3rdGenThrowdown

Alright, this really ruined my day. I pull up next to an '06 Civic Si that my friend just got, expecting to own him as I did with his '05 Civic that he wrecked. NOT! I got my owned so hard, even off the line. WTF???
I had heard about the new "power" that these things were supposed to be making, but figured the torque would make up for my LG4's lack of horses. I am thinking about using NOS or even superchargin it. It has just over 170k mi on it, and I am curious if NOS will send it into self destruct i.e. turn a piston into a hood ornament, etc. If not NOS, is supercharging even an option here w/o serious mods? The engine is stock, all I've put on the car is some flowmaster 80's. Help!

Phatfiddler

iTrader: (8)

You have an auto, 2.73 gears, and probably a stock LG4 right? SO... around 150hp at the flywheel if it's stock, through an auto, through 2.73s. And if stock you have an open case. It is very easy to understand why you lost. The 06' Civic SI has 197 hp @7800 RPM and 139 ft/lbs of torque at 6100 RPM. His car is also probably lighter. Also your LG4 is a 305, with 170k miles on the clock. I would recommend what Im doing currently. Keep the 305, and build yourself a 350, then swap them out. Heck, you can get a 4-bolt, 1-piece main 350c.i. 260hp engine from Jegs for $1700. Plus, you get to drive your car while you are building the engine.

BUT...if you must keep the 305 and want to build it up, do a search. Theres hundreds of writeups on how this can be accomplished on the boards. The LG4 can make over his 197hp easily with a few simple mods, but after you're done with headers, intake, cam, heads...thats a new 350. Just my

BTW welcome to the boards!

You shouldnt be embarrassed though. Power is power, no matter what car it comes from.

3rdGenThrowdown

Ya, I was looking more into modding it, as a full engine swap really isn't with in my budget or skill level. I was thinking chip (namely hypertech thermomaster), carb, intake, headers, and at the very last cam. Any specific recomendations or tips would be GREATLY appreciated. My budget is around 1-1.5k. Thanks

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

check out my cardomain in my sig for the proper way to highly modify your lg4...

Sonix

iTrader: (1)

chip, carb, both things that waste money, and don't give big gains.

exhaust, air intake, intake manifold if you want, gears (GEARs!), cam. That'll do you, and be under $1k easily.

StreetRoc85 350

if you really want to be happy id say find a decent l98 w/ TPI setup and swap that in. Even stock it will be night and day faster and you have so much more options when it comes to modding...

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

more options for TPI than carb? i think not...

Tricked-Out-Toy

iTrader: (1)

friends dont let friends build 305s you can do an extremely cheap 350 2 bolt dirt cheap that will take out even the most extreme 305s. Dollar for Dollar a 350 will destroy a 305. you should be able to pick up a junk yard 350 for less than $150. you could even go to advance auto and pick up a rebuilt 350 from the early 80's for around 700-800 and that comes with a warrenty! just my

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

that warrenty is void if you put it in yourself though. it has to be installed by a certified mechanic.

hehe, guess i don't have any "true" friend then...

however, i had a 350 together with the exact same stuff that's in my 305 and it was .4 quicker in the 1/4 and i hadn't gotten all the bugs tuned out of it, and the car weighed 130lbs. heavier (not from the larger cubic inch but from things in the car that are not there any longer) and i know that that combo woulda gone 11.8's had i ever gotten the suspension squared around on it...cracked the block and it cost me $200 to get my old 305 block rehoned, buy 1 piston to replace the broken one and a set of rings, and get the pistons swapped on the rods and that was all it took to get my 305 back on the road running better than it ever had....but honestly, i wish i stil had that 350 in her...now i've just gotten the fast 305 bug again and i really don't mind spending some serious cash on it to get it to run well...

firebirdjosh

iTrader: (1)

I'd say headers/exhaust, gears, torque converter in that order. A chip isn't worth it. No offense but its sorta funny to think a 3400 pounds 170hp (when NEW!) car would beat a new civic. Cars these days are coming with 200+ hp and will smoke these old cars without some mods.

Tricked-Out-Toy

iTrader: (1)

I worked there for 4 years and was an assistant manager and I warrantied a few engines that ppl had installed themselves, if you check with your local store it may be different but our DM and RM told us as long as the customer purchases the "recomended" install items on the same purchase the warranty would be valid. I know you can make 305's quick but im sure you agree, if your looking for something fast and cheap a 350 is were its at. If your looking for somehting that may cost more to get the same performance but be a little different the build a 305. For me if you want to be different build a 400sbc or even an older 327 or a 396, at least then you will have a better building block....

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

oh, i know, and i totally agree...but the look on peoples face with 400sbc's that just got spanked by a 305 is priceless...and stupidly addictive, lol!

Tricked-Out-Toy

iTrader: (1)

lol ya I guess its aquired taste I bet its like pullin up next to the new C6s and blowing there doors in

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

i don't know that i could blow the doors in on a c6 as the car sits, though it would hang with it...the old 350 took out a 1996 cobra with an s-trim on it though...that was cool...

Tricked-Out-Toy

iTrader: (1)

bet he was pissed when he found out it was "just" a 305