My 1988 Pontiac Firebird

WykedHellFire · Post by **WykedHellFire** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 10:05 pm

I know it's been awhile and im not really active much anymore...but here goes nothing...well she's finally running, just a few bugs to work out, I have an oil leak coming from the oil pan area and I need a new motor for my fan. she's only a V6 right now but I love her. heres the pics.

and a cool photo edit.

gilly02le · Post by **gilly02le** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:51 am

looks like shes in pretty good shape for an old girl.

Now you gotta paint it black with the gold firebird, and then pull up somewhere pumping 80's rock like billy Madison. hahahaha

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 10:08 am

Looking good! It'd look even better with IL plates on it and me driving, but not too shabby!

Arro · Post by **Arro** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 2:09 pm

Man there was a time when I would have died to have an 80's f-body car. Oh wait, I did

I had a Camaro, but I really wanted a Firebird/Trans-Am with T-tops. Third-generation Camaro/Firebird were cars from an era where aftermerket body kits *spoiled* the looks.

Very nice car, man, looks like it's in great shape. Any plans to beef it up?

Post by **racer12306** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 5:01 pm

t-tops are overrated. they leaked horribly on the 80s cars.

thats a nice looking interior. recently redone or original?

Arro · Post by **Arro** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 5:46 pm

Replacing old t-top moulding is easy and generally fixes the problem for another 10 years.

I like T-tops. It's a nicer alternative to a convertable, and doesn't compromize chassis regidity as much.

WykedHellFire · Post by **WykedHellFire** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:15 pm

racer12306 wrote:t-tops are overrated. they leaked horribly on the 80s cars.

thats a nice looking interior. recently redone or original?

the interior is all original, the only problems I have is the back seat had alittle bleach spilled on it on the left side so it ate the covering off the seat so I have to re do that.

I want to put a bigger motor in it to shut my friends mouth, he has a 1990 fox body 5.0 stang with a 302 pushing 430hp, I wanted a 468 but with all the goodies it came out to 12k so I was like forget that. so I was looking at smaller motors like 350 or 383. she only has 57k original miles on her!

thanks guys for your comments thus far!

Arro · Post by **Arro** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:19 pm

FORCE AIR INTO THAT BISH!

And make your Ford buddy cry.

REAR-MOUNTED TURBOCHARGER! IT WORKS!

A mere 7 psi would make you blow your load onto your seat.

Post by **racer12306** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:35 pm

What kind of power are you looking for? and how much money are you looking to spend?

a 383 can put out 400+ hp with ease.

WykedHellFire · Post by **WykedHellFire** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:40 pm

well right now im broke as I have to find another job once again, but since the V6 only has 57k on it I have some time to find the money, I guess I could spend up to 6k over a decent amount of time. when I get another job going. is it possible to supercharge my V6? lol

Post by **racer12306** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 10:03 pm

It is possible to supercharge it, but you would probably have to go with a standalone computer. I really don't know.

With $6000 you can easily make 450hp. I just read an article in Chevy Hi-Perf about making 550hp N/A with a 454 and then putting a nitrous system on it to make 700hp for right around $6000.

Small blocks can make decent power too, 450-500hp on pump gas would probably be easy to do.

Arro · Post by **Arro** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 1:40 am

again, I say turbocharge that V6.

WykedHellFire · Post by **WykedHellFire** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 2:47 am

Arro wrote:again, I say turbocharge that V6.

turbo charge? really? it seems like such a baby motor it's a 2.8 but then again look at the SRT-4 it's a 2.4

would I have to put in stronger internals? and what PSI could I run? and I also noticed you can see my crown vic in the background of one of the pics I took haha. once I get the firebird back from orlando I will do a photoshoot with all three cars, Vic, Neon and Firebird. it should turn out good...

my first thing im going to do to the bird besides a system is to paint her black, I did a few chops, just some 10 min jobs.

Arro · Post by **Arro** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 11:07 am

I suggest no on the black paint. Reason? I've had two cars with clashing colors from change of paint... Opening a door on the first one was horrbly ghetto looking.. the car was painted forrest green but was originally red. My friends called it the "Christmas" car.

The second car had the door jams painted, but still, whenever I popped the hood to show someone something, BAM there was the color clash. Same with the hatch in the rear.

Always keep the body paint changes to colors that will work with the existing ones. Charcoal, grey, and silver cars work nice as black car conversions. White, red or any variation of it, yellow, and most blues do not look right.

I say repaint it burgundy, but give it the tiniest of mettalic fleck. Not as much as a lowrider. But enough to make it stand out nicely. Throw on some aftermarket wheels that work for an 80's F-body (I hate it when guys put wheels on 80's cars that just don't belong there, or ugly chromie style ones), and maybe update to the later ground f/x for that generation of your car.

If you really want to add a nice touch, reupholster the interior carpeting and dash, and center console in tan parts (I'm sure the F-bodies had some tan interiors) and redo the seats in tan leather. Should look very classy and rich with the burgundy body.

There might be other ground f/x you would like from the last years of that generation firebird.

There are other spoiler options for that generation F-body, too, and I think some of them would rock the house on your car.

One thing I like is the white lettering on the wheels. I think it's nice, suits the generation of the car. Maybe if you went to 16's (no bigger!) and appropriate sized tires with white letters that would be awesome. Just don't do what every other ghetto teen does and put low profile tires on this car. It doesn't suit the styling, but some people do it anyways.

jphillips · Post by **jphillips** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 11:35 am

15x8 Ronal 5spokes on an FBody ftw

Why not twinturbo that lil v6? Find a RegalGNX or GN for the turbofolds and go nuts.

Arro · Post by **Arro** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 11:38 am

^ piccie? Or are you gonna make me search? lol

I'm going to get breakfast, if you haven't posted a pic or link by the time i get back, I will.

So don't be lazy, Jeff

Post by **racer12306** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 12:26 pm

Just dump in a 3.8 turbo if you want to go the turbo v-6 route. already made for the power and boost.

WykedHellFire · Post by **WykedHellFire** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 12:39 pm

i wanted to do a black and red theme, thats not her original color...she came brand new as white, im suprized maaco did a decent job.

INVUJerry · Post by **INVUJerry** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 12:51 pm

Do not do anything to a 2.8. It's useless, its like screaming at a brick wall, and any performance you get out of it will be shot in the face when the motor grenades. Drop in a V-8, or leave it stock, and be happy.

<<Former 2.8 V-6 Owner

MoxHair · Post by **MoxHair** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 1:11 pm

invujerry wrote:Do not do anything to a 2.8. It's useless, its like screaming at a brick wall, and any performance you get out of it will be shot in the face when the motor grenades. Drop in a V-8, or leave it stock, and be happy.

<<Former 2.8 V-6 Owner

Ditto

The 2.8L TBI V6 is a dud motor..

I took mine out of my '89 S-10 Tahoe after I blew the head gasket.

Arro · Post by **Arro** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 3:00 pm

Car was white? Wow no kidding good job.

I dunno about black, man. Everyone and their brother wants a "KITT".

How about Electric blue with a twotone dark metallic silver on the bottom trim? Ground f/x FTW!