Anyone have ideas for my carb'd 355 to make it run in the high 12's or low 13's on motor only?

I have a Edelbrock 750 carb, Performer RPM manifold, hypereutectic pistons (10.5:1), Magnum 280H cam kit, T-5 tranny, RAM clutch. I'm not sure what heads I've got, they're some form of stock heads with minor porting... I'm willing to change to Vortec if need be..

I'd like to run mid to high 12's or low 13's on the motor. I have not run the car as of yet, as it is lacking posi and only has 3.08 gears..

Thanks

 

I'd look into a set of 3.73's or 4.10's and some sticky tires.

Then the only questions are the heads and fuel flow.
A set of 180 or 200 cc protopline iron lightings would be killer.
What heads do you have now? (casting number)
May just need further porting.

 

But what does the average heads/cam third-gen run? How come a heads/cam LT1 car runs 11's with a good setup, and A LOT of people on the fourth-gen boards list timeslip times in their signatures, but I see few if any third-gen times in the sigs?

I had a stock-cammed intake port-matched 93 Camaro Z28, automatic, with headers and an intake that doesn't have half the cam lope my car has and it ran a 12.96@104! (26x10.5 ET Streets). What holds these cars back from running GREAT times with minor mods?

 

it is a lot of things. the heads arn't that great, small cams, bad exhaust. i built a 283(parts are in my sig), and that thing hauls compared to a stock 3rd gen. i havn't run it on the track yet but its probably in the low 14s or high 13s because it is VERY close to my brothers 97 lt1 camaro and those run mid 13s. if i were you i would get some vortecs at least, a good cam and go from there.

 

So is it the case that a third-gen with:
Vortec heads (which are LT1-style)
stock LT1 cam
Vortec carb manifold (just a basic short runner LT1 style)
650/750 carb

Would that run the same 285 hp that a stock LT1 runs with a similar torque curve?

 

i'm not an expert engine builder but i would think that would be pretty good. you might even be able to go with an lt4 cam depending on what you want. you should also check the heads you have, they might only need further porting like f-bird'88 said.

 

You can proably get a stock L98 with a carb (instead of the TPI) to run those times...

The most important thing to know is the fact that the parts have to work together to make good power and run good times. There are a million cars with mismatched aftermarket parts that don't run as well as stock motors, and only a few that run like they should (fast).

Typical Mistakes:
Cam too big (85%)
Heads suck (80%)
Engine not tuned right (75%)
Carb too big (60%)
Geared too high (50%)
Suspension sucks (50%)
Can't drive (50%)

What it comes down to the fact that a lot of people think bigger is better (big cam & gears), but it isn't true on a street car.

This is what I would do if I was you:
Vortec Heads
Mild cam (210/220 duration @0.050") and 1.6 rockers
Buy an Edelbrock A/F gauge and use it
Aftermarket TQ arm
Drag Radials

 

Check out signature, CC-Qjet with ZZ4 take off
manifold, small TES headers and untouched
Torquer heads. Conservative combo should get me
into the 12s with a little more attention to
60ft.

 

It sounds like you have enough already to reach your goals. Just do whatever it takes to get it tuned for maximum power and it will be done.

 

see my sig. i ran a 12.5 on my g-tech with my street tires on, last sunday . no NOS , have not got the mastermind to work yet. i also have a set of ET streets to try when i get my new rear end in . and this is at 4800' eleavation

mike

 

Tell us more about the "ported heads"
Pocket ported? Some pretty grinding? full porting? flow tested? what size valves? There's a big difference.
What heads are they to start with?

Flowmaster what? describe the exhaust system from heads to
the street. This engine will need high flow, not just noise to make the numbers.

This car is capable of 12 sec times but not with 3.08's or a open differential.
have you ever run it at the track and got some performance numbers? The MPH is very indicative of the amount of horsepower you're really making even if the et is not that great.
Got to know where your at and exactly what you are working with to deturmine the best course to go with.
It's never a problem so big that a good size injection of $$$$ won't fix.

 

a good cam to go with vortecs is the comp cams extreme energy 274h...


a few have done low 12s with those heads and cam

 

how good of a driver are you? also be careful with the t5. what I have been doing with my car is nothing but learning, when I got it, the first time I ran it ran like 17.8 or something, partly due to me not have track experience, partly due to it was in crappy tune, kept goin to the track got in the 16s with nothing but driving practice, open element, flamethrower coil, accell 8.8s and more driving practice yielded low 16-high 15s, headers, cutout, performer intake and better driving and I am now at 14.6, its amazing how big a difference the driver makes.

 

84305HO,
What does the jet chip do for a cc quadrajet?

 

Homer, I really don't think it tells the carb
much, but it gives a more aggresive timing curve.