Hi Guys, I just wanted to get your thoughts on a few things..Ive been running the LO5 for a few years (45K miles) and have really enjoyed it..I bought it new from GM and until lately Ive had very few problems.. Im running it with my stock 305 set up: stock prom/ecm/tbi... I started haveing what I thought was a miss/drop out at idle..I tuned it up: new plugs, pcv, wires, cap and rotor, o2 sensor, made no differance, still sounded like it was gonna stall out at idle..A buddy suggested to check the distributer, and I did, it was very loose on the bottom, so I replaced it..Being the second rebuilt distrib. in only 2 years..Now the car runs a whole lot better, but still every now and again (very intermittant) it seems like it gets an almost miss, struggeling to maintain a constant idle level and will drop out like once, than be ok.. Seems weird because it will than be ok for a few days..The only other thing I can add, is that through all of this, the general performance has been pretty laim..Im still playing with the timeing setting, Im at 4 degrees now, and it still runs slow like a pig...The computer is stock, anyone think I should replace it?
Thanks for all you thoughts

 

sorry, forgot to mention, I had it scanned and there were no codes, it looks fine that way

 

are you sure its and L05? I ran my old 350 tbi with the stock 305 chip for a while and it ran like complete ***. You need a 350 tbi chip. You can get one from tbichips.com for like $30. You also need 350 injectors, a 350 knock sensor, and a 350 esc module. I hope you engine isnt damaged do to lack of fuel from the 305 injectors. I would at least get the injectors and chip very soon, both should cost you more $200. Then we will see how well it runs after that. Also you should check out the tbi board those guys over there really know there stuff. Good Luck.

 

This sums it all up. You need chip work bad. You have 45 more cubes than your previous motor and the stock parameters in the chip are so far off right now. Also, was this a stock LO5 replacment? If so you probably gained like 20hp. It still has junk heads and a lame cam. Now combine that with your stock chip and I bet you are making less power than a stock LO3.

 

The truck replacement l05 was rated at 210hp and 300tq so he gained 40hp and 45tq which I think is well worth it especially if he does any mods down the road.

 

True, but I should have explained myself a little better. It is a great base but what is the point of an engine swap when you only gain 40hp? He could have had 100+ hp with the his 305 for the cost of that LO5. Don't get me wrong, the LO5 is the better of the two evils but one should at least put a new cam in it. Plus, with the stock tune I doubt he is anywhere near 200 hp. With some chip work yes.

 

yes its the L05, and the reason I went that route is that when my LO3 died, My chevy dealer was the one who suggested the upgrade, and to boot he had a surplus of brand new LO5's, I walked in with cash intending to buy another L03, he said for exactly $100 more than the L03 he would give me the L05, so I jumped on it..He also said that my stock setup would work just fine..He did add that down the road I could get a truck prom and increase my tbi injectors size and that would truely utilize the motors capabilities.. And yes the L05 is alot faster than my L03 was on its best day, and thats using the same setup..Now like three years later, Im having ideling stability issues..Im guessing either an injector or the computer...Any other thoughts??? Thanks again Guys I truely appreciate all of your opinions...

 

It is the chip, and injectors. Did you change the ESC module and knock sensor as well?

 

I rememner we changed the knock sensor, but Im not sure about the esc module...

 

but why now after all this time would all this be a factor? The car ran dam good all this time, no knocks, no pings, no misses, ideled and ran strong, I smoked a few stock 305's like it was my job... Its just kinda hard to believe that the car ran so well, it seems like something is wrong, like a part failure...I have, I guess, been reluctant to upgade to the bigger injectors and prom because I dont know much about prom burnings, and or those stage chips, I've seen them things cause a few nightmares, guess Im just paranoid..I think I got to get over myself, and look into this..I just dont want a moody car, already got the moody woman, go figure---lol

 

switch over to 350 injectors, I bet yours are clogged, and since you should do the injectors anyways..... Or you could go w/ something more powerful than stock 350 injectors, but your engine wouldnt gain a whole lot until you did other work to the car. Just a thought.

 

as always, Thanks everyone..Guess I know where that over time check is going....

 

as always, Thanks everyone..Guess I know where that over time check is going....