well D'UH!!!

i'd like to know what top end specs are, like what i can look forward to after i get just about everything possible done to the engine, i want to maximize the accel and keep mileage, right now the engine is old tired and covered in dirt and grease, i just want to go fast and still be able to drive long distances, with some sick off the beaten path capabilities. just kinda wanna get a feel for what i need to do to enjoy drivin it without having to buy a new engine really

you do realize that you're asking an awfully big task from the 2-8, right?

honestly..........just find a 3400 from a Grand Am or something, take the wiring harness and everything, swap it out, and enjoy the best of both worlds (your words).

well i dont think im askin too much from this thing especially after all the bs its puttin me through, after i get it all "working proper" this thing better treat me right or im gonna push it off the first cliff i find

The main issues with 60 degrees if kept property maintained is oil leaks. The distributor and valve covers like to leak. The dizzy is an easy fix by just adding a SB chevy v8 paper gasket under it when the o-rings are replaced. The valve covers can be tricky. You can get the stamped steel ones to seal but the best bet is pontiac fiero gt covers (like I have in the pic). The cast aluminum has a better gasket design.

For performance if it has a 5 speed behind it they are pretty peppy as long as you don't try to haul major loads. My 91 sonoma gets about 25-27 mpg with the 2.8. A bigger 3.4 would help as the extra power they have but I have no plans of it until I v8 my blazer. If you have to have a bigger engine get a v8, don't bother with a 4.3 that gets the gas mileage of a v8 but only has the power of a v6. It will be all the same exact work to do either a 4.3 or v8 anyways. Heck even the frowned upon 305 with fuel injection wakes up a light weight s-series and still gets good gas mileage if you keep your foot out of it.

About anything you do to the 2.8 can be swapped over to a iron headed 3.4 later if you choose that swap. without doing a major tear down of the engine I suggest headers and 1.6 roller tip rockers. If you wanna take the intake off getting it bored to take a 4.3 throttle body helps a ton. Its a bit of work but way worth the gains.

Going all out gasket matching the heads and intake helps but not real noticeable. But if you ever go to a 3.4 the iron FI heads were the same on a 2.8, 3.1, and 3.4. That means if you gasket match your 2.8 heads you can use them on a 3.4 later on down the line. Not much you can do on a 2.8 block bottom end short of finding a 3.1 out of a camaro and robbing the crank and stuff to turn it into a 3.1. For that work you might as well find a 93-95 f-body 3.4 to swap in and get even more power gains.

What I did was just drive the 2.8 until it dies and don't waste money on it. In the mean time find a 3.4 and work it over. Once finished just swap them out and go on your way.

Your buddies 96 Camaro most likely has a 3.8 not a 3.4 because the 3.4 was available in f bodies 93-94-95 it makes a great up grade over a 2.8 and is a bolt in using some parts from the 2.8 engine.