Firebird Fly

Anybody got any cheap easy ways to improve the TBI on my 88 Formula 305?????

Blue1990camaro

iTrader: (1)

get rid of the TBI and go TPI or carb.

camaronewbie

There's a ton of posts here on modding the 305 TBI motor, use

In the end, they are all very disappointing. Don't spend cash on anything that won't connect to a 350 - that leaves you with exhaust and rear gears - beyond that you're wasting your time money.

Blue1990camaro

iTrader: (1)

what i say is grab urself some nice long tube headers, high flow cats, nice exhaust system, and a gooooddd rear, and maybe a shift kit, i had n 85 305 TPI z28 with a 700r4 with a shift kit and leme tell ya, if u laid into it wen it shifted it would spin tires at second gear it hauled ***, and it was only a 305 i swear it had to b a 350 when i first drove it

UnderCover89TBI

iTrader: (25)

this is a once a week post...do a search! read the sticky threads up top!

paul_huryk

TBI has the same restrictions that kill power on the LG4 cars - too small an exhaust, single snorkel intake, retarded timing...

camaronewbie

At least the LG4 cars have nice heads (416's) as opposed to the swirl-port boat anchors that the TBI got.

the solitaire

Well, you start off with a 305 cid engine that works.

Oh, and not a lot of power.

Some say that that´s bad because it´s the well known underpowered TBI engine.
I tend to disagree.

The rotating assembly does not determine the eventual power output. I agree when people say that the rotating assembly is limiting because it will not hold up above X HP.

A rotating assembly and block with more displacement will potentially allow for a higher power output, but not everyone wants a 9 second car.

If your goal is to go somewhere between 250 and 300 HP you might as well stick with the rotating assembly you already have.

A set of heads (look for some used heads that require little porting and machining),
full exhaust (that can later go to a bigger engine if you decide to go that route after all),
cam (a good time to fit nice new valve springs etc. and if you pick your cam well you could take it along),
intake (could also be transferred but likely if you plan to swap later on i is very well possible you choose a different fuel injection type)
a programmable ECM like EBL or similar (that can also be used on a different engine)

So the only parts you will really loose and investments you would not see returned if you ever swap to a bigger engine, are the heads and the machining and work you put in the engine. The rest depends on how you plan your build, and which parts you determine to buy.

If you do however build a 305 and are happy with the 250-300 HP you have, good for you. I know it will suffise for me once I´m done because I do not intend to race the car.

Further additions that will transfer to a different engine:
rear end (3.42 posi?)
shift kit, stall, corvette governor etc. (a transmission only holds that much abuse, untill a rebuild is required and that again is an opertunity to improve parts you can re-use later on, regarding on what you do with the car)

Nope, I do not find that upgrading a 305 is a total waste.

thomas1976

paul_huryk

LG4 heads suck too... Regardless of what you have heard.

d00012

With a 305...cheap power won't be had. Unless you score at a swap meet or craigslist.

Cheapest is a 350 TBI swap.

The stickies have pretty much all the information you need.