Ok guys, I'm looking for some different options here. My car needs more power. This is what I am running.

I have a 1988 Camaro, Vin code E.

305 TBI, newly redone headgasket and valve job, also a new oil pan and oil pump. I have made all the modifications to the air cleaner assembly. I'm also running a 160 T-stat. I have a set of emission legal headers from edelbrock, new cat, and a 3" flowmaster exhaust. I have a 5 speed Borg Warner tranny with a stock rear end with 3:20 (estimate from memory) gears.

Now I want more power, but I need to keep emission legal, and for right now, heads or a port job on the heads is out of the question. I just got that thing fixed and I don't feel like tearin it all apart again.

I've thought about the throttle body spacer but I hear that doesnt do much, and I've thought about underdrive pully's but I hear that puts too much of a drag on the alternator. So I guess I am looking for some advice here.

Do I go intake and throttle body? If so how does that effect my emissions, computer and fuel pump. If I can make some changes, how do I keep emissions legal and how do I tune this all up? I guess i have a really clean car at this point with a nice sounding exhaust and I want to make the next step. I'm sick of coffee can exhaust, **** burning P.O.S's beating me all the time, its time to make this camaro get some nut.

Lemme know your suggestions, and Thanks in advance!

 

First off, don't do any mods to the stock heads. Fix them, but don't modify them. It is not worth it to get anything done to them. They are kinda crappy. Trust me, I know.

I think your next mods should be the ultimate TBI mods, adjustable fuel pressure regulator, and a TBI intake manifold. You got plenty of air going out but not as much is coming in.

When you say you have done all the mods to the air cleaner, do you mean you still have the stock one, or an open element? If your state doesn't have a visual inspection, you can get an open element air cleaner and probably still be emissions legal.

To be honest, I can't verify if you will still be emissions legal, but I would bet you will still be. Doing these mods won't do affect anything that has to do with the computer or fuel pump. Your car will be faster but should definetely still be emissions legal.

The only thing that I think could make you not emissions legal is if you did the AFPR and adjusted it too rich or lean. If you just put it back to the stock setting you won't have any problems and you can then slowly bump pressure up and down to your liking.

I'm not sure how well a TBI spacer is, but I would suggest an injector spacer. It raises the injectors up and allows a little more air in.

One more thing, is your cat a high-flow cat or a stock replacement? A high-flow cat will give you a little more performance and you can still stay emmisions legal and even still have the hook-up for the AIR tube connected.

Sorry I couldn't help out a whole lot, I don't live in a state with emissions so I can't give you all the info your looking for. I hope this helps you out, though.

 

Thank you for your response, this definetly helps me out. To answer your question, I have done the mods to the stock air cleaner.

So what your saying is, get an open air element, save the stock for emssions

As far as the throttle body, is there an aftermarket one I can stick on there that will give me better performance? or will that screw with my computer. I understand that the exhaust is more free flowing and i need more air and fuel going into the motor now, but is that stock TBI unit able to produce more fuel, and if it is, wont I need a bigger fuel pump?

As far as the intake, I figured I would need a new one, any suggestions on what I should get for my application?

Let me know, and again, Thanks in Advance!

P.S. the cat is a stock replacement, I just bought it =(. It seems alot different than my old cat, I'm sure it flows better than what was on there.

 

1.6 roller rockers

LT1 cam

Edelbrock TBI intake manifold

3.42 gears w/ a posi (although technically it doesn't make power)

. . . and COMPUTER TUNING!!! (which you'll need anyways w/ the cam)

If you just did a ultimate TBI and changed the manifold, you would probably be VERY disappointed in the power gains. Those mods are meant to compliment other things.

You'll definately feel the improvement in your butt dyno w/ a cam swap, and I'm saying just go ahead and do the 1.6's since you'ld already be in there.

And I'm just telling you computer tuning, because I promise you somebody else would have said it if I didn't.

P.S. - Do your timing chain while you're in there.

 

I have the same engine and did some mods such as: TPI heads, L98 cam, 1.6 roller rockers, Hooker supercomp headers, 3" cat, Borla cat-back and a dual snorkel. And I acutally ran slower! It's all about the tuning. It is the most inportant piece of the puzzle. But once I get that in place I should be able to run in the 14's. Currently I am at 16.2 and still tuning.

 

So how do you go about tuning your computer? Do I buy one of those chips like the ones Jet makes? Otherwise the only other thing I can think of that I can tune is my timing and fuel pressure.

Also, how exactly to roller rockers help compared to stock?

 

dont waste your money on jet or hypercrap chips, you can have tbichips.com make you one that will perform better, or at best you can get into chip tuning yourself.(doin a search will turn the info you need)

those mods listed in the above post are a great start, but i wouldnt waste your time doing it if your gonna keep the stock swirl port heads, a set of TPI heads are your best option if you cant afford to dish out megabucks for new aftermarket aluminium heads or S/R torquer's.

roller tipped rockers eliminate a great amount of friction which might free up a couple ponies and 1.6 ratio increases lift, although with the stock heads and depending on how many miles you have on the valve springs it might be wise to get new springs-but thats why its a good idea to get heads when doin a cam swap-you can replace everything.

 

Ok thank you much! A few questions.

First off as I mentioned I just did a head gasket job on the car. The heads were gone over, hot tanked, machined and all the valves were gone over and anything needing attention was replaced.

Now if I were going to get some TPI Heads, will heads from a 350 fit or do I have to find 305 TPI heads?

Also I went to ebay to check on LT1 camshafts. Is there a certain one I should stick to? Or just grab any LT1 cam. Currently there were 2, one from a 95 impala and the other from a 94 z28.

And are we on the same page when I say that you suggest I don't do anything to the motor until I get better heads? So if I were to say, get a duel snorkel air cleaner, a TBI Edlebrock Intake and a LT1 cam it wouldnt be worth it until I got some better heads?

I have my 305 here, it runs very well and I do not want the hassle of putting in a 350, mostly due to $$ and the fact I need to pass emissions. So I'm just looking for the next step to get some more (noticable) power out of this motor.

Oh and BTW I included a pic of my car so you guys can see what I got

My father and I did all the work ourselves, 7 months to restore the car

 

Well you will have to plan out your mods. Headers are good no matter what heads you have. A cam will show gains with the stock heads but you'll get much more out of it with different heads.

The intake has to come off to change the heads, so it would be good to do both at the same time. Unless it will be a while before you do the heads.

TPI heads can be had for less than $100. Some machine work will be a few hundred. The casting numbers you are looking for on the heads is '081'. Casting number '416' is good but you will need an older intake with a different bolt pattern. Or modify your current bolt pattern. I have the '416' heads. If I had it to do again, I would wait and find a set of '081' heads.

 

FYI, if it's still the stock rear-end and your car was originally a manual, then you have 3.08 gears... Took me a while to figure that one out about my own car!


Bruce (90RS305)

 

See if i had known how much the TPI heads were gonna cost i'd would have got those instead. I did exactly killerbee did and dumped $ into the stock swirl port heads-which 1 was a mistake and 2 I dont expect to get much flow/power out of these heads. But I did have the machine shop chop off .015 of mat'l not that itll help but what the heck.

 

do searches.... read past threads....

you feel like 99% of the people that have ever come to this board.

Please do some research... your answers are here for you to find already....

 

Yeah, but these are easy replies, and I increase my post count.

 

exactly, gunny. i'm determined to pass you by 01.01.05

 

killerbeeiroc

Welcome to the board.....

Nice looking car. From what I can see you and your dad did a great job.

Now having said that and reading that you have the breather and exhaust completed you should try to do some chip tuning before going any further. It will help in the long run if you learn while your car is almost stock and you're not having to learn to do the tuning after major changes and you are trying to get the car to run worth a crap period let alone tune for the goal which is more power.

Then get some better heads, intake and a camshaft. The before mentioned TPI heads are pretty cheap and you could learn to do porting with them. The heads probably make the most power gain of the parts so don't skimp there. There are plenty of post on the TBI, TPI and tech/general engine board with pics, step by step info and some flow data. Also search for L98 head post as these are very similar with lots of info there also.

Later

DM

 

Everyone really hit it on the head. You need to prep your car for power. You want to start with the simple mods like full exhaust, ultimate TBI mods, and open element and then go from there. A heads and cam swap should never be done without upgrading the stock fuel system and burning new chips. Check out the new to TBI thread here about what heads and cams out there make good partners with TBI systems. I garantee you will find your answers in there. Good luck and happy modding.

 

put a hemi init

 

Why would I put something less powerfull and efficient than an LS1 that was desinged over 7 years ago? Daimler has the best marketers for that stupid motor. Sorry, back on topic now.

 

 

One of you guys mentioned an injector spacer, can someone give me a link or a part number to a good one so I can look into that?

Thanks guys!

 

Jegs sells one for 20 bucks. I would try a search on thier site. They aren't really worth much in terms of CFM gains but every bit helps I geuss.

 

Another question. I'm looking into roller rockers. I have a link to summit racing, it seems the only thing I can find that will fit my motor. 88 305 Vin E.

Lemme know if you guys have any other suggestions and if not, are these a good deal?

Thanks

http://store.summitracing.com/defaul...ler+rocker+305

 

Those would work but you can get some 1.6 steel roller tips for less than that. Keep searching.

 

Shifty you're just too darn smart. I see why you're a mod! LOL

Try this http://www.salleechevrolet.com/clearance.html

Summit CCA-1418-16 $191.88

Sallee CCA-1418-16 $139.00

A little cheaper!

 

Knew I was makin' a good choice...