Danger

The front of my cars in bits (painting) and I am going to change my valve seals. It seems like a good time to fit a new cam while I'm at it. Is it worth doing to an otherwise std engine and what would be a good cam to use without other hassles like pulling studs or overloading other components which I can't really afford? My car is a manual carburetted HO model.

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84 Trans Am HO L69 WS6
5 Speed manual
Vortech Cherrybomb no cat
Removed A/C A.I.R. Hdflap
H/made cld air induction
K&N
Otherwise STD
Currently painting

RB83L69

Comp XE262H

Get the kit with lifters, springs, retainers, & chain; you won't have to worry about any of that for a while

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"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports

[This message has been edited by RB83L69 (edited October 22, 2001).]

Danger

Hey thanks dude for the quick reply. Does everyone agree?

Danger

Hey thanks dude for the quick reply. Does everyone agree?

gruveb

YES!!! Roller tip rockers, an intake (NOT Edelbrock Performer....get something bigger),
headers, a carb and an old HEI (non-computer) and you'll really see a huge difference.

That's what I did.

Black82Z

I have the xe262 and it seems pretty large in a 305. In a 350 it isnt that bad, but it like it up high in a 305.
I have 342's and it doesnt like it until 1750rpm, but after that it takes off like a bat out of hell(or ozzy out of hell...haha)
I have ported my heads and have all the mods in my sig below. When at the track in grand bend I ran a 14.9 with burned through plug wires running on only 7 cylinders. I have a slower 60ft now, need torque converter, like one from a vette.sounds mean and runs mean in my set up. But it affects power breaks a little. but i like it. just be weary that it is a little large for a 305. The xe256 might be a better choice. as Well as a performer RPM manifold.
Have fun

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82 Z28 have LG4-305"
Rebuilt heads-3 angle valve job,ported and gasket matched. comp cam xtreme energy 262 edelbrock performer, chevy 1.6:1 roller rockers,MSD6AL, rebuilt carb,15x4" K&N
3"flowmaster american thunder, Mac high flow cat,headman headers,
700-R4--B&M shift kit, B&M tranny cooler.
Sub-frame connectors, boxed lower control arms and torque arm. 1.5" front sway bar, new BFgoodrich radial T/A's--215/65 front 255/60 rear
RADIO-- premier Deh-p300
2-10"kicker SPLs,ZR240,premier 434x(4 way), custom built fiberglass box for subs. pioneer 6X9 & 4X6, grant GT steering wheel

Danger

I think I read somewhere that the intake on the L69 wasn't a bad unit? I don't really have money to burn, I just want to do the Performance mods that are good value while the cars in bits.
One of the manifold bolts snapped on removal and I thought no way was I going to get it out without drilling hassles, but after drowning it in WD40 and praying alot I got it moving with visegrips. Halleyluyah.

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84 Trans Am HO L69 WS6
5 Speed manual
Vortech Cherrybomb no cat
Removed A/C A.I.R. Hdflap
H/made cld air induction
K&N
Otherwise STD
Currently painting

Ray87Z

You'll make some power ditching that manifold. It is better than the LG4 intake, but check out this article www.inter-scape.com/ray/305buildup.htm

They picked up 15 hp over the LG4 intake with the Performer, and another 15ish+ hp going from the Performer to the Performer RPM. Even if you argue that the L69 intake is as good as the standard Performer, you still stand to pick up 15+ hp with a better intake like the RPM... That's with the stock peanut cam too, since you're swapping cams you really need to get a good intake now, makes no sense to not switch it out while it's all off anyway...

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Ray87Z
-Vortec headed 350.
86 IROC w/ a cammed 305 TPI.
Formerly Ray86IROC.
www.inter-scape.com/Ray

RB83L69

The problem with a Performer RPM is that it doesn't fit under the hood. So that may or may not be something that your average owner will want to do.

The way to mod a car is to find the limits to its performance, one at a time, and fix them, starting with the lowest limit first. In these cars, that first limit is the exhaust system. The L69 cars are blessed with a decent one once you get past the manifolds. Most of the rest need to be upgraded all the way from the heads to the street. The next limit is the cam. The next one after that is the heads.

If you take a 400 inch motor with a 244°@.050" cam and Brodix Track 1 heads and 1¾" long tube open headers, then yeah, you'll pick up power by swapping the intake from teh stock L69 one to a Performer RPM, probably alot more than 15 HP I might add. On the other hand, if you take a box-stock L69 and stick a Performer RPM on it, you'll slow the car down, because in stock condition, the intake isn't the weakest link. It's not the weakest link until after those other 3 things have been cured.

The wise, cost-effective way to mod a car is to identify the weakest link, and attack it directly. Until the weakest link is strengthened, all money spent on other things is at least partially wasted.

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"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports

[This message has been edited by RB83L69 (edited October 25, 2001).]

Ray87Z

The RPM will fit with a drop base cleaner, running that on my 87's 350. Not saying you should or shouldn't get the RPM though. I would definitely swap the intake for something aftermarket while you're doing the cam swap. They're cheap, so no reason not to swap now...



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Ray87Z
-Vortec headed 350.
86 IROC w/ a cammed 305 TPI.
Formerly Ray86IROC.
www.inter-scape.com/Ray

RB83L69

The problem with the drop-base air cleaner is that what you have actually done is left the lid in the stock location (basically, already up against the bottom of the hood) and simply moved the carb up close to it by mounting it higher. If you actually look at the clearance you now have between the top of the carb and the air cleaner lid, you will notice that you have a narrow slit only about 1½" tall, and that the air has to make a sharp 90° as it comes in. That style of breather voids most of the flow improvement that the RPM intake should be providing. Also, note that he is working on a Firebird, which has an even lower hood than a Camaro; so he has even less room to work with.

So yes, it's possible to jam that intake under one of these hoods. But is that the right thing to do, to an otherwise stock 305 that isn't prepared to use the extra flow at that particular point in the engine anyway? I doubt it. I think that one merely moves the restriction from the manifold to the top of the air horn by doing that, for little or no net gain.

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"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports

[This message has been edited by RB83L69 (edited October 25, 2001).]

Danger

Thanks guys,I'm learning alot here.
What do people mean when they say the 262 may be too big? I enquired about XE256H and there about 2-3 weeks away (New Zealand remember). I think I did find a XE262H-10 but want to know why it could be to big? I am going to find out if I can get the roller tip rockers and kit as well.
I found a second hand air cleaner today and I'm going to make it into a dual snorkle along with my hood intake. Needless to say the paint jobs on the back burner while I sort all this out. Its such a hassle trying to get parts down here. And no one seems keen on sending anything to little old NZ. I was told alot of parts over 8 yrs old are becoming obsolete. Iv'e been waiting 8 mths for a brake repair kit which GM keep putting on back order.
I broke my TVS switch on removal, can I bye pass it so there is vacum to the charcol canister all the time to suck up those fumes?
You guys are great! I wish there were enthusuiests like you down here to shoot sh*t with.

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84 Trans Am HO L69 WS6
5 Speed manual
Vortech Cherrybomb no cat
Removed A/C A.I.R. Hdflap
H/made cld air induction
K&N
Otherwise STD
Currently painting

Cosmik Debris

Danger, I'm in New Zealand too, I live in Christchurch. I have the same car as you (84 TA WS6 Auto and all the extras). Kelford Cams here in Christchurch had XE262 cams last time I was in there.

I put an Edelbrock RPM, Holley 600 and headers on my L69, went from 15.9@86 down to 14.7@93.5 with no other work. Have a friend here with a Berlinetta got 15.1 with a Performer and headers.

Ho yeah, Kelford had the 256 as well.

[This message has been edited by Cosmik Debris (edited October 25, 2001).]

Danger

Thanks Cosmik and gidday. It's a shame you live in the other island. I know you have some good V8 suppliers down there but I think it would be better to deal locally. I have found a 262 but the kit is 2-3 wks away, same as the 256 cam. Also, no roller tip rockers available same period. Cost $450.00 so might have to leave them out.
So Iv'e got a few weeks to decide which way to go, shame the cars in bits all over the place.
Spot ya dude.

E-Z Rollin

If manifold height clearence is a problem,consider the Weiand 8004 I saw a comparsion test performed by HRM and the 8004 outperformed Edelbrock,and Holley's low rise two plane manifold's on amild 350. I would be skepticle but since they all advertised in HRM I figured it was legit.

Guest

I had a performer RPM (that Edelcrock machined wrong... thank you very much) sitting on my 305 in my 86TA, Carter carb, a drop base air cleaner but it wasnt all that much of a drop, with a 3" tall filter and I had plenty of hood clearance. It was closest at the front of course, but IIRC it was somewhere around 1".

It will fit.