i was looking into buying a gta and in an add i saw "305 HO" what does HO mean? thanks

 

High output!! Not sure what the power specs are but they are greater than the regular 305.

 

cool! :lala:

anyone know the specs??

 

No such thing, really...

The actual HO motor was carbed. People put that after everything with a 305 whenever they think they can get away with it, to lure the uninformed.

The GTA was a mostly maxed out T/A, so they usually had the TPI motor. They were typically slower than a T/A with the same motor because they had more options (weight), but of course were the maximum possible Firebird. But, if they came with a 305, they might have come with or without the dual cat option in some years, which was good for a few extra horsepower. Some people might claim that ones equipped with this (G92 option) could be referred to as "HO" as opposed to the standard 305 TPI, but the factory never called them that.

It's a bit like the "motor from a Vette" claim, or the "police interceptor" claim, or any of a long list of other vague, equally unproveable and irrefutable claims designed to arouse curiosity and starry-eyed enthusiasm in a buyer. Ignore it, it is a typical used-car-saleman sucker line.

It might be a nice car, who knows. If you like it, buy it, pay only what you think it's worth. Don't pay an extra penny for it based on the alleged "HO" thing.

 

Thanks!

 

check out this page https://www.thirdgen.org/newdesign/tech/techdb.shtml it has HO listed for describing the type of fuel delivery on the L69 models for the mid 80s years. The LB9 for those years actually had more horsepower and torque with the fuel injection. And I believe the LB9 had a more aggressive camshaft than the L69 305. Whatever the add says check out the RPO codes to see what engine it came with. It is usually pretty easy to tell. Mine are right under the arm pad on in the center console and the LB9 or L69 are pretty close to the front of the codes if I remember right.

 

You got that right. When I bought my car, I was told it was an HO. Later found out it wasn't.

 

That was before 9000 posts , huh mark!!!

 

Awww. It's okay Mark, we still bow before your 8800 posts

(jeeze, I had to add 300 more since I last looked)

 

It's possible it's an HO if it's a Crate engine. GM labels the ZZ4 as an HO motor. See if the engine was replaced.

 

LOL. Unfortunately, I knew nothing of these cars when I went looking for one, let alone this site with all this great info. As you can tell.

I got a LG4, drum rear, 2:73s. Can't get much worse than that.
But it was a pretty red, tinted windows, and t-tops compared to my previous car , 4 banger 4spd Stang, I thought the IROC was fast.

 

Actually, Pontiac referred to the 305 TPI in some of its sales literature as an "HO" to set it apart from the TBI motor. So it is possible to refer to it as one even though those of us on this board use HO to refer to the L69 motor.

I actually replaced the 5.0 EFI hood decals on my Formula with 5.0 HO decals just because it looks a lot cooler and sets it apart from the TBI motors that had the same(5.0 EFI) decal.

 

p.s. its listed as an HO in my '90 brochure

 

I thought HO meant the car gar around alot!!! LOL My car was a true 305 ho until the weak 305 was switched for a 350.