what would it take to run low 14's with an lg4?
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: piscataway,nj,usa
Yes it is possible to get 14 teens out of your 305.
Here is a list of things to do.
1) Cam! Get that cam out of there!!!!! The cam in your car is one of the smallest cams GM put into any car. I have had very good luck with compcam. I have a roller in me comp cam part 8-304-8. Get a cam that specs out similar to this it is a very good all around cam. The key to a good selection for a cam is the centerline of course you need the duration and lift but the cam center line will help a bigger cam be livable in a small motor etc. (that's a whole subject by itself)(and don't forget to do the the valve springs!) Or you wont make the power you want.
2) Headers and exhaust.
3) Intake manifold.
4) Power pulleys
5) 160 temp
6) A good chip (get a custom chip) not from hypertech etc (they are not worth the box they are printed on)
7) Gears get some 3.73 or 3.42 gears in there to help the little motor get out of the whole faster.
8) Detail. Make sure all of the horses get to the ground, what I mean by that is.
Good control arms (I use Lakewood there cheap and do a great job)
Replace the tranny mount and the torque arms with polygraphite from places like (PST 1800-247-2288)
While your down there a good aluminum driveshaft will help free up some horsepower.
9) If you have auto get a stall speed converter to match your combo (that is good for at least 2tenths or more!)
10) If you want to dip in into the engine big gains can be seen from a good set of heads (like world product) or a good set of Aluminum L98.
Some good tips for the track. Disconnect the sway bars this will help tire spin because it helps the car transfer weight to the back. Run ½ a tank of gas and pump up the front tires to reduce rolling resistance.
These lists will defiantly get you into the low 14 teens or high thirteen’s and surprise a lot of those MUDSTANGS!
Sorry for the long response but I am tired of people telling everyone the 305 can’t run. THIS IS NOT TRUE. GM has severely handicap these motors and with a little work you can make these motor sing.
If you would like more detail info please let me know.
Jim
[This message has been edited by firebird87 (edited October 24, 2000).]
Here is a list of things to do.
1) Cam! Get that cam out of there!!!!! The cam in your car is one of the smallest cams GM put into any car. I have had very good luck with compcam. I have a roller in me comp cam part 8-304-8. Get a cam that specs out similar to this it is a very good all around cam. The key to a good selection for a cam is the centerline of course you need the duration and lift but the cam center line will help a bigger cam be livable in a small motor etc. (that's a whole subject by itself)(and don't forget to do the the valve springs!) Or you wont make the power you want.
2) Headers and exhaust.
3) Intake manifold.
4) Power pulleys
5) 160 temp
6) A good chip (get a custom chip) not from hypertech etc (they are not worth the box they are printed on)
7) Gears get some 3.73 or 3.42 gears in there to help the little motor get out of the whole faster.
8) Detail. Make sure all of the horses get to the ground, what I mean by that is.
Good control arms (I use Lakewood there cheap and do a great job)
Replace the tranny mount and the torque arms with polygraphite from places like (PST 1800-247-2288)
While your down there a good aluminum driveshaft will help free up some horsepower.
9) If you have auto get a stall speed converter to match your combo (that is good for at least 2tenths or more!)
10) If you want to dip in into the engine big gains can be seen from a good set of heads (like world product) or a good set of Aluminum L98.
Some good tips for the track. Disconnect the sway bars this will help tire spin because it helps the car transfer weight to the back. Run ½ a tank of gas and pump up the front tires to reduce rolling resistance.
These lists will defiantly get you into the low 14 teens or high thirteen’s and surprise a lot of those MUDSTANGS!
Sorry for the long response but I am tired of people telling everyone the 305 can’t run. THIS IS NOT TRUE. GM has severely handicap these motors and with a little work you can make these motor sing.
If you would like more detail info please let me know.
Jim
[This message has been edited by firebird87 (edited October 24, 2000).]
Supreme Member
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 18,457
Likes: 16
From: Loveland, OH, US
Car: 4
Engine: 6
Transmission: 5
The first big choke point on that setup is the exhaust, all the way from the heads to the street. Get a set of headers for a TPI 350, the cat, and a 3" catback, for the same application. DON'T waste your money on doing it piecewise: the LG4 crap is tiny, and the L98 stuff is much bigger, so they won't bolt up. It's all or nothing.
The next problem is the cam. You have the infamous "peanut cam" you have probably seen bashed before, which is I think the least cam Chevrolet has ever put in a small block. The Comp XE262H works great.
Next, if it's legal to do so in your area, get rid of the computer, and put a non-computerized carb and distributor on it, along with a good small dual-plane intake such as the Performer. I'd suggest a Holley 6210 which is a spreadbore 650 CFM mech sec dual pump unit, and a DUI distributor.
Some of the other things you might want to look at are an electric fan, good for 5 to 10 HP, and an air cleaner from a L69 (HO) which is another several. In 83 for example, the 305 HO was rated at 190 HP, the LG4 at 145. They have the same heads and intake manifold. The carb, distributor, cam, and pistons are different; the HO has an electric fan and the dual-snorkel cold-air induction system; and 2½" headpipes and the huge oval Y-pipe & cat & 2¾" exhaust pipe, compared the little weenie grocery-cart things they stuck on the LG4. My car was good for somewhere between 14.8 and 15.1 bone stock except for minor tuning tweaks.
No one of these mods by itself will do a whole lot. But taken together as a group, they're probably worth 60-70 HP. Like the other guy mentioned, by the time you do all this, you'll be into traction problems, so some suspension work will be the next order of business. Plus you have crap gears, like 3.23 at best, while the HO cars like mine came with 3.73s.
------------------
"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
The next problem is the cam. You have the infamous "peanut cam" you have probably seen bashed before, which is I think the least cam Chevrolet has ever put in a small block. The Comp XE262H works great.
Next, if it's legal to do so in your area, get rid of the computer, and put a non-computerized carb and distributor on it, along with a good small dual-plane intake such as the Performer. I'd suggest a Holley 6210 which is a spreadbore 650 CFM mech sec dual pump unit, and a DUI distributor.
Some of the other things you might want to look at are an electric fan, good for 5 to 10 HP, and an air cleaner from a L69 (HO) which is another several. In 83 for example, the 305 HO was rated at 190 HP, the LG4 at 145. They have the same heads and intake manifold. The carb, distributor, cam, and pistons are different; the HO has an electric fan and the dual-snorkel cold-air induction system; and 2½" headpipes and the huge oval Y-pipe & cat & 2¾" exhaust pipe, compared the little weenie grocery-cart things they stuck on the LG4. My car was good for somewhere between 14.8 and 15.1 bone stock except for minor tuning tweaks.
No one of these mods by itself will do a whole lot. But taken together as a group, they're probably worth 60-70 HP. Like the other guy mentioned, by the time you do all this, you'll be into traction problems, so some suspension work will be the next order of business. Plus you have crap gears, like 3.23 at best, while the HO cars like mine came with 3.73s.
------------------
"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
Member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
From: North Vancouver, BC, Canada
My LG4 car runs (on the *** dyno & compared to local 5.0's) mid 14's providing I get traction. In order, this is what was done:
305 Block bored .30" over.
JUNK rebuilt kit, (I didnt do it!!) Garbage pistons, heads weren't cleaned up, yadda yadda. Lame 8.5(?) compression maintained.
Competition cams grind XE262H (I believe) added.
Large 3" pipe added behind cat, yet 2.5" pipe dumps outta the cat. (No idea here)
Flo-Pro muffler added.
** I buy the car **
Edelbrock TES headers, (for 305, yes yes i know) added.
Edelbrock open air element added.
I think that's it. =)
Oh yeah, the rear-end is 3.73 one-tire-fire. Does this seem right to anyone? It's weird.
Anyway, off the line I have traction difficulties, and the 1-2 shift is a little sick as well. All in all, I would have spent the extra 500 bucks on the 350 core, but I guess buddy before me wasn't thinking, or, judging by the rebuild, was hurting for $$$.
The 305 is a good motor, all SBC's are. If you wanna go fast on a budget, buy parts you can swap over to the 350 if you eventually blow your 305 (like I will, tee hee, oops).
Later.
Edelbrock Performer intake manifold added.
305 Block bored .30" over.
JUNK rebuilt kit, (I didnt do it!!) Garbage pistons, heads weren't cleaned up, yadda yadda. Lame 8.5(?) compression maintained.
Competition cams grind XE262H (I believe) added.
Large 3" pipe added behind cat, yet 2.5" pipe dumps outta the cat. (No idea here)
Flo-Pro muffler added.
** I buy the car **
Edelbrock TES headers, (for 305, yes yes i know) added.
Edelbrock open air element added.
I think that's it. =)
Oh yeah, the rear-end is 3.73 one-tire-fire. Does this seem right to anyone? It's weird.
Anyway, off the line I have traction difficulties, and the 1-2 shift is a little sick as well. All in all, I would have spent the extra 500 bucks on the 350 core, but I guess buddy before me wasn't thinking, or, judging by the rebuild, was hurting for $$$.
The 305 is a good motor, all SBC's are. If you wanna go fast on a budget, buy parts you can swap over to the 350 if you eventually blow your 305 (like I will, tee hee, oops).
Later.
Edelbrock Performer intake manifold added.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 20,981
Likes: 11
From: Mercedes Norte, Heredia, Costa Rica
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop
Engine: 383 Carb
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44
Of course, by the time you've replaced the cam and heads, it's not really an LG4 anymore. 
------------------
1984 Silver Z28, 383 cid 4 bolt, ARP Fasteners, 2 1/2" Cowl Induction Hood, 600 cfm Performer Carburetor, Torker II Intake, Performer RPM Heads, XE268H Cam, Magnum Roller Tip Rockers, MSD6AL Ignition, Blaster2 Coil, Recurved HEI Distributor, 700R4, TransGo SK, 2.73:1 Limited Slip Dana 44, Terminator Headers, Custom 3" TIG Welded Stainless Exhaust, Flowmaster Muffler, 4 Wheel Disc Brakes, Oil Cooler
------------------
1984 Silver Z28, 383 cid 4 bolt, ARP Fasteners, 2 1/2" Cowl Induction Hood, 600 cfm Performer Carburetor, Torker II Intake, Performer RPM Heads, XE268H Cam, Magnum Roller Tip Rockers, MSD6AL Ignition, Blaster2 Coil, Recurved HEI Distributor, 700R4, TransGo SK, 2.73:1 Limited Slip Dana 44, Terminator Headers, Custom 3" TIG Welded Stainless Exhaust, Flowmaster Muffler, 4 Wheel Disc Brakes, Oil Cooler
Supreme Member
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,593
Likes: 3
From: out of my mind; be back in 5 minutes....
Car: 1989 Firebird Formula
Engine: Internal Combustion
Transmission: Completed
Axle/Gears: ones that turn.
More traction is about all I need, besides a fresh engine...2.45 second 60-foot times don't cut it
Pete
------------------
Pete's Place
HiOutput <a href="http://www.hioutput.com/rpmworld.html">Virtual Racing Team</a>
<IMG SRC="http://www.hioutput.com/pics/SC.gif" TITLE="Pete's 83 SC">
My 83 SC...(originally V6) 199,000 mile LG4/5-speed from an 84 Z28, 3.42 one-tire-fryer, T-tops, PW, PH, gray interior from an 86 Firebird SE, seats from an 89 Formula, wheels from an 83 Z28, springs and rear bar from an 84 Z28, WS6 front bar, boxed LCA's, Hedman Hedders and y-pipe, Dynomax cat-back, .420" lift cam, Accel HEI Supercoil and foam air filter, custom air induction through 84 Z28 hood.....best ET on paper is 14.935@94.14</P>
Pete
------------------
Pete's Place
HiOutput <a href="http://www.hioutput.com/rpmworld.html">Virtual Racing Team</a>
<IMG SRC="http://www.hioutput.com/pics/SC.gif" TITLE="Pete's 83 SC">
My 83 SC...(originally V6) 199,000 mile LG4/5-speed from an 84 Z28, 3.42 one-tire-fryer, T-tops, PW, PH, gray interior from an 86 Firebird SE, seats from an 89 Formula, wheels from an 83 Z28, springs and rear bar from an 84 Z28, WS6 front bar, boxed LCA's, Hedman Hedders and y-pipe, Dynomax cat-back, .420" lift cam, Accel HEI Supercoil and foam air filter, custom air induction through 84 Z28 hood.....best ET on paper is 14.935@94.14</P>
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