capj66

iTrader: (2)

Hi all kinda a newby here so bear with me. My son and I are restoring a 87 IROC on the cheap.
The engine is stock 305 TPI but there is a bad lifter in there, (No sound when it's cold but when the
engine gets to operating temp there is a rap/knock coming from the down tubes under the intake).
So since I have to tear down the top end to fix it this is what I was thinking of doing to get a little
more out of the engine:

1) Install used 1988 L98 Roller cam and lifters from a low milage motor
2) Install new Comp Cam springs and retainers
3) Install new valve seals
4) Install new 1.6 roller tip rockers
5) Install new Comp Cam High Energy pushrods
6) New double roller Timing chain and gears
7) New water pump
8) Clean up the inside of the throtle body, plenum, runners to get rid of excess so that it can flow better
9) Install a set of Pacesetter Carb Legal 1-5/8 2-1/2 out headers w/air tubes
10) Install Magflow 2-1/2 in-out Hi flow cat
11) Install Dynomax 17495 - Super Turbo Kit; Cat-Back System

Most of the above items I have been able to scrounge up cheap so I guess my question is will this all work together
and is it reasonable to expect to get 30hp to 40hp gain.

Car Specs: 1987 IROC T-Top 305TPI (stock) 700R4 (stock) 9-bolt Borg Warner with 2.77 and discs.
This car is not for racing or 1/4 mile times just for pleasure driving around town and on a few trips when
the weather is nice.

Any and all recommendations and assistance is greatly appreciated.

Thanks Jim in CT.

darbysan

You might consider using an LT1 cam. It's has a little more lift than the L98 cam, but still computer friendly. You might not need the 1.6 rockers with this cam, as it's getting pretty close to the max on lift as is. Since you have the OD trans, a lower rear gear ratio would make it feel like a new motor ( 3.42 or 3.73). You would still cruise at 2100 at 70.