Okay, here's the deal. just bought a '89 RS with 94k on it, stock 305 TBI (L03), stock everything, 'cept the stereo (it's not there, hehe, weight loss!! not really, I need to get a new one), drives great, clean inside and out (literally, I think they powerwashed the engine before the dealer put it on the lot). Ok, first thing I'm going to be doing is refurbing the suspension with KYB's (I'm on a budget so no Bilstiens) and probably a new panhard rod and lower arms (any suggestions?), eventually a posi.

ok, so what is a good first thing to do with my L03? Remember, I'm on a budgets, so no $1000 heads or a blower, hehe. I'm trying to do everything out on paper first, plus i'm going to eventually move up to a 350 in a few years or so. This car's a keeper, so it needs to last, and be streetable. thanks for any help you guys give a newbie!

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Hondas get all the girls.
Camaro's get all the women.

'89 Camaro RS T-top L03, no mods.... yet.

 

Easiest 1st mod: 14x3 open element air cleaner (K&N or Edelbrock make good 14x3s, Edelbrock also makes a cool triangular one) - ~$50

Best SOTP difference mod: headers &/or catback (I just installed headers, 3" cat, and catback all at the same time, so I can't speak much to the exact relative differences, but I'd suspect headers give best bang for buck). This will run you in the $100s easily - check Jegs, Summit, etc. for pricing. Hedman headers are cheap and install OK, people here seem to think SLPs are the best (they're definitely way more expensive than the others!). I like my Hooker catback, some people like Flowmaster better -- probably not a very significant difference in flow, but a definite difference in sound...

If you're strapped for cash, you can get a chip, underdrive pullies, a 180* thermostat (for the summer at least), maybe a TBI spacer, shave some weight off the car (ie remove smog pump, hehe), but you won't be too thrilled by any changes these give by themselves (if you even notice a change).

Oh yeah - search this board and you'll see your exact question come up like 1 million times. I'm being pretty redundant above...

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Joel Geerling
Red 91 Formula, 305 TBI
Edelbrock 14x3 open element
TBI 1/2" spacer
Hypertech street chip
Crank/Alt Pulleys
180* stat
Hedman hedders, 3" cat, Hooker catback

 

Hey, welcome to the board. You sound EXACTLY like me when I first got my car. I didn't put anything on my engine that couldn't be swapped to a 350. I made a site JUST for people like you that want to learn to mod their 305 TBI's. It the second site in my signature and I have had many compliments on it. It has pictures, part numbers (the march underdrive pulley one is wrong though, they changed it) descriptions how this mod felt before and after, do's and don'ts and installtion instructions. I suggest you go with the open element mod as your first modificiation. You won't experince anything CRAZY from it but you will gain around 5hp and learn more about your engine the more mods you do and deeper u get into your car. So check it out and good luck. If u have any questions, a lot of us can anwser them and if we don't we know someone that does or just e-mail me. Good luck!

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Eric Natzke
91 Firebird 305 TBI
"It Ain't Stock"
http://members.aol.com/j007golden/91firebird.html
For info on certain parts or mods go to the site below
http://members.aol.com/j007golden/modeval.html
[This message has been edited by 91Bird305 (edited December 05, 2001).]

 

N20 wet kit, cat back exhaust (SLP), Rear Gear. (3.73 works very nice). These 3 items will give instant gratification. The little mods are nice when aded up together. (air filter, chip, pulleys) However I would not waste money on a chip if you plan on upgrading the motor anyway, but that depends you could buy the chip enoy it for a few years then sell it on ebay to get some cash back. Thats why I saved the box it came in!

Things you need if you plan on making serious power:

Sub frame connectors

Traction devices (lift bars, or adjustable torque arm with upgraded panhard bar and lower control arms)

Driveshaft loop

Aluminum driveshaft

Upgraded cooling system


Things that WILL break if you ever make serious power:

Transmission:if 700R4 needs rebuild do it right the first time upgrade everything.

Rear-End The 7.5" 10-bolt is garbage the 9 bolt Australian is not much better. This is expensive to upgrade but worth every penny. 12 bolt with c-clip eliminators leak. 9 inch is the way to go. When durability is concerned forget about brand loyalty.

Your bank account/credit card: This game is not cheap buy any means but you can save a ton of dough doing alot of the work yourself.
Alot of the "spare parts" you will accumulate on the way can also be sold to offset some of your expenses.

For example when you build the 350 you could sell the 305 for a few hundred bucks and use the money for your cooling system upgrade(a Be Cool 4row alum. radiator costs $500!!) or whatever.

I would not recommed engine mods on a motor you plan on getting rid of anyway... N20 is an exception since you can reuse it on the 350.

 

Thats what I mean when u buy mods, make sure there swapable. Like, underdrive pullies, open element, Headers/cat-back. Stuff like that.

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Eric Natzke
91 Firebird 305 TBI
"It Ain't Stock"
http://members.aol.com/j007golden/91firebird.html
For info on certain parts or mods go to the site below
http://members.aol.com/j007golden/modeval.html

 

I just put in a 14x3 edelbrock pro-flo, got it at autozone for $30, took a little tweaking to make it fit, but that was just bending the mounts on the coil so it wouldn't rub, and bending down (to the side actually) the throttle bracket top so that the cruise wouldn't rub either. Tried it out, wow. most of it is nice sound, but it really makes a difference on the top end, pulls to 4500 much better, probably since it can actually breath now.

on the nos, i've never been a fan of it, yeah, i know if you do it right it works great. but do something wrong... you're walking home with your wallet screaming in agony. I prefer all motor, eventually i will drop a super on it, but that's a long ways off.

Fortunately I lucked out and got the t-5, i really can't stand auto's, too many things to break. And yeah, I do all the work myself, except when it comes to machining or welding, other than that i can take care of it. Soon though I'd like to learn how to weld.

As for a chip, I'm probably going to save up and get a haltech unit, I'm a techie so computers are my game, anything electronic, i can usually figure it out. that way if i go up to a 350 i just reprogram the unit.

thanks for all your help guys!

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Hondas get all the girls.
Camaro's get all the women.

'89 Camaro RS T-top L03, no mods.... yet.