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Whatshislips
01-05-2008, 02:36 AM
Hi all
Newbie to the site and celebrity wagons.
I purchased my 85 Celebrity wagon (Marriette) 2 weeks ago because she LQQKED unique and I was in need of a car. She has a 2.8 carbed engine with 161,000 miles.
The problem is is that the engine timing chain gave up the ghost this week.
Should I replace the chain in the hopes that the valves didn't get too intimately involved with the pistons?
Or is is it possible, for the sake of ease, simplicity and need of "footmobile" relief, to swap in a 2.8, 3.1, 3.4, 3100? Tranny too maybe?
Then put the original 2 barrel carb intake set up, instead of the F.I. so as to avoid the complications and time consumption of retrofit.
Later on when wiggle room is achieved, the F.I can be retrofitted,
Then,"Meanwhile back at the ranch" Whatshislips is going down the road along with the ongoing public.
I really like this girl (car) and any help, advice, will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance...respectfully/submitted....w h lips and marriette...

notsoslimshady76
01-05-2008, 04:10 AM
While I have no experience doing an engine swap at all, I don't think it would be too hard just to drop a 2.8/3.1 MPFI in and lose the carb. You would need the wiring harness from the donated car and an ECM for the ignition timing and such.

For your question:
GM has a habit of slightly changing little things. But the 2.8/3.1 has just a cover blocking where the distributor was. So that leads me to believe it can be done. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will chime in

86euro
01-05-2008, 06:57 PM
Earlier cars complicate things when it comes to switching to FI. My car is an '86, and you would not believe how much stuff is required to upgrade to the '87 and later setup- and my car is even fuel injected already! If I were smart, I would have started with an '87 and just put the '86 nose on it. Anyway, please see your other post for my recommendation.

The Mad Hatter
01-09-2008, 03:32 PM
The easier, possibly cheaper, and older school route would be get a good 2.8L carb engine to put in there, and build it a little bit (there are some hop up parts out there for the 2.8). Nothing major (unless you want that), but in what you will spend trying to get her "upgraded" to FI, you could have a pretty sweet carbed 2.8 with minimal work. Just my $.02.

85_Ciera_Rebuild
01-09-2008, 06:58 PM
....2.8 carbed engine with 161,000 miles....engine timing chain gave up...

I was told via auto clerk that 2.8 is not an interference engine....if so...slap another timing chain in it, drop the oil pan, and install a new oil pump.


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