I have an 85 Firebird with a stock 87 LG4 305 and stock hood. I need to know what the best intake and carb combo is that will give the most power gains, be reliable, fit under the stock hood, and possibly be a good fit if I put a 350 in the car later.

I currently have an EGR and am upgrading the exhaust and putting headers on w/o air tubes and might have to get rid of the EGR from what I'm told, not sure if that is important information.

Also, right now I have the E4ME computer controlled carb but I'm looking to get rid of the computer by installing a new distributor and carb. Not too sure if I want to go manual or electric choke...I'm not sure of the pro's and con's.

Thanks

 

BUMP

 

The best fit for all of those requirements is the E4ME with a dual snorkel air cleaner and Performer of Performer RPM q-jet, depending upon your cam. The RPM is not available in a street legal EGR version.

A.I.R. and EGR have nothing to do with each other. Deleting the A.I.R. tubes is illegal in all 50 states. Don't tell me, "I don't have to worry about that smog crap." It's federal law, and it is illegal where you live.

Keep the E4ME. It's the best choice out there for a street performance set-up. Get an aftermarket 7-pin module (small-cap module if you're using the '87 system) and coil for the distributor, different rods & hangers for the carb secondaries, and you'll be set.

 

That is one option. Another is a Weiand 8501 with a Holley 0-80681 and a Summit Racing SUM-239422

 

Yeah, I know it is. Unfortunatly every mechanic I asked told me they didn't know if it was required and most said it just depends on the mechanic that's looking at it if it will pass or not since it's a visual inspection.

What is this module? Yes I'm using the '87 setup. I've got three quadrajets so you might be saving me some money. If you could give me a link to the module and coil your talking about it'd help me. I've got a stock cam now but may upgrade if I can find an install price that isn't $700

Five7 and Atilla you've both helped me a lot before, just wondering what the comparison is between the two setups you guys suggest?

 

Mine's blatantly illegal, will require tuning to get spot-on, and still won't get as good of gas mileage, but mine should be worth at least 15 more horses now, and triple that on a mildly built 350. Also, five7kid's way will do better in the winter. My way also requires 2 other little pieces if you run a 700R-4.

 

What exactly is the tv cable bracket and geometry corrector?

And am I understanding Five7 correctly that I can still use the E4ME and get rid of my computer?

 

You want the in-depth explanation or the short version?

 

The in-depth explanation.

 

For some completely defective reason, neither the carter/Edelbrock or the Holleyhas a stud, or a hole for a stud, in the correct location, on the bracket welded to the primary throttle shaft. And even if they did, it would still be the wrong distance from a stock GM TV cable bracket. This wouldn't be too bad if GM had always attached this bracket to the carb, but mostly it attaches to the bolts that hold the intake to the heads. Yes, GM has done it 2 different ways, just on the SBC. Aftermarket intakes usually raise the carb, so the GM bracket still wouldn't work. Now, it's cheaper to make brackets than Holley-specific and C/E-specific TV cables. And easier to see what you have, thus reducing confusion. So, we need a geometry corrector to get the stud in the correct place relative to the primary throttle blades, and we need a cable bracket to get the GM-spec cable to work with the non-GM-spec carb. The difference is the QJ carb has tiny primary venturis, thus the primary throttle shaft is farther forward. If I made this confusing, tell me so I can try again. Long story short, just buy the corrector AND the bracket that match your carb.

 

No, your explaination isnt confusing...I'm just confused on the installation of those parts because I'm a visual learner.

 

The beauty of the E4ME is you get to keep the computer.

 

[quote= I need to know what the best intake and carb combo is that will give the most power gains, be reliable, fit under the stock hood, and possibly be a good fit if I put a 350 in the car later.

I currently have an EGR and am upgrading the exhaust and putting headers on w/o air tubes and might have to get rid of the EGR from what I'm told, not sure if that is important information. [/quote]


The exhaust upgrade is the right place to start.

But the setup that will best match your desires is the carb and intake you have currently. The aftermarket (non-computer setup) is going to require a lot more work and skill to get running right.

Take that money and instead, get a good set of heads. Then do as five7kid says and change to a "G" hanger and "CK" rods in the carb.

Next after that is a good cam, like a Comp Cams XE268H.

You'll be way ahead. An engine is really an air pump. The more efficient the air flow, the more power you'll make.

A fancy carb and intake won't do much for you until you get air flowing through the heads.

 

The problem I have is that I don't think my computer is good. I have a mess of a vehicle as my username states. It was a 2.8 V6 to 305 V8 swap that I'm not sure was done right hence my wanting to get rid of the computer because I'm almost always throwing a code 12 and I don't know if the v6 CPU is still there or if it was swapped. I've got the choke on the quadrajet rigged with a series of rubberbands in order to run currently.