all (well, almost.). The heater works just fine, but I noticed something kinda weird. I don't know if it's actually supposed to be this way or not, but everytime I move the slider to change the heat function (Y'know, form like, says, Defroster to Vent or something, even when I move it to the AC settings...) I hear this noise, sounds kinda like air escaping from a hose or something, but it's really quiet and lasts only a few seconds. Is this normal, or is this the sign of some sort of impending doom? Just wondering, thanks folks. Have a nice day!

Project: 85 2.8 bird

It's normal. THe HVAC flaps under the dash are vacuum controlled.

Pyroja

Ah, ok. Thanks, now I don't have to sit there everybody imagining various ways my car will die, only later to be told "Oh yea, that noise will tell ya this..." Hehe, I"m to oimaginative. Now to add fixing the AC to the kinda long list of things that I'll need to do. I think for Christmas I'll be asking for many thick books to teach m how to work on my car, heh. I need to learn! Anyway, have a nice day.

Pyroja

Woo! I finally got a Chilton's manual for my car! Now I can read it, and wish I had the tools/skills necessary to fix up all my stuff. Though I'd better acquire those tools and skills if I intend to do the 3.4 swap!