I'm soon going to be able to afford to put some decent money into my car (about $4000 CND...maybe $5000 if I really try) and I'm still un-sure what I want to do with my car. Its currently running a stock LG4 and the thing is a gas hog. I'm averaging 10 MPG's with a 50/50 mix of highway and city driving. I'm not sure if I want to try to rebuild this engine or just swap it for a new one. I've been seriously considering buying a TBI upgrade kit and going that route but the thoughts of doing that got me thinking about just swapping the LG4 out for an LB9. I don't want anything too overkill, the max power I want is 300 HP. Just some fun to show off infront of friends. Now I'm sure any of the 3 engines I'm referring to can make that kind of power so there is no need to suggest LS1's or anything like that, but which of the 3 engines would yield the best MPG's at the ~300 HP range? I'm pretty sure the carb'd LG4 will fall behind if left carb'd, but would throwing TBI on the LG4 be equal or close to the same as running a LB9? I know the TPI LB9 will give more stock HP, which I've been considering. Also, would changing my gears give me any better city milage? I know the 2.73's are great for highway but is there any better choice for city gears? I will probably be doing a little more city driving in the future as I am getting a new job in the city.

P.S. Sorry for the long post, but I really need to make up my mind soon, since I will be coming up with the money in the next month or so and I really HAVE to do something about this horrible milage I'm getting right now.

 

If you're getting 10 MPG, it isn't a problem that will be solved with a rebuild. Sounds like a carb or ignition in serious need of attention.

The TPI would probably have the most MPG/HP potential. Of course, you'd have to figure how many gallons of gas you could buy with what the TPI conversion would cost you. Compare that to a carb rebuild and ignition tune-up, it would take you years to break even on the EFI swap.

 

I'm with him, something is wrong. I've had 2 camaros with mild 350s average 18 mpg in town with 2.73:1 gears. With an LG4, you should be seeing close to 20. For fun-to-drive, an LB9 might get you that, but unless you commit to going that route, better to start with resolving your mileage issue, then add a 100 horse shot of nitrous for showing off. If it was me, I'd send the carb to JET or SMI or someone, drop in a new 12530282 longblock ('96-'98 Vortec 350, $2230.45), plus 1.6:1 rocker arms, add the 12496820 intake (like a Performer EGR 3701, but for vortec heads, $252.95) a B&M TorkMaster2000 converter , and a 3.08:1 on an Auburn. The Hooker headers #2055 is a good setup, but more than this would need, so I'd go with Edelbrock headers, and then choose a cat-back. This will get 26 mpg highway, and make far more torque than an LB9.

 

Given "Location: BC, Canada", I assume this is a non-computer controlled LG4.

 

Did the Canadians not get the computer?

 

then a QJet for a U.S. '80 Camaro LG4 would work for the OP. I ordered this carb from Holley2, Holley's remanufacturing division, back in '02. Put it on an LO3, loved it, then transferred it to one 350 engine after another. An excellent carb, for $350 back then.

 

Most LG4's "exported" to Canada did not have computer control. All the L69's did. I believe by '87 the LG4's did as well (not completely sure about that).