HighPressure

Hey Guys!

I´d like to rebuild my 305 LG4 with the Quadrajet 4BBL.
Its in a Pontiac Firebird from 01.1987 that looks like the Formual 500 Models, but in the papers its not mentioned anywhere. (the vin says its not a formula)
Maybe because it was an importcar in my country wich came from US.

I did not find any post helping me with this, because everybody says "take a 350 and your good with it.."
the problem is, that I am in Austria, wich is in Europe, and the 350 will be more expensive to get, than to rebuilt the 305.


So... can anyone help me out which parts I would neet to realize this ?

I also have no problem with changing parts to get more power if they cost more ... like camshafts, headers, manifold,...
would be great if i can get all the parts at one company like summitracing, so I can save money on the extreme expenisve shippingcosts to my place.


so pleeeease be so kind and !
THANKS A LOT

Atilla the Fun

I like a new challenge. However, don't believe anyone's suggestions until you answer these questions: (1) How will you be using the car? In town, like commuting? Out in the countryside, fast cruising? Occasional or frequent fun on a closed course, racing or other competition? (2) Do you have any emissions / pollution laws? If so, some details? (3) How much do you care about fuel consumption? Engine life? (4) What other changes are you willing to make to the car? Subframe connectors? Axle gearing? (5) And on that note, is yours manual or automatic? (6) Anything else?

HighPressure

Hey
1) in town, sometimes out to the countryside, just for fun and cruising.. Sometimes little fast cruising if a honda wants to check out the car lol.. But no trackracing or something like that
2) yes we have - catalysator is a must have. They dont look at it toooo exactly where i live with the emissions at the annual inspection like the "tüv".
3) dont care (ps: we pay 1,60 eur per liter super 95 octan which is 0,264 gallons).. If i would care, i'd sell the car as fast as possible haha
4) willing to change whatever is needed. Thought about the rear axle with disc brakes.. Used for 500euro available here.
5) automatic - all stock
6) can tell you my vin if it helps

Thanks a lot )))

Damon

If it's an LG4 you can rebuilt it back to stock and it will run just like stock- slow. Is there ANY chance you could afford a better exhaust (everything from the manifolds to the tailpipe)? That's the biggest restriction on the LG4. A set of shorty headers and a 3" single exhaust from there back to the cat and on to the muffler makes a BIG difference. You just order a system that's designed for a same year L69 HO motor or 350 TPI. If your stock exhaust is all rotted out anyway it's a no-brainer to upgrade instead of just replace.

Second is the cam. It's got what we affectionately call the "peanut cam" around here becuase it's so small. Almost anything would be a fire-breather compared to that cam. Even a super-mild Summit K1102 cam (also known as the base model Edlebrock Performer cam) is a a night-and-day improvement with almost no sacrifice in low end torque or economy. And the stock computer can still run it just fine.

You can also bump up the stock timing from the factory 0* setting to about 6* BTDC for a nice little bump in power as well. Changing out the secondary rods and hangers in the computer controlled QJet for a set of DR secondary rods and a G hanger is not that expensive either.

Everything else stays the same.

Combine all of those and you will go quicer and faster than a stock L69 305 HO motor becuase you basically turned it into an L69 HO, but with an even better exhaust system.

Atilla the Fun

First, I disagree with Damon about that cam not causing any noticeable loss of low-RPM torque. I did an 8.5:1 3509 with that cam in my '84 LG4 Camaro I had back in 2000, and even with 3.42:1 gears it took work to spin one tire. Second, the MOST you could do to that 305 on a sane budget is stroke it to a 334, then top it with E-Tec 170 heads and then add a turbo or 2. You could have 600 HP that way, and still have driveability and mileage. If you're just following Damon's plan, I'd use Elgin's #1128 cam, and change those 2.73:1 axle gears for something in the 3.23:1-3.73:1 range, and I'd order a 2000-stall torque converter.

HighPressure

Atilla, your Plan sounds great.. but to realize this all with the turbo, I think I´d have to change more than just those parts.. or?

I dont know the english word for it.. the motor controll thing wont work with those components ?
..and also the brake´s I´d have to change for this much HP i guess?
fuel pump, oil pump, oil cooler, .... ?

but would be awesome *owww-yeeeaaaah* haha

Atilla the Fun

That was more a note about what's possible, if you have a whole-car budget approaching $10,000 U.S. dollars. Yes, many details would need attention, but any competent builder / shop could figure those out, I only touched on the parts that are big bucks, too many choices and make the end result satisfying and successful, or disappointing. Now, if you can afford to have 600 HP, then the big brakes make sense, but actually needing them depends on what you do with that 600 HP. If you were to limit yourself to using it only at a dragstrip, or only below 60 MPH, then big brakes wouldn't be mandatory. Whatever the most powerful car you've ever driven is, don't build yours to have more than 100 horses more than that car had, but realize that HP is an addiction, you'll end up wanting more. If you want to end up with 600 HP later, then order a steel crankshaft, forged pistons, and the other "foundation" parts, but if you run out of money, these parts won't make the car feel any better to drive. Horsepower is a luxury and a committment. Forgive me if I'm typing stuff you already realize, but I don't want you jumping in over your head. You can't do 600 HP with your original fuel system / engine computer, as you thought.

InfernalVortex

iTrader: (4)

The problem with the LG4 is the dished pistons make for low compression. If you rebuild it and use flat top pistons, you can use the stock 416 heads to good effect.

Are you willing to learn how to do a little porting? The small stuff makes the difference. Look up pocket porting and bowl blending. Dont try to just hog out the runners, not a good approach.

I'd then put a medium-sized cam in it, like an xe256 or an xe262.

It should make for something pretty drivable and should have a little more kick in the pants than the low compression and peanut cam you're dealing with now.

If you're budget limited, that's probably the best way to go. Exhaust is a big priority. Hooker 2055's + hooker 3 inch catback is probably the best way to go for you.

Should get you an enjoyable car and that's really what it's all about.

Damon

Guys, from 85-up the LG4 got the same flattop pistons as the L69 HO motor, yielding the same 9.5:1 compression ratio. They are IDENTICAL engines exept for exhaust, cam and tuning from that date forward.

I took this into account before I posted up originally.

InfernalVortex

iTrader: (4)

Well if he rebuilds it, it will get new pistons anyway so it's a moot point.