I have a 84 z28 camaro w/305 and plan on adding this package:
- GM Performace Cast Iron Vortec Heads(w/Z28 upgrade kit, includes 1.5 rocker arms and valve springs)
- High Performance Crane Cam Camshaft and Lifters
- Edelbrock Performer Intake(w/EGR)
- Edelbrock H.O. Tubular Headers(Nickel Plated w/EGR)
- Edelbrock 650 or 750 CFM Carb
- Convert to Electric Water Pump
- Convert to Electric Fan

I am wondering if anyone has done this upgrade before(or anything like it), but regardless does this sound like a good package to throw onto my 305?

Dave

- Also does anyone have any idea about how much hp and torque that would add?? I know the vortec heads are said to add 20-40 hp w/o the z28 upgrade. Anything else you can add to that would be great....

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'89 RS 2.8L V6
'84 Z28 305 V8

 

Sounds like a good setup, dunno exactly how much it will make though, try it out on Desktop Dyno2000.

Also, I would htink twice before using an electric water pump... that is usually reserved as a race only thing.

 

A 650 cfm carb is too big for a mild 305. 550 or 600 with vacuum secondaries would be better. I would not use an electric water pump on the street either. What are the cam specs? Even with the Z-28 springs you need to be conservative on the valve lift with the Vortec heads.

 

LG4 or L69?

If the former, you'll have woefully low compression with 64cc heads. Either shave them, or go with real 305 heads. Even if L69, your compression will be rather low (although it'll probably still have more power).

The EGR won't work unless you plumb exhaust up to the intake manifold (the heads don't have crossover passages). Perhaps that's what you meant by your "w/EGR" addendum to your header choice. I hadn't heard that TES had an EGR kit available.

I'm not a big Vortec fan, especially on a 305. Not much of a TES fan, either. But they're both better than what the factory delivered.

 

I still have my stock Q-jet on mine, rated at 780 CFM....

Ditto on the electric water pump - race only, not dependable enough for street.

Never heard of vortecs on a 305, so I don't know.

TES headers will work great! At least they do on mine...

 

I would say 40-60hp if the heads chamber size doesn't cause problems and about the same torque gains. You should add a cat-back and high flow cat to help out first.

 

To answer all of your questions:
- the vortec heads accepted 292 -400 or something like that, but 305 was included that i know
- the vortec z28 package includes the heads being shaved
- yes they are egr compatible(including the TES headers)
- ricktpi: a 650 was the recommended carb size for the package, the person that emailed me said that a 500-550 would be an upgrade for a "stock" 305.
- and the max cam lift was .550 with the z28 heads
- and as for the compression..being that my 84 z28 has 8.5:1 i think...it is supposed to increase

I am awaiting definitive answers from the GM GOodwrench techs via email on this specific setup and its advantages and disadvantages so I will post them when I get them, but any other info would be helpful. So far the only other thing I think I could change would be to switch to an Eliminator Aluminum Vortec Intake(w/EGR)

I have spent the past week(which includes severeal hours a day) searching various websites with specs and other info so this is the package I came out with that is most efficient without spending upwards of $3000. The heads and intake(with all installation hardware) costs $900. As for all the other stuff I have, except for the carb and headers, which comes to about $700.

Its a nice setup for the cost which adds a significant amount of hp and torque over the stock setup.

I think the z28 lg4 puts out 150hp...so i should be putting out upwards of 200+ hp after the package addon(including the cam) which is good i guess for a 305 that isn't really all that beefed up. I could be wrong, but then again I don't know since I was not able to obtain estimated gains from all of the websites. I know the "base" vortec heads add 20-40 hp over "stock" 305 heads. And the z28 mod to the heads adds about another 10(only because of the valves and the fact that the rocker arms were not included in the previous hp addition). But remember 20-40 does not mean 40, just between 20-40 so I am not assuming I will gain 40hp. Add the cam, intake, carb and I should be doing well for a 305.

I just want something that is better than what i have that wont entail alot of work...it'll be mine and i'll be happy....

Thanks for the responses guys/girls,

Dave

 

pre: I have the high flow cat and a 3" cat-back that im taking from my 89 camaro and putting on the 84 z28 as a final step...so the entire package should be a great improvement from my end, basically based on what I have read in multiple parts magazine, websites, and posts on this message board....

please feel free to mock me and make fun of me if im wrong, but atleast have the common courtesy to explain why im wrong. not that any of u have done that, but it has happened in previous posts of mine.

thanks again,

Dave

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'89 RS 2.8L V6
'84 Z28 305 V8

 

right now I have the following
187hp 263tq rearwheel
226hp 316tq flywheel (20% loss)
You should see almost 220 hp at the rear and close to 300tq rear
Upgrade your ignition and cooling if you haven't

here are my mods
87 Firebird V8 305
LG4, 4 Speed Automatic, 42,000 miles
Air and Fuel Edelbrock 600 cfm Electric Choke Carb,Edelbrock Performer Intake Manifold,14" Open Air Cleaner, KN air filter
Valve Train Comp Cams Roller Cam 260, Comp Cams Roller Lifter, GM Aluminum 1.5 Roller Rocker Arms,New Springs and Retainers, Double Roller Timing
Exhaust Edelbrock Headers and Y pipe, High Flow Cat, Hooker Cat Back
Drivetrain and Trans Auburn POSI 2.73 gears, BM Megashiftet(rachet)
Cooling 165 thermostat, Fan on at start, New water pump
Electric New HEI Distributor, Computer Delete

 

Pre: so you have a stand-alone ignition and carb(otherwise non computer controlled)? and I too am planning on getting a lower temp thermostat, if i need to at all with the electric fan setup, I might just have the fan on all the time during the summer considering how hot it gets around here..but who knows. Anyways, I am trying to get a posi rearend for my 84...know of any place that has reconditioned ones?

Dave

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'89 RS 2.8L V6
'84 Z28 305 V8

 

(Disclaimer: I'm not trying to put you down here, just asking questions to make sure there is complete understanding.)

Is it possible you're confusing "EGR" with "A.I.R." on the headers? Like I said, I've never heard of "EGR" headers, although I have seen people use an A.I.R. header port to feed exhaust gas up to the intake manifold for A.I.R. function when using heads w/o crossover passages.

Where did you see this Vortec upgrade? I've heard of a high-lift cam mod Vortec package that includes better springs (like Z28 or LT4), cut-down guides, screw-in rockers, etc., from SDPC. But, they were not shaved to 58cc (although I'm sure they would if you asked).

If you want to keep the work down (and expense, for that matter), I'd suggest abandoning the Vortec route. They're okay heads, but for a 305 that all you want to do is improve power, they may not be the best choice. If you have 350 dreams in the future, might be easier to justify.

I'll add my sig this time so you can see the package I put together. The track numbers translate to ~250 hp at the wheels.

 

Sorry, it was "my bad"....the description of the headers was "for use with EGR equipped vehicles" and yes it was A.I.R.. I read it wrong. As for the Z28 moded headers it says shaved in the description of the upgrade so I am assuming they shaved it somewhat, to 58cc i do not know...but I am only writing what I read and have not been able to find the package anywhere else so I can not compare it to anything.

As for the 350 route...well if i can use all the accessories from my 305 and drop a 350 crate into my car then I would do that, but so far I have not been able to get a detailed outlook on the project because most questions involved 305 carb to tbi/tpi swaps and not enough info is provided when I do find one about a 305 carb to 350 crate. If you have any ideas or know of a website that fully details all the aspects of dropping in a 350 crate.

Dave

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'89 RS 2.8L V6
'84 Z28 305 V8

 

I think the carb choices you have are extreme even for a modded 305 have you considered a 600 holley? Definately get a cat back, Dynamax has a nice system that is 3 in I have on my 305 with the ported heads its a great inprovement. Good choice in cam Have you decided to upgrade the tranny too?

 

I was thinking the Vortecs would be more reasonable now if you were thinking of putting a 350 shortblock in sometime in the future.

The Engine Swap forum on this board has a bunch of threads about swapping a 350 crate in place of a 305. There's a recent one asking if the CC carb can handle a 350 (the answer is a resounding "Yes").

By the way, I see no need to buy a different carb. The CC q-jet you already have (assuming your car hasn't been hacked up) is the best street/economy/performance carb out there (until you get really wild with the cam - at which point the "street" part is severly compromised, anyway).

 

yeah i am going to upgrade the tranny..im thinking B&M Transmission or I may buy one from JEGS, but I dont know at this point because my main focus is the engine(thats all I really have funding for). Ummm....but I realized that I could drop a 350 into my car, it would just be a LOT more time and effort with switching all the parts from the 305 to the 350. It might however, be significantly cheaper than upgrading my 305. I dont know right now, we will have to wait and see what the future brings for this project. THanks for your posts!!

Dave

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'89 RS 2.8L V6
'84 Z28 305 V8