I’ve been reading this msg board for a while and I find it very helpful. I didn’t want to do any mods in my car yet, since I’ve only had it for 3 months and it’s my first car, I wanted to take my time to get to know it. I had to fix a bunch of things on it, but I’ll explain that later. A little bit about my car: it’s an ‘88 Trans Am with a 305 TBI (48,000 miles) with a 5 speed. The original
owner just got a $2500 paint job on it before she (that’s right a she) sold it. This car hasn’t seen winter yet, or weekdays for that matter (mostly driven on Sundays and sometimes on Saturdays
and I’m not joking). When I was 6 and saw the auto show ( I live by Detroit) I kept going back to a black Trans Am. I said to myself, I’m going to have a car like that when I get my license, so I
got a really nice car and I’m quite happy with it, except that it could be a little faster. So I decided
to put a few mods in it now that the computer learned not to stall when coming to a stop from the
Freeway (it didn’t go over 35 mph for 12 years so I had to drive it like a maniac to get it back in
shape). Everything is good now. Fluids have been changed and everything was checked over,
TBI cleaned...For the mods I’m getting a Flowmaster cat-back, Edelbrock headers and open
element. I got some money saved up so I was thinking, what else should I do (I was thinking new
gears and posi-trac). I want to race this car, mostly on road courses, so speed is a factor in mods,
but I also go to the strip once in a while.So, I’d appriciate if you guys would help me out to find
the right mods to gain some hp and torque.

Thanks Again,

Ethan

 

Hey, Congrats on finding a VERY nice ride Ethan. And welcome to the board. I'm Eric. My car and stuff is in my sig.

So far it sounds like to me that you have a good plan so far. A good 3" exaust w/ Edelbrock Headers is what I did too and I loved it. I also put a Flowmaster 80 Series muffler on and added some chrome tips to mine. I really like the setup. Gears/posi is another awesome mod you will like. But if your going to keep it street/strip don't go any higher than 3:73's and I would buy GM Motive gears. I really liked them. So far, your setup sounds really good.

As for your racing deal. Are u just going to be cruising looking for a race at cruise nights or something and go to the track every once in awhile? If you are, don't go placing any bets on any 4th gen, even if its stock and even with the mods that u do. The LO3 isn't a super fast engine, even with the mods that your going to do. Stock, the LO3 runs a 16.0-16.5 in the 1/4 mile. But don't let that get you down or anything, with the mods that u will be doing, you will be low 15's.

Um, the open element is a good idea too, don't expect anything amazing from it though. Same goes for pullies & a spacer. But when they are all on together they work pretty good and then u notice a difference.

You will have lots of fun working on this engine. Even though it may not be the fastest thing on the road, its fun working with this engine and learning. Thats the way I look at it. I am aiming for high 14's with the mods I have done. I am going to take it to the track in the spring before I start my crate engine project. Thats another thing. Working with this engine will help you learn for the future if you ever plan on dropping in a bigger and better engine. You will meet other people on here that have done it and can help you.

Well, thats about it, have fun with this engine, don't make any crazy bets when racing oh and something else, if I was you, when cruising, go look for other 3rdgen cars to race. Thats what I do. I have raced a stock Z28 before 0-60 and it wasn't pretty. Even with the mods I have. He beat me by about 1 1/2 car lengths. But thirdgen cars are in a class of their own if you still have the original motor in there. Go look for formulas,RS's,other T/A's,IROC-Z's. You will have more fun racing those with the mods that u are doing cause it will be more fair. Highest hp level for a 350 in our 3rdgen year was the L98 with 245hp. Our LO3's came with 170hp stock but with the mods you are doing it frees up A LOT of hp in our engines. So have fun, be safe and drive responisable, don't want any news of some kid with a nice 88 T/A was killed cause he was going 100mph. Good luck and have fun.

------------------
Eric Natzke
91 Firebird 305 TBI (ZZ4 summer of "01")
ASCD Ram Air Hood-3" custom exaust-Flowmaster 80 Series-No Cat-Edelbrock TES Headers (coated)-March Pulleys-TBI Spacer-K&N Open ELement-TransGo Shift Kit-B&M Supercooler 28,000 GVW-Hypertech Thermomaster-160 Stat-3:42 GM Gears-Auburn Posi Unit-Edlebrock Strut Tower Brace-MSD Superconducters-Accel Cap & Rotor-MSD Blaster Coil-Rapidfire Plugs-265/50/R15 Tires-Emmison's all Gone
http://members.aol.com/j007golden/91firebird.html

 

Oh, and I made a little site that talks about all the mods that I did with my 305. What to expect, what not to get, what not to do. I made it to help out other people that are just starting with their 305 tbi's. Has everything from gears and headers to wires and chips. Here is the link.

http://members.aol.com/j007golden/modeval.html

 

Thanks for the reply. I'll probably go for the GM Motive gears (3:42 ratio). As for the racing, it's something I want to do on a regular basis. Where can I go and do that? I don't know if there are any road courses around here. Where can I get the gears from? What kind of posi-trac should I put in?

Ethan

 

look at my sig for good power and handling mods. i would suggest getting in touch with your local SCCA region to learn more about the racing in your area. autocrossing is a great place to start learning before you actually go to a full blown road coarse.

lata
tim

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91 Camaro RS-LO3,Auto.
14.390 @ 94.99mph
Edlebrock TES Headers, Cat Eliminator Pipe, Borla Adjustable Cat Back,Marche Pulleys, HyperTech Chip,Transgo Shift Kit,B&M Convertor(2000stall), 36mm Front 25mm Rear Sway Bars, Eibach Pro Kit Springs, Bilstein Shocks and Struts, Steve Spohn Rear Rig( all rod ends), Poly Front Bushings, Baer Track Kit Front Brakes W/ Baer Disc Rears, 17x9 4th Gen SS Wheels, Ported TB, Edlebrock Performer TBI Intake, Performer Heads, 1.6 Roller Tipped Rockers

 

to the best of my knowledge AUBURN limited slips are about the best thing on the market.
that's what SLP installs in the FIREHAWK.

 

hey if u want gears and a posi unit SLP has u covered. They have the Zexal torsen differential, choice of 3.42 3.73, and 4.11 gears and it comes with an alluminum differential cover all for 299$ So if u want gears i would act on that. It would save u alot. BTW i have 3.73s in my 5 spd and i think they are alot of fun. Gave the car alot of nuttz.

------------------
1989 pontiac firebird
bright red exterior(just repainted)
grey interior
5 spd
305 TBI (stock)
WS.6 formula wheels
3.73 posi rear end
-------------------------
system: 2 10" MTX thunder 2000 in a Professionally done custom bandpass box.
Blaupunkt CD player
Blaupunkt 4x6 and 6x9
600 watt rockford fosgate 4.6 amp

thinking about a flowmaster

 

Thanks for all the replies! I looked at SLP's site but I couldn't find the posi unit, only the gear sets. Do the cold air induction kits work? They seem expensive, I'll probably go with just an open element. I heard of autocross before, but I'm not sure, could someone explain what it is, and how can i get into it? I want to get the posi and the gears done soon, with the cat-back and headers and open element.

Ethan

 

Those aren't for our kinda injection systems. Those are for TPI cars. But just to awnser your question, from what I hear, yeah they work pretty darn good.

------------------
Eric Natzke
91 Firebird 305 TBI (ZZ4 summer of "01")
ASCD Ram Air Hood-3" custom exaust-Flowmaster 80 Series-No Cat-Edelbrock TES Headers (coated)-March Pulleys-TBI Spacer-K&N Open ELement-TransGo Shift Kit-B&M Supercooler 28,000 GVW-Hypertech Thermomaster-160 Stat-3:42 GM Gears-Auburn Posi Unit-Edlebrock Strut Tower Brace-MSD Superconducters-Accel Cap & Rotor-MSD Blaster Coil-Rapidfire Plugs-265/50/R15 Tires-Emmison's all Gone
http://members.aol.com/j007golden/91firebird.html

 

K&N has something like the cold air system for carb and tbi cars. I think its like 200$ could be wrong on the price though

 

autocross is kinda like a road race in a mall parking lot.
it is what would happen if a drag strip had a kid with a road course.
basically, it is a course that is timed from end to end, much like a drag race, that matches you against the clock with no other cars next to you or near you. the "track" is laid out with cones being used as gates that you will go through. the speeds are fairly low, at most local events you won't even get to out of second gear. while that seems slow, you have to realize that there is a lot going, so it is really fast when you are trying to do it. try going to the scca home site, www.scca.org to find your local region and there schedule.
one warning, no matter how well you think you can control your car, you will prove yourself wrong at you first event. learned more about controling a car in 2 autocrosses than i did in the 7 years i drove before attending an event.

lata
tim

------------------
91 Camaro RS-LO3,Auto.
14.390 @ 94.99mph
Edlebrock TES Headers, Cat Eliminator Pipe, Borla Adjustable Cat Back,Marche Pulleys, HyperTech Chip,Transgo Shift Kit,B&M Convertor(2000stall), 36mm Front 25mm Rear Sway Bars, Eibach Pro Kit Springs, Bilstein Shocks and Struts, Steve Spohn Rear Rig( all rod ends), Poly Front Bushings, Baer Track Kit Front Brakes W/ Baer Disc Rears, 17x9 4th Gen SS Wheels, Ported TB, Edlebrock Performer TBI Intake, Performer Heads, 1.6 Roller Tipped Rockers

 

Man the open air element UTBI mods and turning up the FP took off 4 tenths and I picked up almost 4mph. It works. After you do the exhaust that is. Then again a cowl ind. hood helps too.