Okay I know I'm cheap, but I have $500 burning a hole in my pocket. What should I blow it on? The K&N X-TREAM Open Element assembly looks great but is it worth the $120 they're asking at summit?

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1992 Pontiac Firebird (stock)
- 305ci V8 TBI / Automatic Trans / Every option, excluding leather
- Killer car audio system:

• Aiwa CDC-MP3 head unit
• Rockford Fosgate 360a2 amp
• pair of 12" MTX Thunder 5000s in a custom box
• Pioneer 3-way 6x9s, soon to add more more more!

 

I do also need a new catalytic converter, so someone recommend a few.

 

Uhhh... What are your future plans? 350? 383? Bigger? If that's the case I'd throw the money at some gears for the rear - probably 3.73's, or at the least 3.42's. I wouldn't waste, errr... I mean "spend" the money on the 305 unless it's something that will be able to go on a bigger engine - if that's in your future.

Try a Catco catalytic converter, they're good and relatively cheap at around $100.

 

I know I WANT to put a 350 in my car, but not just yet. I'm only 17, and I can't afford any more troubles (IE gas, insurance, etc).

I will be modding my 305.
Aiming for low 14s

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1992 Pontiac Firebird (stock)
- 305ci V8 TBI / Automatic Trans / Every option, excluding leather
- Killer car audio system:

• Aiwa CDC-MP3 head unit
• Rockford Fosgate 360a2 amp
• pair of 12" MTX Thunder 5000s in a custom box
• Pioneer 3-way 6x9s, soon to add more more more!

 

Okay, how about a stereo then?

Just kidding. Like I said, if you're long range plan is a different engine then plan mods that will swap or are unrelated to the engine. Gears (this includes posi), headers, catback, tranny shift kit, SFC's, tubular LCA's, LCA relocation brackets, new shocks/struts, lowering springs. You have to look at a lot of this stuff as if they're "systems" because they are.

If you lower your car with lowering springs, then you might as well replace your shocks/struts (and if you're really thinking far ahead the motor mounts as well since you're in there) at the same time. Since your geometry was just changed by the springs now you need to install LCA relocation brackets to get the correct angle back there. Since the LCA relo brackets require you to remove your LCA's you might as well replace them with tubular aftermarket pieces. Then comes an adjustable panhard bar to re-center your rear end, again due to the geometry change. Oh yeah, anything that has bushings in that is being replaced you might as well get polyurethane or polygraphite while you're at it. SFC's, wonderbar and strut tower braces tighten up the whole feel of the car when driving. Get the front and rear WS-6 sway bars from a junkyard and you're hooked up.

Now, once you have your posi, gears and tranny shift kit installed you can actually put the newly reclaimed horsepower to the pavement better. AND it will all carry over when you get the cash for a bigger engine together.

Just my two cents worth.

Darth Steve

 

hell fukn no.
$500= heater valve delete $10, Open element $40, gears $400 or v6 rear end $50, LT1 cam $25, single plane intake $100, SLP take off posi$140?, magnaflow catback$???, straightpiped cat $2.00, cheap headers or custom Y pipe with 3" cat less than $200.


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-Tas
'89 Formula WS-6

305, TBI, auto, 14x3 chrome flat based open element with K&N, Milodon 160* thermo, functional Formula hood, cross-flow Flowmaster, '99z28 rear pipes and tips....

Soon to be installed:
Hooker 1-5/8" 50 state legal headers, Dynomax 3" I pipe (PN 44063 and 43248), Catco 3" cat, and injector spacer.

Super GRK_Taz World
F-Body Dual Exaust
EFI & Intake Options
AOL IM: superGRtaz

[This message has been edited by Tas (edited July 03, 2001).]

 

What are you trying to gain? The three things I would suggest to make your car just more fun to drive(not an all out drag strip stormer) would be, a good sounding muffler of your choice, gears and shift kit. A good sounding set of pipes you will enjoy every time you fire her up!!! If you dont have money for a full cat back, just put on a good sounding muff for now. How handy are you? The biggest bang for the buck for noticable power I have found is gears. Where I live the You Pull It yard has 1990-92(28 spline axles, should you choose to use a SLP $99 posi) V6 3.42 rears, $50 you pull it, $75 they pull it!(just look for a clean lower milage car) If your real cheap just install as is and smoke that peg leg brother!!!!! Next on my list would be some sort of shift kit. Nothing makes a car feel faster than catching rubber into second gear. Even if you aren't handy with a wrench, for $500 you can buy these pieces and have them installed. Oh, I would buy any cheap open air cleaner I could find for $20-$30. Just my thoughts!!! Looks like Tas already had all my good ideas!!!

[This message has been edited by ahusted (edited July 03, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by ahusted (edited July 03, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by ahusted (edited July 03, 2001).]

 

those cheap air cleaners aint so cheap after you've replaced a couple of paper filters. Get a K&N and never change one again.

 

I want to stick with my 305 TBI for some reason. I plan on staying 305 TBI for a long time. I just want to hit low to mid 14s by either gearing or adding more horsepower.

Im so confused on what i should get, hehe

 

I agree with getting a K&N (I have one in everything I own) But if someone isn't into cleaning it on a regular basis a paper filter will do. $3-$5 bucks for a replacement filter aint much. If you'r only going to keep the car for a year or two why pay $70 for a K&N? Summit does sell a reuseable K&N copy for $30-$35 if that interests anyone.

 

I think Tas spelled it out for you what to get. Maybe not in that exact order but he has listed all the parts you need to reach your goal!!

[This message has been edited by ahusted (edited July 03, 2001).]

 

Or you could ride that thing down to Virginia Beach and see if Scauffiel will part with his new 385. HA! You should check out his site and look at what a clean detailed engine bay with a lets say, "motor belonging in a third gen!" Very nice! When he gets it tuned you'll see how one of our cars should run. Good luck.

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91 RS 350TBI..... Vortec heads..... Holley 670..... Edel. intake .... Lt4 cam 1.6 rollers ..... Edel. TES headers .. 3" exhaust ..... 5spd 3.08

 

Well... Let's say that just ain't gonna happen! By the way, I guess I should get a high speed sig with photo in it huh? Seems to be all the rage nowadays...

DS

 

Huh? It only takes a couple minutes to clean a K & N filter. And also you only have to clean them every 10,000 miles. K & N actually suggests cleaning them 50,000 miles, but that won't happen here in Texas. Too much dust.

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'87 Silverado
350 4 bolt main bore .040 over
TB Injected
Ported and Polished heads
Comp cams 268h cam and top end
Flowtech headers
3.73s on Detroit locker

 

Well I expected to see more on-topic answers because I planned on ordering soon.