83 2.8 bolt on info

[abycat]

hey guys ive been reading on your site for a few weeks and I cant believe theres a site dedicated to, well 60 degree v6's. I have a 1983 s15 with a carbed 2.8 from 1983ish (not origional but uses same oil filter as 1983 and has the right provisions for vacuum except air pump has been removed.)
I cant figure out for sure what items from other engines I can slap on mine.
I know the 4.3 tbi and bore job but what about 1.6 rockers ie. what year and size engine gives what ratio and compatability?? thanks beforehand..

[geoffinbc]

You have a carbureted engine. The 4.3L TBI does not apply. You can get cheep 1.6 rockers from a 94 to 96 3100 with stamped rockers. Or you can Get COMP Cam Magnum ones for about $150 which is a killer deal.

[blownarrow]

Edelbrock makes a nice manifold 2 or 4 barrel, the 1.6 rockers help allot.
Aftermarket Headers for an S10 should fit? Not sure really but worth looking into.
Get newer pistons for 86 and up 2.8, later model 2.8-3.1-3.4 heads all the same..
change the cam.. "betterthanyou" has a really nice list of cams that work well with these motors..

[Khipset]

This is probably a dumb question giving the thread title, but its hard to find a direct answer.

Do the 3100 Heads bolt up to the 2.8 block without modification? If so, just the Iron heads or will the Aluminum heads aswell?

[bszopi]

The 3100 heads are only aluminum, and yes, they will bolt up just fine to a 2.8L block. Issue is that you must then run an EFI setup (or a custom intake manifold), as there are no carb manifolds that work with the alum heads.

[blownarrow]

The 3100 heads are only aluminum, and yes, they will bolt up just fine to a 2.8L block. Issue is that you must then run an EFI setup (or a custom intake manifold), as there are no carb manifolds that work with the alum heads.

Yes,,,, this is very upsetting to us carb guys but, I think this summer it will be one of my smaller side projects. That is if there's anybody other than me intrested in it....

[gsEnterpries]

Yes,,,, this is very upsetting to us carb guys but, I think this summer it will be one of my smaller side projects. That is if there's anybody other than me intrested in it....

Oh I am i have 2 sets of aluminium heads I got for free. 00 3400 and 99 3100.
I would like to stick with a carb because there is no longer an ECU or wiring harness in my Camaro any more. Now I am running the large valve iron heads with a port job, big deal right?

[abycat]

thanks for the reply's guys. I guess you can use the 4.3 tb if you upgraded to alum heads right?? and do I need to use the pushrods from the 1.6 rockers or do i use my origional ones?? thanks.

[blownarrow]

No I don't believe they made a tbi intake for the Aluminum heads, (but I could be wrong) if your wanting to run TBI your going to have to stick with the iron heads...
No you can use the original pushrods..

[geoffinbc]

Aluminum heads can only accept one intake, the one it was made with. That goes for Gen II and III heads. They are not cross compatible across generations either. All were port fuel injection. No TBI and no carb.

Unfortunatly Iron heads got everything. Carb, TBI, MPFI and SFI. So if want a carb you only have one choice unless you build a carb intake for aluminum heads yourself.

[ezrollin]

If you have an engine that was originally carbed you have the small valve heads,don't bother building it,get a later tbi engine to rebuild,that way you can still drive yours while building. You can get a decent 2.8 with the 4.3 tbi,cam and exhaust but looked for a 3.4 to rebuild from a 93-95 firdbird /camaro and you stsrt with 160 hp.

[abycat]

ok i need to update this for everyone.
after reading my a$$ of for 2 weeks here and listening to your guy's suggestions on my thread (thanks) i decided to grab some 1.6 rockers from the 3.1. I decided to open up my engine because i was getting some tap for a few minutes at startup and tap at high rpm. I am glad i did wow were they loose. I started with the passenger side. but before i get into my experiance ill tell you about my truck. its a 1983 s15 with the obvious 2.8. it has 500XXX kms on it but doesnt burn a drop of oil. weeps a bit but whatever. i also run 15w40 since about 200XXX and add something called power up. it is a additive that has the add pack that is in oil already just more and better. it helps with dry starts and gives 50% less wear. www.maryngroup.com
rad stuff i use it on everything. so anyway i started on the pass side. I urge anyone that tries this or opens up any engine to clean what could fall into the engine first. so i removed the valve cover and checked the first rocker to see if it was not being lifted. I rotated the engine ( can do this by hand with leverage help from the fan). be careful not to bend the fan or cut yourself.
so I got the first two rockers in the right spot and for kicks I checked the play. wow it was like 15 degrees the rocker could be moved (left and right). now my engine has not been opened up for 300000 kms. I also remembered how far down the nut was tightened. (count threads) so I put the first one on and reused nuts and those little half ball things. (looked mint) now the new rockers had a little tab on the spot were the pushrod oil gets squirted. the stock ones didnt. It looked like the little tab deflects oil to were it was needed. So that was cool. now when i removed lash a quarter turn after that starts moving the valve. Im going to stop there for now. I was searching last night and saw a thread were another guy was doing the same thing and saw the valve move also. So what he did was I think only 1/2 turn then 1 turn then 1.5 turns. the moral or that story is 1.5 turns 1.5 1.5 1.5 trust me!!
so I got all the rockers set and installed and put rtv on the gaskets (I reused mine) I would reccomend to anyone put a new gasket in. thank gosh mine dont leak. actually it has been runing for about 10 min and no oil at all!!
so I decided after scaring the heck out of myself by reading about removing the v cover 4 times before you get it right. so once again 1.5 turns.
I fired it up. (pass side done only) it fired right up ticked twice and sounded great. so I started on the drivers side. now this side was a pain. it has a bunch more stuff on it and the bolt that is right up against the firewall is a pain. if you need more room take off the windshield woper motor.
so after do those rockers i got it all assembled and crossed my fingers an lit it up. It started right away but there was a crazy vacuum sound and it wouldnt idle. oops vacuum hose. so I slammed that hose on and cranked it over. WOW WOW WOW what a differance runs like a top no more noise. I give it moderate for ease of install. beacause of pollution controls junk on drivers side. im going to road test in 5 mins ill let you guys now how it runs.
ps thank you all for your help. and you have just reeled in another lifer.
thanks

[geoffinbc]

LOL sounds like a typical day of wrenching.