I have an 87' IROC-Z with the 5.7L TPI engine and auto transmission. I was just wondering if anyone could give me some tips on gaining power without blowing the bank. Turbo chargers, superchargers, and NOS are out of the question. I would appreciate any tip I can get.

 

Well if you've ruled out Turbochargers, Superchargers and Nitrous, it looks like the only thing you have left is a ram air set-up with a Tornado thrown in there for good measures. The ram air with the Tornado should be good for about 60hp at the wheels. :sillylol: :sillylol:

Robert

 

really, then I'm throwin away my homemade leaf blower supercharging system:sillylol:

 

Your best bet is to ask this in the TPI section.

 

I have an '83 Z that I've done some simple things to gain some needed power. First, I ordered a lightweight flywheel which weighs 15lbs. Then, this summer I'm planning on replacing my cat with a random tech cat. I don't really know what kind of HP I have, but my goal is a low 200 HP. I'll be satisfied if I run 15.3 after I'm finished. I stole these ideas off of the '83 HO camaro. These were some of the mods between my crossfire and the HO version. If anyone else has any ideas to add, I'm all ears!

 

I replaced the wheezing 305 carbed (145 hp ) in my 82 with a complete 85 tpi 305 and then added a built 700r4 (mild stall), 3.89 geared open rear early model moser 9" and bald 295/50/15h (1.8 60ft) herb adams solid control arms and panhard, worn out factory struts (but new rear shocks), no front swaybar (still cornered acceptably), ported MAF, opened air box, K&N's, air foil, a small amount of race gas, timing advanced, hypertech thermomaster and thermostat, no smog pump belt or power steering belt (not recommended), knock sensor disconnected, and I replaced my cat with "nothing" (punched), I ran a best of 14.50 and around 90mph on a 14.55 dial in at 0 feet sea level (sears point raceway). I have never been so happy to break out but the car usually ran 14.57 consistently. I had just disconnected the battery and I think it has something to do with it also. so I did it all again on a time only run went another 14.50 put my belts back on reconnected my knock sensor and went home to contemplate a bigger motor. shortly after when I moved to wyoming (6000 ft) I put in 4.10 gears, posi, and M&H racemaster tires but only went 15.3 because of the altitude. I hope this helps you because it was my only 305 escapades at the track. P.S. this car passed calif emmisions with flying colors with everything hooked up even with the punched cat.

 

Cost is relative.

So far I've got $300 in my car, $200 in a pair of turbos, $200 in a set of 77# injectors, $20 in a set of headers, $34 in a top engine gasket set and a bunch of hours in it. I suspect that I'll be able to get the thing up and running for about $200 worth of fuel system stuff, $$$ for and aftermarket ecm and stuff that I've got sitting around my garage, basement, attic, dad's house (I think that I can get most of the oil plumbing out of the $5 pep boys miracle parts bin, I bought all the stray parts that my local pep boys had to re box, shelve, just pick up off the bottom of the hardware isle buy offering the manger a few bucks to save him the hassle, and it's got piles of fittings, even some AN stuff that I've never seen them carry, mostly AN to NPT adaptors), parts that I make myself and probably $100 worth of odds and ends (gaskets that I bugger up, bolts that I can’t find...)

On the other hand, realistically, by the time I finish this and am happy enough to admit that it’s something that I made… I’ll have thousands in it and plenty of blood and sweat of my own.

You’re asking for power and not spending money… Not going to happen unless you’ve got loads of parts sitting around or everything you need to make them yourself. If you had those you wouldn’t be asking the question.