I recently purchased a 1985 trans am in good shape a rebuild done with some minor modifications a new throttel body, shift kit, air intake, magnaflow 3in exhaust, and a chip. I am restoring the interior as we speak. I have the 305 TPI and I just trying to pick some people brains who have been doing this a lot longer than I have. "What would you recomend doing next,(Have you done it to your f-body? What were the results?" Off the top of my head I was thinking headers, msd ignition, and performance cam for the time being. As I said I would like your imput my F-body bretheren, let me know what you think.
My 2nd T/A was an '85 TPI Trans Am and I loved it. Anyways, what I would reccomend is Headers and a hi-flow cat. I just got some coated Pacesetter 1336 headers for my T/A and the fit and ease of install was 2nd to none. Install was under 2 hours I believe, and they are emissions legal. As for power gains I will let you know in a few days.
But you are on the right track. Shift kits are good. Only 2 more things I would suggest. Somehow devise a cold air intake as the '85-88 design is horrible for the Firebirds. And what rear gears do you have? If you have the non-posi 1 wheel peel with crappy gears, be on the lookout for a 3.23 or the even better 3.42 posi. Gears alone make cars ten times more fun to drive.
But you are on the right track. Shift kits are good. Only 2 more things I would suggest. Somehow devise a cold air intake as the '85-88 design is horrible for the Firebirds. And what rear gears do you have? If you have the non-posi 1 wheel peel with crappy gears, be on the lookout for a 3.23 or the even better 3.42 posi. Gears alone make cars ten times more fun to drive.
Actually I forgot to mention it does have posi with 3.73 gears in the rear which is designed to take up to 400 hp. It was also converted to 4 wheel disc.
Sounds like headers is your next step. I wish I had 3.73's.
