This is my first time posting here, so I'll give some info. about myself and my car. I'm an 18 year old college student from Massachusetts who has very little money to spend on cars. I don't know much about cars so please excuse my ignorance. My car is an 89 Camaro RS with an L03 305 TBI. It has about 160k miles and the engine seems to run pretty strong. It has a T5WC tranny. It's got a 3.08 POSI rear end. Yes, I'm sure of that. I really don't know much about the history of this car so I don't know if it was ever rebuilt or anything. It has cat-back Flowmasters and it's got a chip in it from tbichips.com. I run 93 octane and I get absolutely no pinging or anything, for the record. I don't know much about the technical details of cars, so if you need more information, I'd appreciate it if you could give perhaps a link about it (unless it's truly obvious). My dad was a mechanic so I can get him to help me with some things but he has a bad back so he can't do too much.

But my problem is that it's just a damn slow car. I'm not expecting 300HP or anything. This car is said to have 170HP stock. I'm thinking the exhaust and chip should bring that to 185-190HP at least. I haven't put it on a dyno or anything but I'd be surprised if this thing had more than 150HP. My friend has a 98 Jetta with a 2L that has no turbo or anything and it zooms past mine. It doesn't bog down or anything, though the engine seems to hit peak power around 3k. Is that low? It seems low to me. It runs smooth at all RPMs and speeds. The air filter and fuel filter are not old and I do run FI/carb cleaner once in a while. Like I said, I don't know too much about this car but I can find out if you provide a link on how to find out or I can ask my dad.

I looked for about 4 hours thru forum threads today and I couldn't find any that matched my problem, but if I missed any then please feel free to point me that way.

I don't want to spend a lot of money on this car. I'm a poor college student and plus the engine has so many miles. Like I said, I'm not expecting 300HP but I do expect to be able to beat a 2L Jetta. If I still have the car when I get out of college or if I get a decent job during college (unlikely), I'll consider spending some cash on it. But right now I just want to get what I should be getting out of it.

 

first off you didn't specify if it was an auto or manual, I'm assuming auto. also are you sure it's TBI, I thought they stopped making TBI cars long before 89. it may be TPI in which case I believe 3000 is just about right for running out of breath. something to do with the runner length on the intake.

probably the combination of TPI and 3.08 gears is whats hurting you the most. the 3.08's will make the car a pig out of the hole and the TPI will choke it on the top side.

of course, I'm just guessing here since all I have is carb. cars.

 

Oh, sorry! Completely slipped my mind. T5WC manual. (Note: auto comes with 2.73 by the way) I'm absolutely positive it's TBI.

 

TBI was made all the way into the '90s i beleive. Those TBI engines weren't performance engines IMO, they were only available so you could get V6 gas mileage, but say you have a V8.

First, unless its already been done recently, give it a tune up, then once its all set up right, you can start performance mods. You would be surprised how much power will slowly disappear when an engine goes for a while wothout a tune up. Sometimes you can really feel the difference after a proper tune up.

Now... probably the most productive place to start is the exhaust system and the rear end. I would have the rear end changed to a 3.73 gear ratio. That will make for more torque multiplication to the wheels, giving it more grunt.

The exhaust system is the next thing I would do. I'd suggest a set of 1-5/8" shorty headers from Hooker or Hedman, as well as either buy an exhaust system from a company like Flowmaster or have one fabbed up for you at an exhaust shop.

The exhaust fix alone will probably kick you over 200hp if the engine is in good shape, and the 3.73 gearing will take better advantage of that power boost.

 

How much is that stuff going to cost? I don't know how to do any of that myself so I'd probably have to send it out to be done.

I replaced the plugs not long ago. I'm running Bosch platinums. I know I shouldn't have got them but Autozone was out of ACD plugs and I didn't feel like driving further. I also replaced the distributor cap and rotor. Will be taking a look at the timing this weekend if the weather is ok. I do oil changes regularly. Anything else need to be done?

 

Get out now, the thirdgen F bodies require lots of knowledge and cash.

305 TBI with those miles would be doing good to run a 16 second quarter mile, it never was a "performer".

 

Well, thanks to those who actually tried to help.

 

Sorry, just trying to be truthful. These cars do require a lot of time, maintenance and money, and as they get older it just gets worse. They are not a car I would reccomend to someone in your situation.

 

If I had lots of money to spend, I'd have an LS1 and T56 put in, but that'd be way too much for me.

 

Your question is kind of subjective, you need to figure out if your car has a problem, or your expectations are the concern.

Have you ridden in another RS to compare?

 

Well, I guess you can keep guessing until you get kinda close to right. It is an RS, he said with a T-5, and they never put TPI on an RS so he must be right about the TBI.

Dan RS, the gears and exhaust are good but your heads are hurting you more than anything. The L03 came with the horrible swirl-port heads to make more low end torque. That is alot of what is killing off your top end performance. Make sure though that there isn't another problem like a plugged catalytic converter or something else holding it back. Hope this helps.

 

Actually, I've never ridden in another RS from what I can remember.... But I still think I should be able to beat a stock Jetta. Well, ok, I think he has a chip in it.

 

That's what used carlots are for

 

For those posting suggestions, first of all thanks a lot and I was just wondering if you could include some estimates of what things would cost for parts and for labor? If I get a decent job next summer (like the one I had this summer-they said they will hire me next summer if they can), then I can spend some money on it-just not several grand or anything.

Note, though, that I DO plan on having a ThirdGen when I'm done with school. I'm not sure if it will be THIS car or not, though.

I've been searching the forums about Vortec heads... I've been hearing that you need to do intake and cams too otherwise the heads will be useless..Is this true? What gain would I get if I used Vortec heads while leaving the other stuff alone (for now)? Also, what parts would you recommend to go with it? I'm going to keep my 3.08 unless I can get it changed to 3.42 for real cheap. Also, if I did that stuff, wouldn't the TBI itself bring the whole power way down? If so, what kind of upgrades would I be looking at for that?

Edit (to add): Would it be worth adding stuff now and perhaps having the engine rebuilt in a couple of years, or should I just wait a couple of years and get a new/rebuilt engine?

 

Well with Vortec heads you HAVE to change the intake, the bolt pattern on them isn't the same as "stock" heads.

If you aren't going to do the labor yourself you can figure on a few grand for the mods listed.
Headers cost about $150 for cheapies up to $500 (SLP Stainless), BUT the labor charge for installing them is going to kill you, figure most places charge $50/hr minimum for mechanical work and there really isn't a "flat rate" for things like headers. So, if it takes them 10 hours to put them in..... $500 please.
Heads, cam and intake will have a shop flat rate, ask what it is before you have them do it.
Rear end work is another expensive job, upwards of $1500 depending on what you have done.
Exhaust work is not too bad unless they are making you a "custom" install, that runs into big $$$ too.

None of what was discussed here is going to be very affordable unless you do it yourself

 

Would it be worth it? Depends on what you mean by worth it. I have a 305 right now and don't mind investing a little into it. I've swapped my intake manifold, added headers and a cat-back exhaust and got rid of the emissions crap (before 83 ). I'll probably throw a new cam and some self-ported heads on this winter also but its only to make the car a little more fun to drive until I get the funds to build a 350. Whatever you do, don't rebuild the 305. The money would be better spent on a 350.

Also, where in Mass are you from???

 

I'm in Worcester.

 

I suggest you check out the tbi board. True, these cars are not the best performers stock, but there is a ton of upgrades you can do to increase their performance. BTW, I ran a 16.3@82mph bone stock in my 92 RS. Only got 2 runs in and think with a little more practice in seeing what the car liked I would have got her into the 15's. Not too bad for the little old stock 305 tbi. I would suggest gears and exhaust first.

 

Eh, at least you apologized, I have to be at the other end of the spectrum though on your opinions, these cars are perfect for someone his age that is interested in cars. Their fuel injection systems are somewhat easy to diagnoise and repair, as well and every other system. All you need is a $220 craftsman tool set, a torque wrench, and jack and jack stands. Spending $400 will make it so you can do every repair necessary on these cars. Not to mention compared to most cars (ford) the parts are pretty cheap.

But back to dan, if you feel that your car is too slow, do a basic check up and get a chilton's repair manual. Mainly:

Check everything for a tune up, being said again but it's necessary. Check/replace the plugs, wires, cap/rotor and the ignition timing.

Fuel pump and injectors, look in the throttle body to see if they are running well.

The CAT, trust me, a clogged cat REALLY REALLY kills power.

 

the B4C's got 350 TPI's

 

they could also come with 305 5 speed tpi's.

 

I still stand by what I suggested.

- Tune up
- Exhaust
- 3.73 gears

That IMO is the best way to go because it will be faster as well as sound faster, but those mods also won't ruin your gas mileage or make for constant maintenance like some others will.

Oh... that reminds me... if you do get a set of headers, count on having to retighten the header bolts that hold them to the cylinder head about once or twice a week for about the first month they are installed. Not really a big deal, only takes about 10 minutes to do, and all you need to do it properly is a torque wrench (some people manage with only a regular wrench or ratchet though), but just a little forewarning

 

3k is low for an LO3...mine pulls to about 4500 and at around 4700 I think it falls on its face. My engine does have 60K less miles than yours, but I don't think it should bring you down that much. I say first thing you should invest in is a good tune up.

 

I can go up 'til around 4k, but it just doesn't pull as much after like 3k.