I have a 1992 Camaro RS and it has a 305 TBI v8 (auto trans) which puts out around 170 horse. I have flowmasters attached, so I basically have a bark with no bite. What do you guys recommend as the most efficient/ affordable engine swap? By the way I am new here and I am loving it.

 

How much horse power do u want. You can build what u got to get close to 300 horse pretty quick with heads cam and intake. Just depends on what u want but if I had the money I would do a lt1 and a 6 speed.

 

you could always swap it over to a tpi setup...

 

The easiest swap is to put a carbed 350 in. If you're looking for higher horsepower, then you can start looking into LS swaps. There's always the TPI option if you prefer that over carb too. The LT1 swap can be cost effective if you can get ALL of the parts cheaply, but if you just get the motor and have to start buying all the bits and pieces, it can get expensive. Personally, I'd only look into an LT1 if you want a relatively straightforward swap and you don't plan to mod it further. While there are parts available for the LT1, the aftermarket is MUCH bigger for LS and SBC parts.

 

Affordable and efficent? Your 350 chevy would probably be the best for that seeing as there are a million out there and have the same block and mounting points as the 305. Then put cam and head setup milder or more aggressive to match how you want it to run

 

I have a hard time recommending a switch to carb for a car that didn't come from the factory with it, unless the car will be used primarily for the track.

I have a hard time recommending a switch to another EFI system unless you go for the latest.

I tend to advocate improving what you've got until/unless you're willing to go all-out as in the paragraph above.

So, my recommendations:
1) Do a 350 TBI swap as described in the budget 350 sticky in the TBI forum;
or:
2) Do an LS swap. LT1 was a fine system, TPI was better than TBI, but again, either all-in, or #1 above.

 

I'd go get a used pullout LT1 or do a Gen III/IV swap as cheap as you can, that means perhaps truck 4.8's or 5.3's...

Just be aware that switching from LT1 to LS1 is just as hard as switching from a 305 to the LT1 in the first place. But you can go scary fast in an LT1 car. The only real drawbacks to the LT1 swap in my mind is that it's not a Gen III+ setup, and you have an optispark.

 

I'm gonna suggest an 350 swap with either your choice of EFI or a carburetor. Personally I went with the carb, but they both have their pros and cons. LT1's are nice with the exception of the opti-spark system, which is notorious for giving problems.