I've pulled my old car from High School out of storage and its going to be my new project car. My buddy is putting a new Crate engine in his '87 Monte Carlo, and I'm going to take his stock 305 with only 15,000 original miles and replace my 305 with 200,000+ miles on it. I'm looking for a few ideas to get a little more power. I've considered adding headers, a chip, but havent decided whats going to give the best boost. Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

Give some more details about your setup, like, is your stock setup fuel injected or carbed?

 

It's not fuel injected, its got the 4b Carburator...I won't need to worry about emissions testing either.

 

Since your swapping engines, the stock heads and cam are very restrictive, and while the engine is out of the car, why not consider a new set of heads (work the stock ones if your on a budget), cam (can always opt for a used LT1 cam) and intake (can pick a good one up on on ebay for $50.00). I wouldn't bother with the stock carburetor, but that doesn't mean you should toss it entirely, just set it on the side and pick up a nice Holley 600 to play around with. Hooker 2055 headers w/Y-Pipe are very good to start of with. Once you have the cat-back exhaust system decided on, from there, its all about your tune, gearing and vehicle's weight. With everything dialed in properly, your Camaro will really scoot....

 

Drew, welcome aboard thirdgen.org.

The stock heads are not restrictive. With 1.94" intake valves installed, they will flow as good as any 350 head that came in 3rd gens. They don't do that badly with the stock 1.84" valves, either. Of course, port/bowl clean-up work will help them a lot. If you want better, you're looking at shaved Vortecs.

The stock cam, exhaust, and air cleaner are a different story. A cam upgrade (along with new valve springs) will really wake up the engine. But, you need headers and all new exhaust to the rear bumper to take advantage of it.

The stock carb will feed a 305 well beyond what is streetable. It's the best street/performance choice available, regardless of emissions, so if you want to spend your money wisely, don't even consider putting something else on. You won't go any faster with a Holley 600 (would probably be slower if a vacuum secondary Holley), driveability will be worse with a Holley, and fuel economy will be worse with a Holley. You'll spend more money and end up downgrading the combo, then you'll have to spend even more money to get the torque converter clutch lock-up functioning again. Replacing the stock q-jet is just - well, to say it wouldn't be polite.

Go ahead and get a better intake manifold, like the Edelbrock Performer 2104. It won't help much by itself, but if you improve the cam, heads, and exhaust, it'll help those things work better.

Use the money you didn't spend downgrading to a Holley for a higher stalling torque converter and higher number ratio gears (and posi if you don't have that).

You're looking at about $3k for all this:

Cam & springs: $100-$400 (keep it roller lifter - the LT1 is better than stock, but a good aftermarket will be even better)
Intake manifold: $175
Head work: $300-$600 (depending upon stock or 1.94" valves, if you do port work, etc.)
Exhaust (headers, cat, cat-back): $1000
Torque converter: $300-$500
Gears (assuming posi carrier, install kit, labor): $600-$700

If you can only do one thing, do the exhaust.

 

Thanks guys! I'm new to this, but I'm looking forward to working on this car. My dad and I have been talking about it for years. Thanks again for the suggestions.

 

There is no need to take my suggestions and try to pass them off as being the wrong way to go, because on the contrary, they are the right way to go. The stock heads flow horribly, and this has nothing to do with the actual valve size, and everything to do port velocity, which is a severe restriction w/the stock heads. Depending on the camshaft selected, the stock heads can either be left alone, or milled, the idea is symmetry, to accomodate desired specs, but definitely ported though, which is something that both he and his father can do together as a team. The heads also need bowl work to flow to their fullest potential, not just in the ports....

As far as the intake manifold, you can pick up a Edelbrock RPM for fifty to one hundred dollars on ebay, not to mention an LT1 camshaft from a reputable seller for similar money. A custom camshaft can get very expensive. You don't need lifters because the engine your installing has very few miles to begin with, just make sure they aren't seized from sitting. The Holley 600 carburetor is ideal for the 305 engine, and again, they can be picked up for very cheap. If your planning on running the stock ECM, then yes, you can run the stock carburetor, if not though, then don't even bother because you will have a problem w/your idle. If you prefer a quadrajet then simply get one w/out being CCC related. There is really no need to spend that much money on brand new engine parts, especially on a 305, so try and make the most of what you already have to work with, or buy used....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Edelb...Q5fAccessories

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HOLLE...Q5fAccessories

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/5-7-3...Q5fAccessories

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Holle...Q5fAccessories

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Summi...Q5fAccessories

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Moros...Q5fAccessories

 

Swirlports are severely restricted, yes.

But, his heads aren't swirlports.

FWIW, port velocity isn't a problem with stock heads.

The RPM isn't a direct bolt-on for '87-up heads. The manifold I linked is. The RPM isn't needed for an LT1 cam, the manifold I linked would work very well with the LT1 cam.

Not sure what you mean by "problem w/your idle".

If you don't run the stock q-jet, then don't run a q-jet.