I have a chance to get a real good running early 90's chev baretta with a 2.8 multiport.Is there any chance of this motor bolting up to my bellhousing,1990 2.8tbi trooper with a 5 speed?Havent had a chance to look at it yet but if it's a no-go I'll pass on it.The whole car comes with it so the harness and ecu will be there.Thanks in advance for any advice

i think so. if the baretta engine is a 60* GM bellhousing pattern (which i would guess so), yup, it should. Of course, the wiring will be fun, but looks like you already know that. the baretta engine will have to use its wiring/computer and you'll need to tie that into the trooper harness for everything else.

-Rob

a real good running early 90's chev baretta with a 2.8

Man, I thought that was an oxymoron. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

The only thing I can think of now is the FWD block vs the RWD block. I thought there were a few problems between them.

I am sure Ed will pop in and answer all of your questions later today.

Michael

I don't remember whether or not the Baretta was a FWD. If so, then you are in really good shape. Isuzu used the FWD block, so the starter is on the left side. If not, you will just have to drill and tap the left side for the starter.

Yes the Beretta was FWD...if you wanted, you could find one of those Luminas with the 3.4 DOHC, which is also the same Bolt pattern and bellhousing..but MUVH more powerfull than the 2.8, in fact, I think it is up there with our 3.5 maybe a little off though

Chase

You might have some issues with motor mount holes' locations, but it certainly will bolt up, as all of the FWD 60 deg GM V6's have the starter on (what would be) the driver's side in a RWD applicaton. You might check on the oil filter location, from what I understand there may be issues there, too. Or might be as simple as changing the filter adapter on the side of the block.

BTW you might be able to shoehorn a Z34 motor in the engine compartment, but I bet clearance-wise it'd be a tight squeeze. A bit wider and taller than your average cast-iron V6. You wouldn't like the power curve of a Z34 unless you care to run 7000 rpm in 4-LO all the time!!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />

If the Beretta has the FWD alum heads it should breathe a lot better than RWD cast-iron ones, plus the MPI will give you a nice bit of torque & HP. Have Fun with the wiring!!!!

HTH.......ed

As long as you use all your trooper parts it will work fine. Troopers use FWD engines.

Puklling deep into memory here, but IIRC, that motor has a different cam profile as well as the alum heads..and I thikn different rockers too, but, I may be reaching to far and getting my wires crossed..

Chase

The 2.8 in the Trooper is similar to but not exactly a FWD motor. For one, it has the "884" cast-iron heads. Various FWD motors did use aluminum heads. Also different pistons. You can't mix-and-match either, because the FWD aluminum heads have a different 'squish' area and the pistons are of lower compression to compensate for it. The FWD heads will not accomodate a Trooper (or other 2.8 RWD) intake manifold as the 'vee' is different. The alum heads to flow a lot better than the RWD cast-iron heads, so you could get quite a bit of improvement there, but you'd have to use the EFI system that comes with the motor.

That's why most swappers looking for extra power use the RWD 3.4, since the TBI intake bolts right up. In fact, the same heads are used on the 3.4 as are on the TBI-RWD 2.8.

I don't know for sure if the Beretta 2.8 had alum heads, as there were some FWD motors that used cast-iron.

Note that if you upgraded further to a much later model 3100 or 3400, you get an even better breathing head design, roller valve train, and a host of other nice features. The later model motors had a cast alum oil pan with thru-bolted main bearing saddles (a very strong design), which might make them a bit more difficult to fit than a RWD 3.4 which accepts the Trooper 2.8 4WD oil pan.

Here's a link to a nice buildup of a roller-cam V6 with cast-iron heads (check out the supercharger !!):

http://www.fierosound.com/34engine/3400details.htm



And if you really want to go wild on the technical side of the little GM V6, this site has a wealth of info on the topic:

http://forum.60degreev6.com/index.php?sid=5d5cda3dd539289415e26964fc2b66bd

owned a berretta gt...id never own that engine again...***** to work on, lots of electrical problems with it...maybe i just got a bad one...i payed 3900 canadian for it and it drove absolytly fine the day i bought it...and after 1500 in repairs in just 8 months i got 500 dollars for it from a buddy who wanted to thrash on a car. it didnt hardly run...the coils and solenoids and all sorts of junk were all messed up...had a bunch of shops try to fix it...never got it right....it caught fire on me...the cat woudl get so hot it would glow red and almost melted completly thru the floorboards...it was my first car. i want to forget it.