[FONT=Book Antiqua][SIZE=5][COLOR=DarkOrchid]
Question for the Firebird enthusiasts! I have an 85 Firebird, stock 2.8, auto tranny! Recently purchased..have a couple of questions!
First off, does this vehicle have a computer chip for performance? If so, how do you change it?
Also, I have had a big problem with the car being gutless..no power, sounds and feels like a backfire on accelleration (unless I barely touch the pedal and creep into traffic).
Major vibration at 45 mph, tires have been balanced and check out fine, could the wheels be causing a major shake in the front end? or would it be a suspension problem?
I know, alot of questions for a newbie!
I was also told that I would be able to gain about 45 horses if I swapped for a 3.4 long block and put my efi onto it. Would that fit this car?
Help if you can!
Thanks,
John

[FONT=Book Antiqua][SIZE=5][COLOR=DarkOrchid]
Question for the Firebird enthusiasts! I have an 85 Firebird, stock 2.8, auto tranny! Recently purchased..have a couple of questions!
First off, does this vehicle have a computer chip for performance? If so, how do you change it?
Also, I have had a big problem with the car being gutless..no power, sounds and feels like a backfire on accelleration (unless I barely touch the pedal and creep into traffic).
Major vibration at 45 mph, tires have been balanced and check out fine, could the wheels be causing a major shake in the front end? or would it be a suspension problem?
I know, alot of questions for a newbie!
I was also told that I would be able to gain about 45 horses if I swapped for a 3.4 long block and put my efi onto it. Would that fit this car?
Help if you can!
Thanks,
John

Short answers:

1) Power: I think the most cost effective swap would be a V-8. It should be straight forward and would give incredible bang for the buck compared to what you have currently. No disrespect to the 3.4 intended, but if you're going to the trouble of an engine swap anyway, might as well take advantage of the SBC displacement. A 383 crate motor would be killer.

2) Front end vibration: If the tires check out OK, I would next look to tie rods and/or a bad ball joint/bushing somewhere in the front suspension. The car's up there in age, so either of the above wouldn't be surprising.

LONG ANSWERS:

I think you'll get a much more helpful response over at

Thrid Gen Forums (http://www.thirdgen.org/) or
3rd gen forums on LS1.com (http://www.ls1.com/forums/index.html) (scroll down)

Those guys know your car like the back of their hand, and are very helpful. We got plenty of bright and helpful people here as well, and a fair share of f-body owners too, but this site is more solstice-focused and the traffic here pales in comparison to the two sites above. After all, this is currently a forum dedicated to car that nobody owns yet. :)

-Stephen M