I'm a stupid newbie, I will warn you of that right now. I was racing my 85 Camaro and it totaly sucked. I got beat every time I raced tonight. All I know about my car is that its pretty much stock. Its got a K&N air filter on it and also a flowmaster. I wanna know what I could buy to get better acceleration outta my car. What parts should I be looking for? What cheap/little things can I do? I got an ADS Superchip, but from what I hear, they suck..Any help guys?

Thanks!!!

PS: Sorry for being stupid. I don't know car talk. I wish I did.

 

I think the best bang for the buck to get "out of the hole acceleration" is to change your rear end gears. Just my 2 cents

 

I own an 85 IROC, LG4 as well. Check my mods for some ideas, especially the carb stuff. The tech board will show you how to do those mods. I have no experience with chips, but I've heard that on a carbed car, they're not really worth much. Advance the timing on your own and save some money. If you want to learn more about cars, hang around the boards, ask a lot of questions (members here are cool about helping newbies), also do searches. You'll find that many of your questions will be answered there.

JamesC

 

thank you for your help guys, I'll look in the tech board!

James Curtright

 

you'll feel more with a gear change than most mods you can do for the same money

 

How much money will I have to dish out for one?

 

Out of curiosity, what transmission are you running: 700R4 (auto) or T-5 (5 speed)?

JamesC

 

700R4
Sorry, I didn't think to mention that.

 

You need a better set of gears!

My 85 Z28 came with a 3.42 posi very reponsive at any speed, I miss that car. All the other rear ends Ive seen are for crap highway gears. If you have a TPI its a 3.23 posi disk which is alright. If you have a carb most likely you will have the standard 2.73 open or a disk setup with more crap 2.77 or so highway gears. You need to pull the cover off the differential and find out.
A 3.42 setup will be the cheapest most bang for your buck item you can you can get. I got the 3.42 setup for my bird $100 at the bone yard, made a world of difference over the 2.73's. When I did the swap I honestly thought someone dropped a 502 under the hood while I wasent looking, it made that much of a difference.

Side note: Since I had the camaro 1st then latter got the bird I had no idea GM put these crappy gears in these cars for weeks I was wondering what was wrong with the bird since it had no power compared to the camaro.

 

So, if I got one, would I need to buy anything else to go on my camaro so it could handle it? If so/not, how much would it be to have everything installed?

 

a good dual plane intake with a decent carb and a good set of headers are also a good bet (following gears, if thats the path you wish to take)

 

As has been stated, pull the diff cover and find out what gears you're running. By the way, my carbed car has 3.23's stock. Anyway, you need a gear check to determine what carrier you'll require. 3.08's down require a series two carrier, 3.23's up, a series three. Check Summit or Jeg's for prices on gear sets. Guys who've swapped gears step in here. I "imagine" total cost--gears, installion kit, and labor--would run in the $300 to $450 range. A cheaper option would be to purchase a rear with the gears and brakes (possibly even a posi) you want. I have a yard nearby with a drum 3.73 for $150, for example. Though this is less important, you'll need speedo gears if you care about knowing how fast you're going. That swap, as I understand it, is simple.

The following are GM numbers stamped on the ring gear:
41 : 15 = 2.73
40 : 13 = 3.08
42 : 13 = 3.23
41 : 12 = 3.42
41 : 11 = 3.73

These are the RPO codes that might help you narrow you search--but I WOULDN'T count on them:
GU2 = 2.73
GU4 = 3.08
GU5 = 3.23
GU6 = 3.42
GT4 = 3.73

JamesC

 

Thanks for all your help. Though I'm still a newbie, I am learning! You all have been a real big help!

 

Since you are a newbie to this area I'd highly suggest you forget installing a set of gears and just find a V6 bone yard setup. Its actually cheaper then installing a set of gears provided you can swap the rear end yourself. Of course this is all pending until you find out the actual ratio.

 

Well my father is the lead mechanic at the local Acura dealership. Whatever I want to do, he will probably help me. He doesn’t know that I want to do this right now. I just want to know what to buy, and how much to expect. Would going to a V6 have better performance than my current V8? Sorry, more newbie questions.

Thanks!
James

 

no
ssc told you to find a v6 setup cause a lot of them came with 3.42 gears stock

 

A V6 rear end is the same except for better gears. Find an 89+ one and it will have better axles if thats what your looking for. Doesent really matter to me which I use as long as it isnt a 2.73 axle. Its just alot easyer to drop in an enitre rear end then change the ring and pinion. With your dads help I bet you guys could knock it out in about an hour and a half. I do swear if you have 2.73's or 3.08's a 3.42 will give you exactly the performance you want.