recently aquired car!

**lovemy87birdTx** · 07-21-2012, 01:49 PM

Hi! I bought an 87 Firebird from a friend two days ago. She said all that wad wrong with it was that the relays needed to be hooked up, and the battery charged. Did both and now it will turn over but not start. The car sat on her property for 6 months. Any suggestions as to what i could check?

**pajeff02** · 07-21-2012, 02:06 PM

Start with the basics -- fuel, spark and air. Make sure there is fuel getting to the engine, that you have spark, and that the induction system isn't packed with a mouse nest or something. Was it running 6 months ago?

**lovemy87birdTx** · 07-21-2012, 03:15 PM

We checked the fuel pump. Checked the air filter and took the intake off just to be sure it was getting enough air. Still nothing. Guess i should check the spark plugs next. I was told it ran 6 months ago, yes.

**Smittro** · 07-21-2012, 04:29 PM

Could need a cap and rotor..

That's a distibutor motor, timing could be off..

Need to figure out if you have spark..

**pajeff02** · 07-21-2012, 04:34 PM

Spark check -- if you have a timing light, simply clip it to a plug wire and attach the power leads to the battery. Crank the motor and see if the light flashes. If you do not have a timing light, remove an easily accessible spark plug. Push the boot back onto the plug and then with an insulated pair of pliers gently grasp the boot. Touch the ground strap of the plug to bare metal on the head, block, accessory bracket, or whatever is within reach. Have someone crank the engine while you watch for a spark. A good spark will be bright blue, strong and at regular intervals as the engine is cranked. It can be difficult to see in direct sunlight though, so a shaded location is best.

**Smittro** · 07-21-2012, 04:36 PM

On a side note I've started more than a dozen 60* v6 after sitting for years, even with bad gas in them they usually fire right up.

I'ma say they may have lied to you about it running 6-moths ago.

**pajeff02** · 07-21-2012, 04:38 PM

Smittro -- are these things carbed or TBI?

**Smittro** · 07-21-2012, 04:42 PM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

Smittro -- are these things carbed or TBI?

Neither,, They are Multi Port injected.

**pajeff02** · 07-21-2012, 04:47 PM

In 1987? Wow, I figured it would be a carb or TBI.

**Smittro** · 07-21-2012, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

In 1987? Wow, I figured it would be a carb or TBI.

Tuned Port injected 2.8's have been around since 1985, when the high feature 2.8l z24 Cavalier was produced.

**Smittro** · 07-21-2012, 05:03 PM

As a whole there are many different versions of the 2.8.

Some had plain old carbs, some had TBI, some MPFI.

Tuned Port injection was basicly a 35-45 hp factory bolt on..lol

Camaro and Birds got Multi Port ~ 86.. Around 82-84 you could get Camaro with the "Iron Duke" also.

No High Feature was ever used in an F-body weather, it was, a 3rd or 4th gen.

F-body always had all iron v6's..

**Smittro** · 07-21-2012, 05:14 PM

I personally owned an 89 2.8l Camaro and some other puller cars,

in 90 the 3.1 and an addition of 10-15hp became availible.

When GM desided to increase the main journals on the 2.8 and add factory forged rods,

suddenly you had an engine that could run a sustianed 7000 rpm.

Saddly, @ the time you did'nt get the power these engines could make, because they needed to sell v8's of the time.

When the 3.1 was introduced the 305 crowd started biting their nails,

and late when the 3.4l was introduced any TBI 305 was simply prey.

When the LQ1 3.4 was introduced the 305 was all but dead even if it was a TPI 305.

**pajeff02** · 07-21-2012, 06:40 PM

Thanks for the clarification. I had no idea they were multiport FI back then. As I own a semi-gutless 305, I agree they would have been hard pressed to run with a high winding six.

**Smittro** · 07-22-2012, 07:06 AM

Well it's not just the 305, there were also other v8's that did'nt stack up.

Example, 2.8 could run a 265 olds v8 like it was'nt moving which is just sad.

There was a time when Chevrolet only made 6 cylinders, and some pretty big suckers too..

Such as the 305 v6 used in everything from school busses to heavy haulers.

IMHO, GM knows how to build a great 6, maybe some of the best ever.

The chinese have been building and putting GM derived 660's in just about everything they can jam one into..lol

Now GM has the global motors which just so happen to be 660's also..XD

Again you now have 6er's making more power than some sb ls motors.

Just as LS engines respond well to bolt ons, so too do just about all GM 60* v6s..

The 305 had nearly 100 cudes more than the 2.8, 3.1, and 3.4.

It was the stupid heads and valve shroud that killed it imho.

The 305 was a prime candidate for a DOHC system imho, and would have had much more potential imo.

Hell they converted the 2.8l into an LQ1 for a 100hp gain,, why not a dohc 305, or just a better more suited set of heads?

Was'nt till the LS1 that you started seeing the great crushing power in a GM small block again.

Then low and behold you had a real runner out of the box.

I am fully convinced from over the years that GM makes some of the best domestic v8 and v6 engines.

IMHO this is why the 660 and LS line of engines endures today.

But anywho,, hopefully the OP comes back and we can get his toy running again.

**pajeff02** · 07-22-2012, 08:29 AM

I assume that "Brittany" is a her rather than a he. Curious as well to see what the issue is.

**Smittro** · 07-22-2012, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

I assume that "Brittany" is a her rather than a he. Curious as well to see what the issue is.

wooops! My bad..

**Smittro** · 07-26-2012, 04:42 AM

Originally Posted by Smittro

Tuned Port injected 2.8's have been around since 1985, when the high feature 2.8l z24 Cavalier was produced.

Sorry that should read "multi port" not "tuned port"..

**2002ssslp** · 07-26-2012, 06:15 AM

Just remember the fuel has been sitting in a 25 year old tank. Gas today is already poor when you buy it but after six plus months in an old gas tank I think that may be your problem.

**SteveC** · 08-04-2012, 05:36 AM

Originally Posted by lovemy87birdTx

Hi! I bought an 87 Firebird from a friend two days ago. She said all that wad wrong with it was that the relays needed to be hooked up, and the battery charged.

I have a bridge in NYC that I can sell you on the cheap, you can make your money back on the toll collections alone

SteveC