Hey all. Well I have a 91 camaro RS 305 TBI setup. There is a bad lifter, and a bad seal in it somewhere. The lifter makes noise till it warms up, and the bad seal is causing a small amount of oil to leak into the cylinder when sitting (not running) and when the car starts up, it burns it off, and it runs fine. Oil isn't being burned or anything, just at that point is all. The exhaust smells a bit funny too, but don't think its oil.

Ok so here's the deal. I figure I want to keep the 305 cause I already have it and just up the ante on the parts and such.

What parts, would be best to add to this thing to give it some more ***** while making it run good?

Which websites/companies have good prices?

I would like to go for a TPI setup as well, is that an expensive thing to do?

This stuff won't happen for a while, but when it does I want to have some good research done in advance so I will know what to purchase/do. Any websites/info you can point me to would be of absolutely great help!!!

Thanks alot take it easy all!

 

I think you can buy a TPI conversion kit with everything u need from summit for under 2k.

www.summitracing.com

www.jegz.com is another great store

 

In the time you have before you start modding it, make sure your motor is in good running condition and fix any leaks. I'd hate to spend $$ on hi performance parts and then don't have enough to do a seal job cuz the problem has gotten worse.

As for parts, you can go to Summit, Jegs, JC Whitney, Thunder Racing or hawksthirdgenparts.com. I'm sure there are others but these are the ones I have bookmarked.

 

The oil leak is your valve seals leaking. To get more power pull of the heads port them out with Sitting Bulls instructions, and then have them rebuilt with better springs. Then install an new hydraulic roller cam like XR262HR from comp. I don't really like the idea of a TPI swap unless you can find a donor car and take everything from it. I would go carb, much easier and cheaper in the long run. But if you like spending money and time for little, by all means go TPI. Then add some nice headers, i like Hedman 1 5/8" With the y-pipe and 3" exhaust.

Do all this and you should have some decent 305 power.

 

oh yah, I got time till I fix all of this sttuff....gotta get the money first :-) So since the TPI setup is like 2K (eeeek!!!!) maybe I'll stick with TBI??? I dont'k now....

If I could find a donor car that would be great, which cars would be compatible?


Oh believe me I'll fix it all up and get everything running good before I just dump a bunch of moeny into some performance parts.


thanks! :-)

 

X,

As for the noisy lifter, it is probably caked with varnish and/or sludge in the check valve and/or pintle area. Just before your next scheduled 3,000 mile oil change, remove the oil filter, replace it with a clean one, then top off the crankcase with a quart of automatic transmission oil instead of engine oil. Start and run the engine until it is fully warmed. You may even want to drive it around a bit to get the RPMs and oil flow up a bit, as long as you load the engine gradually.

The ATF will not damage anything. It is an oil, but has a very potent detergent package to clean and keep particles in suspension (so your clean filter can trap them). Once it is hot and flowing, it should start to clean away a lot of the sludge and varnish that has accumulated over the years. After a thourough run-through, drain the oil and replace the filter again. Fill the crankcase with your regular oil and keep a good maintenance schedule. The lifter may clean up and free itself to adjust the lash. If nothing else, you have at least cleaned away some of the sludge and varnish that you would have encountered when you tear into the repair.

I've done this several times on older (and not-so-old) engines that have been neglected, and even quieted main bearing noises in the process. But don't just take my word for it. Search the archives. Ask around to some of your more trusted mechanics. I think you'll find that the practice is nothing new, and has been accepted for some time.

 

yah I've read about that all over the place, but still worried abou it. It just doesn't seem like it would be good on the engine to me. I'll ask around, see what I can find....thanks for the tips!!!

 

yea i wouldnt go tpi at all.... it's a waste in my humble opinion.... b/c the carb is cheaper and easier... plus if you decide to "up the ante" again maybe for an engine with more cubes say a 350.... with the proper carb and manifold you could swap it right on the 350 and the sky is the limit as far as parts go.... the tpi stops breathing at about 5500 so that limits you.... so carb is just smarter i think.

 

I understand carb gets more air (from what i've read in certain places) but isn't the gas mileage worse on a carb system? Plus warmin up the car is a pain from what i remember of my brothers 71 impala. (beutiful car BTW) Any sites with info on carbing 3rd gens? thanks!

 

just ask around here, my 83 camaro i have a 355 with a carb, i dont have a choke hooked up ether but if i go start her up and after maybe 5 minutes its blowin hot air through the system and running great, carbs are MUCH cheaper to buy, maintain and keep going. with fuel injection you need to get injectors, get them cleaned also having to deal with the ECU and such, also TPI falls on its face at around 4500 where carb doesn't. but any ways good luck with your decision.

Shean

 

how much worse on gas is a carb setup?

 

If a carb is setup correctly there will be no loss of driveability. Meaning that gas mileage will not suffer, and you will not have to let the car warm up. Go carb if emissions allows, unless you don't like money.

 

we don't have emmissions inspections here, so thats not a problem....I was always under teh impression that carbs were alot worse on gas....interesting....they really that much cheaper huh?? what kind of setup is good for the induciton of the actual air to the carb unit?

thanks

 

**** emmisions neway

 

Open element, a ram air system, or cold air induction work good in the summer. In the winter use a stock carb setup with warm air system, whatever its called.

 

running with teh choke stuck open, and a crappy 9inch by like 3 inch paper filter i still got 20mph on freeway and like 16 to 18 in the city.

 

hmmm well allright....thats about what I get on the TBI setup. So then why did they get away from carburation if it ran so well and so much power and same gas mileage roughly.....is it because of emissions?

thanks!

 

Well, I always thought they went away from Carbs because of the drivability issue. Let's face it. Carbs need occasional "tweaking" such as choke adjustments, timing and idle, etc...

Most people really don't like to tinker with anything on thier car. They want to add gas, oil and drive.

With sensors, computers etc found on a TPI system, those minute adjustments are automatically done for you...at least for the most part. I'd assume a TPI 305 would most likely get slightly better gas milage than your TBI. I could be wrong since I don't own one, but individual injectors distribute the fuel more precisely.

You only have one big injector with the TBI. And fuel distribution isn't any better than on a carb motor IMO.

I think a carb will match your TBI gas milage, and will be cheaper to convert to.

OK...done babbling

 

Yes they definitely went to FI for emissions purposes.

 

bah all of this is confusion in a bottle for me!!!! hehehe.

it seems everyone has their different feelings and input on all of this!!

 

That's kinda what the board's about eh??

 

this is true, i just need a set way to go though... and I don't know the pros/cons of each setup...

 

well yea this board is all about debating what is better etc... well nothing is really universally better.... but theres always something that's better for YOU and what YOU plan on using it for....thats your decision with how much work u wanna do and how much money u wanna spend.

 

I agree with the post above...

 

I am looking to get a good amount of HP out of the engine that I have. I hate the fact that a V8 can only have 170 HP.....thats ludicrous. I was looking to (at some point in time) getting the HP on my car to be at least 280 if not 300. Thats what i'm shootin for!!!

 

My car is a daily driver, therefore I prefer PFI. If I ever plan on racing this car I would probably go Carb, cuz I wouldn't have to worry about driving it everyday and therefore won't need as much reliability as I get from PFI. I'm also happier with the PFI setup cuz it's what I was tought. I'm more familiar with codes and using a scanner and reading flowcharts, etc,,,,than I am about how to tune a carburator. Like said above,,,base your decision on what you plan on using the car for.

 

The car is and will be my driver :-)