i know a little bit about how cars work, but that's not much to help me out.
i have a stock '86 Camaro Z28, LG4 (V8 305), quadrajet carb, auto, presumably 700R4 trans
I've got a lot of questions:

1. I have a limit of $2500 - $3000 CAD to spend.. what are the most basic upgrades to be able to increase low-end / mid-end torque? (ex. exhaust..do i have to weld the exhaust?)

2. I'm thinking about doing the Ram-Air mod, but I live in canada where it'll snow for half the year. Do I have to remove the mod when it's snowing?

3.
I'd like to do the first, K&N filter (is this open element?) to ram-air, but i guess that's not possible with carb? or is it?

i'd have to do this instead?..i can probably find a dual-snorkle aircleaner somewhere.. how can i install a K&N filter to my carb?
is it better to have the long hoses for ram air or a hose to bring the air up and then the filter to bring it to the ...wherever it goes?

hmm.. i had more questions but now i can't remember them..

 

for your carb you'd prob have to get an open element air filter with the KN on there, the first pic you posted is of the tpi setup so that won't work for you, the second pic is the way to go. as for running it in the snow, i don't think it should be too much of a problem, just don't drive the car in heavy snowstorms, which you shouldn't really be doin with rwd cars anyways and youll be alright.

For basic upgrades i'd def start with the KN filter, 3" catback exhaust (welding is not required but it ensures leak free piping), and headers. that'll at least get you on a good start.

oh also before you do any mods at all, throw some subframe connectors on there especially if it has t-tops and you'll never look back.

 

thanks

can you buy an open element filter to put onto the aircleaner?
the k&n website searcher only found an air filter and an oil filter for this car..

i also forgot to ask:

since i'm in canada is there a good distributor up here that i can go to for most of my needs? or will i have to deal directly with the individual manufacturers?

as well, what are good manufacturers to go with ?

Mac? i read an article saying mac's subframe connectors were good, so should i just stick with them for header/exhaust?
and is this what you were talking about?

Mac

i'm also assuming the headers are bolt-in...something i hope i can do

 

hmm..i'm thinking i need to take a basics course first

 

well first of all what id like to ask is, Do you have emissions testings where you live, if not, horsepower can come fairly cheap

well other than your normal tune up stuff, plugs, wires, dist cap, rotor, coil.
1.) 14x3 K&N open air element and cleaner lid and base.
2.)headers
3.) 3 inch exhaust pipes
4.) new intake manifold, edelbrock performer is good from idle to 5500 rpm

5.)new carb
6.)new Rear end gears. 3.73's. along with posi traction
7.)heads, ported polished. milled for higher compression.thinner head gaskets as well.
8.)cam shaft
9.) convert the engine to roller.

that about the brunt of it other than getting a bigger engine and doing the same mods. if you have 3 grand to spend, perhaps you should start looking at engines? or save up another 6 and get a 383 with 410 hp out of the box. its all up to you.

you can either have pride in building the engine yourself, or have pride that you have a deep enough wallet to affoard a pre assembled performance engine.

any questions, IM me on AIM AspiredTwo

 

no i don't have emissions here..

 

can you guys help me out some more?

like estimate prices, and perhaps manufacturers to go to for the specific parts?

thanks

(sorry i don't have AIM only messenger and ICQ)

 

Since I started driving about 30 years ago, I've NEVER owned a front-drive vehicle. I've drive through snows that were anus-deep on a 10' indian - many of them with a '67 Firebird, and not had a problem. I guess for the 80+ years before Lee Iacocca brainwashed the public into thinking that FWD was actually an advantage for traction, all those people really didn't drive in winter. It was just their imagination. Yup...


Incidentally, you can get a K&N element to fit your stock dual-snorkel air cleaner. If you decide to take off the air cleaner and trash it, send it my way.

 

If you drive the car in winter, you really might not want a posi axle. Anyone who has driven an 'F' car in the snow with posi would know what I'm talking about. Just take your foot off the brake at a stoplight, and start sliding sideways down the crown of the road. Yeah, that's good for traction.

As usual, the power you make will be limited by the heads and cam. Get a spare pair of '416 castings, a die grinder, fit in some 1.94" intakes, and learn to port the heads. Install a decent cam kit with lifters, springs, studs, and rockers, and then you can start to play with the exhaust. Your carb will flow enough to feed a 454 Chevy, 455 Olds & Buick, 472 and 500" Cadillac, etc., so you should have no problem tuning it to your 305's most voracious appetite for fuel.

 

speaking of which i might be selling my ported and polished 416 casting...any offers?

 

he aint bs'ing on that, same holds with rain soaked roads.

the cons of a posi

 

where the hell do you live in canada that you can get away with no emissions? In most of ontario the smog police are so tight they practically have a finger up your butt and youre still 3 years away before your car fits into the 20+ y/o car category.

 

i'm in alberta...i don't believe the provinces between BC and ON have emissions...