The car is a 1990 305 5-speed trans am gta. This summer i am planning on redoing the engine and transmission. The best part is the whole rebuildis going to be a gift! If you had $2,000 to 2,500 to redo the engine alone what would you do to it. All opinions are open.

 

383 stroker

 

how about a new 350 short block with vortec heads and a holley vortec hsr (rumored to be on the way) or a vortec base and some high flow runners. then some slp headers.

 

A 383 would be great.

I myself would retain the TPI/305 and use a set of World SR Torquer 305 heads, headers, a cat back, 1.6 to 1 roller tip rockers from Comp, siamesed intake runners, and a "Big Mouth" lower plenum.

Maybe some high-po ignition parts (coil, module, etc.). An adjustable fuel psi regulator, and lots of tuning.

If you have only $2500, and you want a bigger engine, that doesn't leave much money for anything other than the motor. And with a change from 305 to 350 or 383, you may have to buy other tuning parts to bring it all together with the TPI, or switch over to a carb setup and that could cost even more.

I myself would retain the TPI. If my T/A had come with it, I would have changed the heads, and tuned with exhaust, headers, etc as I listed above.

My vote is to work with what you have. I didn't, and the amount of cash I spent going from the stock carbed LG-4 305 to a 355 with a performance Holley, was up near $4500.00 on the motor rebuild and carburation along with all the new carb linkage and other extras that were required.