Hi,

I have a 1984 Recaro Trans am that orginally had a 305 H.O. and now has a stock GM crate 350. It has the 700R4 with a stall speed of 1800-2200 which is slightly higher than stock.

The problem is when I get on it the motor over winds and has little power especially at highway speeds. It seems to over wind and shift early sometimes. Sometimes I think something is going to break so I haven't pushed it.

For example: If I'm doing 55mph and I push it, it overwinds and there's no boost like I had. It also shifts early to overdrive if accelerator pedal is not all the way or most of the way down.

I was told by a trans man that I could have a engine problem. The motor only has about 34,000 miles.
Could it be a timing chain, flywheel, or other engine related problem.


Anthony

 

Overwinds? How high? If you have a hydraulic cam it can't wind too high before you have valve float.

 

Sound to me like you probably have that gutless "Goodwrench 350". The amusing thing about that motor is, that no matter what its "horsepower rating" is, it's the same motor, part number for part number, as those magnificent 165-180 HP wonders of the late 70s. So, what you have in effect done to your car, is to take out one of the best 305s ever built; and put in one of the worst 350s ever built. You actually have a 350 with less horsepower than the 305 it replaced. It has a little more torque at lower RPMs simply due to the cubic inches, but absolutely none of the ability to turn higher RPMs and thereby make HP that the L69 had.

It's never going to make any power at high RPMs, as long as it has those pistons, those heads, and that cam.

The correct mental image for what that motor is intended for, is a phone company van. It's designed as the cheapest possible replacement for a work vehicle belonging to a large fleet customer, that has a vehicle out of service, and needs the cheapest and least expensive possible thing they can get, to return the vehicle to earning revenue. It is the completely wrong thing for any sort of "performance" application.

I can't really tell for sure what you are talking about with this "overwinding", that doesn't make a lot of sense. From your description, I'm thinking that your throttle valve cable is adjusted too short, which is what makes the trans shift early; and since the engine has no power whatsoever past about 4000 RPM, when the trans either shifts down ("passing gear") or stays in low gear because you've given it more gas, the motor doesn't make any more power (maybe even makes less power) at the higher RPM it's forced to run at, so it seems like it just makes a little more noise but doesn't actually move the car any faster.

In any case, it's not a timing chain or a flywheel problem.

 

Thanks for the info.
I know now that I should have rebuilt that 305.
Oh well, live and learn.

l8r on I'll get something better for my '84.

 

Don't get him wrong. He's not saying the 305 is the better choice. He's saying the 350 you have is extremely limited. Once worked on, they outproduce the 305 easily.

 

Sorry to hear that....

But, for now, you can try to at least get at much out of it as it can give. Which is not much; but maybe there's room for improvement.

No matter what motor you put in there, even the OE 305, the stock exhaust mainfolds are a major restriction. Try a set of ceramic-coated Edelbrock TES headers for L69. That will help out SUBSTANTIALLY. The next thing you can do is to put a better cam in it, but one that's consistent with the low compression and poor-flowing heads; a Comp XE256 would be about right. Those 2 changes will help it out considerably; probably even get it to where it makes more power than the 305 did, and to where it can pass other cars on the freeway. (well, some other cars, anyway)

 

Yeah, I guess I should plan what to do with this 350.

I've got some friends that rebuild motors so I'm excited to learn and build with their help.

I'd like to set a goal of about 400hp, if not at least 350.
I know changing pistons, heads, cam and other stuff will help.

but I want to do it right and not a race motor but just something I can have fun at the track and still drive on the street.

thanks.

AR

 

Thanks for the info.

I did manage to get the Edelbrock TES headers on and changed the coil, a K&N and even one of those Tornados.

I'll make note of your suggestions and try them out and let you know.


AR

 

if you actually paid for one of those tornadoes, send it back. its not worth the package it came in.