Hello all,
I have a 84 305 H.O.(L69)and I have tried tuning the Computer Controlled Q-Jet, and adding bolt on parts to the car with no noticeable HP increase. The motor has 107k on it and I just want to upgrade to a 350 or 383, I hear there is no substitute for cubic inches . I live in NC so I need to stay emissions legal. I know I need to keep the CC Q-Jet but what about other parts???? And is there any difference in weight between a 305 and 350 or 383?

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84 Camaro 305 H.O., Edelbrock Performer intake,Accel, Moroso Blue Max Wires,K&N, Hooker Cat-back w/ Catco Hi-Flow Cat, 17" Niche Throttle Wheels

 

The "easiest" legal way to do this is with the HO 350 Camaro Conversion kit from GM - ZZ4 engine with everything needed for an emissions legal high performance 350 (premium fuel). It'll run you some bucks, but you didn't mention budget.

If all you want is a performance increase, your L69 will respond to the basic hop-ups - afterall, it is a SBC. Headers w/3" y-pipe, 3" cat & catback, along with a better performance cam will wake it up. World 305 heads will give it even more of a jump if the above are taken care of. All of this can be had CARB-certified, meaning smog legal. I assume your Performer is the EGR version.

For something in-between, most any of the GM replacement 350s (non-Vortec) would give you that performance boost and would pass both the visual and sniffer tests (as long as you don't brag about your 350 to the inspector). But, exhaust upgrades, heads to rear bumper, are a must, no matter what you do (the kit has high flow stuff, but still uses cast iron manifolds).

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82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R. 2.93 limited slip. Cat-back from '91 GTA, Accel HEI SuperCoil. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily driver, work-in-progress (LG4 w/'87 LB9 block, ZZ3 cam and intake, World 305 heads, Hooker headers & y-pipe, 3" Catco cat).
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. 0.030 over 396, Weiand Action+, Edelbrock 1901 Q-Jet, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" Hedders, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & Trans-Scat shift kit, 3.08 8.2" 10-bolt w/Powertrax, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Best 15.1 @ 5800' Bandimere w/open diff & slipping tranny. Daily driver while Camaro was being put together.

 

Thanks a lot for the tips five7! Your right I did forget to mention that cash is an issue. I am leaning toward having my local speed shop build an 350 or 383 engine for me.I ve always loved thirdgens but I was mostly into appearance and not performance until NOW, but is it really worth the time and money to try to beef up a 107k mile 305 and will my stock Q-Jet be able to feed a so much larger CI motor like a 350 or 383???

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84 Camaro 305 H.O., Edelbrock Performer intake,Accel, Moroso Blue Max Wires,K&N, Hooker Cat-back w/ Catco Hi-Flow Cat, 17" Niche Throttle Wheels

 

I would recommend if you went with a 383 torque monster to change to a non computer carburator(try Holley. I have a 383 on my 86 Z28 originally came with a cc q-jet. I quickly did away with that and put in a different distributor. Ofcoarse I did some changes to this dist. , like an MSD coil and a MSD module. This engine is powerful enough that I can kick brand new Z28 tush! not to mention rustangs.

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Big 454 72 Chevy Nova
383 86 Camaro Z28
10.5:1compression 186 casting Heads,234dur.488lift exh&int,Edelbrock performer intake, Holley750 vac.sec 400 crank,flat top pistons,edelbrock valve springs and lifters,tranny shift kit,kickdown kit and tranny oil cooler. Will install 3.73's later on and might go with a more aggresive cam.

[This message has been edited by Big454blockchevy (edited April 13, 2001).]

 

I also added a stall converter(2500).

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Big 454 72 Chevy Nova
383 86 Camaro Z28
10.5:1compression 186 casting Heads,234dur.488lift exh&int,Edelbrock performer intake, Holley750 vac.sec 400 crank,flat top pistons,edelbrock valve springs and lifters,tranny shift kit,kickdown kit and tranny oil cooler. Will install 3.73's later on and might go with a more aggresive cam.As of 4/01 added Hooker Headers,2.5inchpipes with 40 s. Flowmasters.Ignition upgrade include: MSD Coil and MSD module.

 

EMISSIONS!

You can't pass visual with a Holley! You aren't likely to pass sniffer, either. When are you people going to start reading what the posting member is trying to accomplish??!!!!?????

It's really up to you deciding whether to beef up a 305. But, if you've read my "opinions" on this forum at all before, you'll see that I contend that the 305 will cost you less to max out (per the above) and will out-perform what you could get out of a 350 or 383 for the same outlay of money. But, the 305 will be limited to about the performance you'll get with those mods, whereas the 350 or 383 will have room to grow.

As far as the q-jet handling the larger engines, read my sig above - the q-jet on my 396 is 750 cfm, our stock 305 q-jets can flow 795. Consider also that the GM conversion kit uses the carb you now have. If you're still not convinced, go to the magazine articles and read "Stroke in the Desert" (I think that's what it's called - 2 parts) by Steve Green on his 383 project - he used the CC carb, put some power to the ground, and passed emissions.

Your stock q-jet can be tuned to do the job - no question about it.

 

five7 it appears you have a problem with anyone who does not agree with you. YOu tend to give info that really is only one sided. Lighten up . This forum is for everybody registered to express their views whether it bothers u or not TOUGH SH*T! I have emmissions and YES I passed.

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Big 454 72 Chevy Nova
383 86 Camaro Z28
10.5:1compression 186 casting Heads,234dur.488lift exh&int,Edelbrock performer intake, Holley750 vac.sec 400 crank,flat top pistons,edelbrock valve springs and lifters,tranny shift kit,2500 stall converter. Will install 3.73's later on and might go with a more aggresive cam.As of 4/01 added Hooker Headers,2.5inchpipes with 40 s. Flowmasters.Ignition upgrade include: MSD Coil and MSD module.

[This message has been edited by Big454blockchevy (edited April 14, 2001).]

 

Passing emmissions has everything to do with where you live. In California you can't get a Holley passed any visual inspection without paying a bribe to an inspector. The Q'jet will handle the bigger cube engine with no problem.

 

This is exactly right. We have Smog-****'s here, and there is visual. Some states dont have visual, only sniffer, and in those places its almost run what you brung. I happen to know someone, and I get away without a bribe and his vision is a little bad when looking under the hood , but without that (which most dont have) you are pretty much up the creek without a paddle. Please check local laws when 'tampering', and also keep in mind the Q-jet, even though frowned upon by many, is a pretty decent carb.

 

No, Big, it doesn't have anything to do with people that disagree with me. It does have a lot to do with lessons learned at the school of hard knocks - and emissions is one of those growing areas that people don't understand, often do the wrong thing, and more than likely have received bad advice.

It does makes a BIG difference whether or not a visual is part of the inspection, like Russ & mad say. Having been in several places that have emissions as part of registration laws, let me warn you that it is more likely that the requirements will get TOUGHER before they get EASIER! So, if you only have sniffer now, don't throw away all the "emissions crap" you pulled off, because you just may need it some day. I've seen ads in the Classifieds on this board posted by someone who needed to sell their ride because they moved from a non-emissions locale after de-smogging their car (and throwing the stuff away) to a strict visual/sniffer emissions testing area.

I am disagreed with more by the "pull the emissions crap off" crowd who live in a non-inspection area with no clue whatsoever what it's like to have to go through this than any other issue. So, perhaps you should lighten up, and recognize the fact that although these boards are for everyone registered to express your views, poorly thought out or bad advice, especially with regard to emissions, does no one any good.

And, I'll take the little extra pain required to pass emissions legitimately over the possibility of hefty fines or possible jail time from a bribery conviction, thank you.