I am a relatively new 'Bird owner. I finally picked up a good deal on a red '91 Formula ($3400 with mondo hail damage). It has the 305 TBI engine. While it ain't bad, I find myself wanting more power the more I drive and think about it. I was very disheartened to see the torque/hp numbers - 170 hp! My friends have cheap old used ricecars with more power than that...

Being an amateur tinkerer (read: "poor student" - I just do all my car repairs myself), I thought about replacing the whole exhaust to let the thing breathe better and maybe installing NOS or something. I already changed out the air cleaner to an open element (mostly b/c the stock cleaner was covered in rust), but I haven't done anything else in the way of performance mods.

I got to thinking, will it be worth the $ and effort to mod this engine to death, or should I just find a better engine (never tackled an engine replacement myself, but I figure there's no better to learn...)?

I respect your opinions on the matter. And if you think I should stick with the 305, what mods, in what order (bang for buck/difficulty of install), do you think I should do? If you think I should go with a new engine, any specific suggestions? I figure I can afford to save and spend $2, 3, mayyyybe 4 thou to do this right.

Thanks for your input,
JoelG

 

Well , This may not be the place to post.however Ill add my .02

You will have to decide your self. If your not satisfied with the power your getting now,,, Then drop in a 350, Everyone will tell you same, You will save money and time in the long run. Plus you will see better results. More products for the 350.

But if your going to be using a power adder, like NOS. you will have to build any system to handel it. And if you use NOS, you may not need a 350.

I have a 305, It came stock in my car. IM NOT DROPPININ A 350. Why should I ? I want to get the most I can out of a 305. And plus I don't want to spend the money on a 350.

hope this helps
steve



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92 Camaro 305 TBI Automatic
2.5 high flow cat, 2.5 pipes, 3.5in tip
shift kit
Tinted windows(legal)
Spark plug wires and plugs...
14X3 O.E. K&N Filter

Future mods.
Headers
any other advise on getting to 300+ HP would be appreciated. Thanks

11.0 Et @64mph on the 1/8 reaction time was 1.0+ with a 60ft at 2.5?(First run ever, didn't know which light to go on)
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System = Sony explode 5000 CD/MD receiver
Rockford 6x9 Fanatics
Rockford 4x6 Fanatics
Rockford 2 12" Hx2's
Rockford 1 farad cap
Rockford 800x2 Amp
Custom box
4gauge wire kit

 

During my college years I drove an 89 TBI Camaro RS with little mods here and there. Nothing major because we do have other prioties.
• First get a free flow cat-back system i.e. Flowmaster or Bola and K&N.

• Next a hypertech chip or JET off Ebay for $50 or under the thirdgen.org classified section (10-15hp).

• Obtain March Power pulleys for $93 crank and alternator via Summit or summit racing.com (10-20hp).

• Go to turbocity.com and get 1/2" TBI spacers and 1/8" Injector spacers (12 hp TBI spacer alone).

• MSD 6A helps on economy but runs $130

These simple bolt-on will yield at least 30 more horse power you can feel.

When you can afford to throw in Edelbrock headers, better heads, cams....might want to reconsider a 350 intead of plunging all in a 305. You get more bang for the bux with a 5.7 Liter.

Here are some misc:
• Swap in limited slip even if it's a 2:73 ratio....never will I go back to peg leg. The difference is like night and day.

• Incorporate a steering gear box off an IROC, TA or Formula......wow quick ratio makes it better to drive.

• Put in an Iroc wonderbar, Iroc springs, sway bar, better 16" with 245-50-16

Now that I am a college grad, I still have the 89 RS and an '89 GTA 5.7 350 to toy with. Looking for a Geo Metro for a winter car though......

 

well...i might be just repeating whoever posted before me, but maybe you should consider moding things that are unrelated to block size...so then you can mod some stuff up untill you can afford a bigger engine, then do shxt to the engine that is more specific...thats what im planning (actually to just mod it up, sell it and buy the same car in manual...)