I just finished swapping out the peanut cam in my 88 T/A 305 700R4. This put the powerband up a little higher than it normally was- from 2500-5000, but it revs more happily to 5000 than it did before. It has the 2:73 posi gears in it right now, and stock exhaust. Which will give me more bang for the buck? 3:73 gears OR a full exhaust (headers/ no cat/ flowmaster)? From limited research, it appears that cost-wise they are probably about the same. Keep in mind that I will be doing both, just NOT at the same time.
Thanks, Jeff

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88 Trans Am 305 Auto Red/Silver, MSD coil,wires, ported plenum, gutted airbox, TB bypass, comp cams 08-408-8, everything else stock

 

exhaust, so you can rev that sucker to 6,000 then get an even bigger kick in the butt dyno when you slap in the gears.

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'82 Z28
LG4 305 .030 over, performer intake, holley street avenger 670, xe 256 cam, tes headers, 3 inch single exhaust, spintech muffler, 14 x 3 inch drop base k&n.

 

Just for what its worth, I would not recommend the 3.73 gears, Ive read that the TPI's work much better around 3.42's, I had the 3.73's in my monte, looked cool for showing off, cost lots of money in tires. Couldnt hardly ever get any traction and that was before I put in my exhaust system everything else was bone stock as well for a 89 IROC 350. Im working a 9" and have a set of 3.50's so Ill try those when I get time and the money tree decides to bear fruit again!

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'87 Monte Carlo SS,with '89 IROC 350,700 trans, blew up 3.73 posi stuck with crappy 2.73's neeed gears! hooker headers, flowmaster 2 1/2" exhaust true dualls, recently installed a set of alum vette heads 58cc, new cam for a paxton, recently installed paxton, OMG need a posi bad. Found a guy who can build me a ford 9" (yep sorry guys) for less than 500 then comes all the goodies such as disk brakes so on and so on, will it ever end?? I hope not!!

 

Definately go with the exhaust! It will compliment the mods that you've already done.
Keep in mind that the exhaust will lean your fuel out so invest in an adjustable pressure regulator. Also I agree with the earlier post about keeping the gear ratio in the 3.4 range.
Contrary to what Evilcartman stated, a stock TPI system will not make power at 6000 rpm. Peak HP even with a cam will still be in the 4800-5000 rpm range.

www.geocities.com/dzperf

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D&Z Performance
"Putting Power to the Pavement"

[This message has been edited by HiTech5 (edited August 30, 2001).]

 

I'd go with the gears, you'll probably feel more with the gears than the exhaust.
After you get both done, the car should fly.
With the 3.73's and a shift kit you should be able to get the car to smoke the tires when it shifts from first to second.

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WS6 Trans Am.

View My Ride @ thirdgen.org

 

its been a known fact for some time that the exhaust in our cars is the most restrictive point of our drivetrain....
get a nice set of headers(i like long tubes,Hooker super comp long tubes are great)
high-flo cat if you want,and a nice 3" cat-back..i love my Flowmaster dual chamber...
then work on gears...and i also agree with the statement about stayign around the 3.42's over the 3.73's...

Andy

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The "House" has spoken...
check out my my 88 WS6 Trans Am

We are the seeds of legends,our true origins are unknown...WE SIMPLY ARE...

 

i too agree with the exhaust, as it will do a lot for a combo that already has a cam swap. also i think a nice sounding car is one of the things that impresses me most. you dont ned 3.73's to chirp second gear, I do it w/ 3.08's and a vette servo. you might want to look into that as another mod because once you start building power, it's harder to keep that 1-2 shift nice and quick.


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85 Z28- 350, Comp 262, Edelbrock Performer intake, Edelbrock 600 cfm carb and Edelbrock cat back, Summit headers and vette servo
-JVC, Eclipse, Pioneer, MTX, Phoenix Gold, Planet Audio

 

I agree with both points, exhaust 1st and then go with gears, preferrably the 3.42's. A nice 3" system with a low restriction muffler will give you power and a nice roar,lets you use the cam to the fullest. You could also go with a slightly higher stall converter for a better response.

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86 Sport Coupe
LG4 Auto
Mods
PAW headers/ y-pipe Dynomax Super Converter with a 3" bullet muffler installed in the Intermediate pipe
Edelbrock Open element air filter
L69 ECM
Moog Variable rate rear springs
edelbrock STB
86' GTA front sway bar (36mm)
Black Iroc Interior
Kenwood 120 watt head, Kenwood 6x9's jensen 4x6's rampage 100 watt amp to 6x9's

Future Mods
Carter AFB 625
Holley intake
Accel HEI Dist
Hooker 3-1/2" tips
Holley fuel Pump
Chrome dress up
A/F, water temp, voltage guages
SFC's, Lower control arms and panhard bar.
Much more to come, just havent thought of it yet.

It isnt breaking the law........till you get caught.