Little break down. Recently bought a '92 RS with 305 L03 engine. I am currently in Iraq and will be for the next month or so. I have been doing research on it and it seems first thing I should put into it is Air Intake and Exhaust. I was wondering on opinions of what intakes, exhaust and even good places to purchase from. The two that seem to be popular are the K&N High Performance Air Intake kits and Flowmaster 17228 American Thunder Cat Back. I don't have the money to go 350 so please just help with problem at hand. I am not very mechanically inclined but have the motivation so anything else that is necessary to do these or if there is a better starting point would be appreciated sorry for the paragraph. Just wanna get home and hit the ground running if you will.

 

Some sort of flat base air cleaner would be best, so that you can remove the spacer ring thats between the TB and the air cleaner housing. Personally I feel more confident with a clean paper filter then the oiled cotton filters.

That cat back is popular and wery loud, with 2.73 and stock cat to front exhaust, it has a wery low tone.

The complete exhaust, headers, 2.5" to 3" collector Y pipe, into 3" cat, 3" cat back and 3.23 gears would already be a nice improvement.

 

Thanks for the input. The air cleaners are 14 x 3 correct? Also would you recommend Moroso or should I go with different brand. The best price I could find for the Flowmasters is at summit http://www.summitracing.com/parts/FLO-17228/ know of any better deals? Thanks again.

edit: This should be exact same system correct Flowmasters
I put up some pictures in my album. Would it be better to use a Ram Air Box or no.

 

I just got my open element cleaner. I bought these...

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-239501/
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-F1308/
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/BSP-RP1508/

Just remove the tbi spacer ring. All I had to do was get a longer air cleaner stud because the stock one isn't long enough. Autozone didn't have any curved ones, but I found one and a local hardware store.

I picked up a little valve cover filter kinda like this one...

http://www.amazon.com/Trans-Dapt-959.../dp/B000CQ6GXW

to cap off the big black pcv tube that goes into the stock cleaner. The tube that goes from the tbi unit to the cleaner to tell the stupid thingy in the snorkel arm when to open I just capped off at the tbi unit with a little vacuum cap. And the important one, the air temp sending unit thing can just be yanked out of the stock cleaner (its welded, get ready for a fight). I cut a hole in my new open element bottom and mounted the old sending unit in, but I'm now thinking I shouldn't have cause some people are saying that you can just relocate the thing to a cool part of the engine bay for a power boost.

I got a bit more kick and a big boost to fuel mileage. My next step is to get this...

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/GM...-822/?rtype=10

to complete the system. Here is a pic of what it all looks like.

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/7013/69028392.jpg

It's a board member named ronusmcmma's car.

 

Any pictures on where else to mount the air temp unit. Also i was wondering if using the ram air hood scoops are worth it how to go about that and how should I do the cold air intake if its not worth using the hood? here is my album of my RS so you can see it. Another thing forgot to bring up for exhaust as far as headers and catalytic converters I am out of my league on where to start but I do understand they need to be done I figure might as well do the system as a whole then piece by piece if I can so any advice on that would be helped or even links for advice. what was the product number for that valve cover link for some reason isnt working thanks

 

Best is you look around some, before making the final decision. Budget is important.
If you find a part # try copy/pasting it in the TGO search function, mostly every part that fits these cars can be found and documented in various treads.

Let us know wat you come up with.

If I ever need new headers and Y pipe I will go with these http://www.top-downsolutions.com/pro...roducts_id=170

 

How does the Dyno Dons compare to Edelbrocks 68753 and 68752 are they worth the extra 100 or so? Also these Flowmasters should work fine, correct?

For the cold air intake gonna go with zerocyde has in above post Filter, Flat Base, Top, and Valve Cover. Should I utilize the Ram Air Hood or no I am kind of at a loss on how to get the cold air there.

Also is there anything else I would need for these two setups such at CatCon, Y pipes, or anything else? Thanks this is what I have so far any critiques or knowledge you could pass down?

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/exha...all-stock.html
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/exha...55s-whats.html
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/exha...55-2460-a.html
The edelbrock headers you posted are made for 305 TBI, one is ti-tec coating the others ceramic coating. I dont like theyr Y pipe and collector flange. Do you need the heat riser for legality resons?
Edelbrock headers are an upgrade from stock manifolds, but still probably one of the less performance oriented headers. But still plenty for a LO3 with an open element air cleaner.

The price difference is a little bigger since the Y pipe is not includet with Dyno Don's headers.

These are also good headers, http://www.macperformance.com/store/...roduct_ID=1439, direct fit with, Catco # 9118 catalytic converter and a single cat 3" cat back.

You do not really need the valve cover breather, that flat base has already the previson to connet to the crankcase vent, using a longer piece of ruber hose.

 

So with this Filter, Flat Base, and Top should be all I need? Will I still need the longer air cleaner stud or will it be fine?

I will go with the Dyno Dons since not too much more (Gonna spend that much get the good stuff) with Y pipe, Flowmasters and CatCon. Is there anything I am missing for these two setups.

I should be able to do intake myself and will go to a shop for the exhaust. The single CatCon should be fine? I appreciate all the help still learning about all this stuff and very excited to get home and get at it!

I have searched for CAI systems for ideas and dont really see one I like. Does anyone know of a topic or site that lays out optimal spot for a CAI and how it would look?

 

Nice headers, choice.

The flowmaster for sigle 3" cat. is #17233, I think. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/FLO-17233/

Be aware that the flowmaster sounds more dangerous then sporty , loud at idle and around 74 dB from 23 feet @3300rpm in P.

The 3" catco http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CTO-9118/

 

I want a good sound I like the loud rumble, haha. Is there anything else I would need to complete these? I appreciate all the help I am not the most mechanical savvy the opposite and that's being nice. Does it seem to be the right track and all this should be pretty straight forward for a decent exhaust shop right?

On the CatCo is it High Flow and is there a big difference if not?

 

i have Dyno Dons headers and there great +1 on Dons Headers...look good too..lol

 

Appreciate the +1 gives me a boost of confidence that its the right choice.

would Typical closed in CAI be better than the open element I found out that the Ram Air hood is a non functional and was wondering if a more typical CAI would be better. I do like the looks of the open element though. I did a 3rdgen search and couldnt fine any straight answer on it.

 

And rumble it will.

If you have the right part #'s everithing will fit perfectly together.

For the headers, a pair of header gaskets and maybe header bolts (+2 longer ones for accessory brackets). Contact the sellers they are also TG owners and TGO members, will know better whats included.
Use antiseize on the header bolts. You will have to check (let cool down) that they are still tight after the first days of driving, after that check once in a while.

Once everithing aligned, some spot welding is required on the cat back, the flowmaster clamps are good for alignment only.

The Catco 9118 is highflow, other then elongating one hole on its hanger plate it was a direct fit.

The open elemet is ok for some cruising and a pair WOT, for serious driving the CAI performs better.
The camaro TPI air cleaner with a carb hat and a piece of silicone hose, is probaly the best you can find. There is also a member that improved its flow capacity https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tpi/...pi-camaro.html

 

One more question and i should be good to go since i wanna go CAI. Should i use the same filter setup as I mentioned before. I believe I can make an Air box similar to the old Hawks TBI ones or even the TPI ones. what kind of top and bottom should i use for the filter?

 

The flow trough "filter type" top is not goin to be effective, given the tight hood to air cleaner top clearence.
Besides, if I remember correct in 2 posts, about dyno results with the flow trough top, it has been reported loss off power vs the standard sealed top. Something to do with velocity and turbolence?

For the hawks tbi CAI, the open element will work. It is actualy made for a open element.

You may find better ispiration here http://www.ramairbox.com/

The camaro TPI air cleaner is alittle more complex to duplicate, needs to be combined with carb hat and silicon or other heat resitant flexible hose http://www.spectreperformance.com/#CATALOG.9849.
K&N flters are available too, 2 are required http://www.summitracing.com/parts/KNN-33-2008-1/

For reference http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1985-...#ht_500wt_1054

 

I am gonna go with that open air element, did some more research seems to be good. Plus I like the wait it looks. I will probably try to get a junkyard TPI airbox or a second snorkel just to get lil cooler air in there. Thanks for all the help I appreciate it. When I get home in about month or lil longer and get the mod installed ill post pics of how it turned out.