rshissler Posted April 30, 2005 Report Share Posted April 30, 2005 Ok i dont need any crap about this just answers and helpful tips. (sorry every time i ask about it someones got a neg. comment) I need to get a new engine for my 88 Regal. I have found a 3.1 but cant get ahold of the guy yet. My engine questions are: the 3.1 should be a direct swap from my 2.8, right? no changin wires around and move connecters or mounts? Can i be able to take this engine apart and put it back together for me being a first timer? basicly a rebuild. with ur guys help of coarse What can i do to build up this engine. Internaly and External? i want that though u back in ur seat take off and quick up to speed. What should i expect to gain in HP from the mods? Tranny Questions: Since the 88 regals never came with a manual im goin to have to replace alot of stuff and fad up alot of stuff. How long would it take me to do a 5 spd. swap from an auto.? Is there anything i should do to the tranny for extra might If the above engine is bolted to it? What all do i need to grab from the J/Y for the swap?? thats all for now. i know its alot but i wanna know... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bossman429 Posted April 30, 2005 Report Share Posted April 30, 2005 You should be able to pull a motor apart, and rebuild it if you are moderately adept. I would recommend buying a how to rebuild your engine type book, and read it first, there are many small hints and tips that go along with a motor rebuild, and a good book would help clue you in to these. As far as internal/external engine mods go, money is really the limit. Any machine shop could give you some suggestions. You can get the rotating assembly balanced and blueprinted to help the engine rev quicker and higher to gain some power. lighter/stronger pistons and connecting rods, ported and polished heads stuff like that will all gain power. As far as swapping the motor, I'm not totally sure...others might have to pipe in here. I know the 3.1 will bolt easily in place of a 2.8, but I'm not sure about the ECM. I think the 2.8 uses a MAF, but the 3.1 uses a MAP sensor. I don't know if the wiring harness needs to be swapped with the 3.1 as well, not a hard job if you need to, especially if the motor is out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1138 Posted April 30, 2005 Report Share Posted April 30, 2005 I think the 2.8 uses a MAF, but the 3.1 uses a MAP sensor. I don't know if the wiring harness needs to be swapped with the 3.1 as well, not a hard job if you need to, especially if the motor is out. The '88 used a MAF that was a high-failure item, so they switched to the MAP for '89. My old 2.8 GP LE had a MAP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White93z34 Posted April 30, 2005 Report Share Posted April 30, 2005 you should be able to use the 89+ wiring and just eliminate all the MAF like that. i woulden't let that bother me much since you need a LH0/282 harnas in the first place. and if your car is grandma style, you will obviously need to convert to floor shift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1138 Posted April 30, 2005 Report Share Posted April 30, 2005 and if your car is grandma style, you will obviously need to convert to floor shift. Why would he "need" to? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TurboSedan Posted April 30, 2005 Report Share Posted April 30, 2005 and if your car is grandma style, you will obviously need to convert to floor shift. Why would he "need" to? because with bench seats and a column shifter there is no room for a 5-speed center console been there done that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1138 Posted April 30, 2005 Report Share Posted April 30, 2005 and if your car is grandma style, you will obviously need to convert to floor shift. Why would he "need" to? because with bench seats and a column shifter there is no room for a 5-speed center console been there done that. Duh. /me needs to take his Adderall :oops: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White93z34 Posted April 30, 2005 Report Share Posted April 30, 2005 5 speed on the column :shock: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rshissler Posted April 30, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2005 seats are goin to be switch from the bench to bucket seats and im gettin the console out of whatever car i get the 5spd. from Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topless94style Posted May 1, 2005 Report Share Posted May 1, 2005 A few easy things that can be done: Bore the engine and over size pistons Shave material off the heads See if you cant find a tad thinnger headgasket maybe Those 3 should bump compression pretty good for ya All new bearings/gaskets Gasket matched intakes Is the stroke on the 2.8L crank and the 3.1L crank the same? If the 2.8 is shorter(like it is compared to the LQ1) you can get that with a little long rods and get some more revs out of your motor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rshissler Posted May 1, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2005 Bore the engine and over size pistons I was told that if i do this i would only end up with a 3.3 or something like that is the biggest i could go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gp crazy Posted May 1, 2005 Report Share Posted May 1, 2005 as for the wires and ecu from auto to five speed you might also want to get the ecu & wires from the 5 speed car also. that may save you alot of time. unsure but i think you need to pull out the dash to put in the master cyl. to fire wall! so do not start this on the weekend and think you will be done on sunday. it may take a little longer than that. it's big and you may want to pull the j/y car home if you can to makes it simple. just what i have read on this site. hey good luck and hope to see pictures some time jeff b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digitaloutsider Posted May 1, 2005 Report Share Posted May 1, 2005 Bore the engine and over size pistons I was told that if i do this i would only end up with a 3.3 or something like that is the biggest i could go Uh? Point being? Bore it ".020 over and find some hypereutectic or forged overbore pistons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schudini Posted May 1, 2005 Report Share Posted May 1, 2005 Bore the engine and over size pistons I was told that if i do this i would only end up with a 3.3 or something like that is the biggest i could go Uh? Point being? Bore it ".020 over and find some hypereutectic or forged overbore pistons. Amen. Thats what I did, well what my race-engine-building-friend-of-my-dads did. His suggestion is to bore it as small as possible (.020) to keep the maximum metal between cylinders. According to his calculations, my engine is right at 3.2L Also make sure you get good pistons. I got the hypereutectic pistons from TRW and they can handle alot more power than stock. My 2 cents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rshissler Posted May 1, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2005 alright i was just makin sure it was safe to bore it out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pwmin Posted May 2, 2005 Report Share Posted May 2, 2005 "The '88 used a MAF that was a high-failure item, so they switched to the MAP for '89. My old 2.8 GP LE had a MAP." didnt most 88's have that fixed aka "speed density update"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88Regal Limited Posted May 4, 2005 Report Share Posted May 4, 2005 and if your car is grandma style, you will obviously need to convert to floor shift. Quit making fun of my granny car... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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