I got a new dual exhuast-cat back- and I got a new holley 600 double pp carb and a edelbrock performer intake with a 2 1/4" by 14" open element air cleaner. What else can I do to gain horsepower?? I am looking at spending anywhere from $0 - $250. Any opinions will help. I still want to get good gas mileage but I want better performance and more horsepower.

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• 87 firebird formula
• 305, 4bbl
• Edelbrock intake
• Holley 600 double pp
• MTX 4250D amp
• 2-MTX 6000 10"
• white with red int.
• Pioneer cd player
• a/c
• power windows and locks

 

you'll see better perfomance if you 'hook up' better.

I plan on getting 3.42s with posi and a shift kit next year.....of course you could always get a cam, or headers...but the 3.42s and the cam would take mileage down a couple miles.

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late model 91 rs, fully loaded t-tops, red leather
paint- gm red and yellow blend (light red)
custom painted 16" Camaro rims
305 tbi flat base 14"x3" with K&N, hypertech chip, accel super stock plug wires, only use full synthetic oil and delco filter, 2 1/2" cat delete pipe, Edelbrock 3" cat-back
MTX sub and amp, Bose all around
vic_v8@yahoo.com
street kills: New v-6 stang, 96 v6 camaro, totally killed '86 SC Camaro (305), 91 z 28 with 305
next month: rest of ultimate tbi

 

Under $250? Well if you are doing the work yourself, maybe a bigger cam and chip. LT-1 cams can be had for under $200.00.

 

I might spend up to $500. What about headers. Will that help my milage and performance.

 

$500 can get you Hooker Super Comp. Shorty headers and also get them coated by Jet Hot. This will increase your performance. After that, get a CompCam that suits your needs.

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1987 Camaro Sport Coupe 305 V8 LG4-rebuilt-All Stock.

 

$0 = Make the car lighter.

The same HP will push a 3000 pound car down the track a lot quicker than a 3500 pound car.

Take out everything you don't need. That stereo equipment must be pretty heavy.

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Follow my racing progress on Stephen's racing page
and check out the race car

87 IROC-Z SuperPro ET Bracket Race Car
461 naturally aspirated Big Block (times are for the current engine)

Best ET on a time slip: 11.447 altitude corrected to 10.99
Best MPH on a time slip: 119.42 altitude corrected to 124.86
Altitude corrected rear wheel HP: 493
Best 60 foot: 1.586

Racing at 3500 feet elevation with a typical race day over 5000 feet density altitude!
Member of the Calgary Drag Racing Association

87 IROC bracket car, 91 454SS daily driver, 95 Homebuilt Harley

 

You're not using your stock distributor are you. The use of the Holley has deleted your ecm and you'll need to get a vacuum advance distributor. I would definately suggest getting headers to allow your engine to breathe more freely.

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'86 IROC
T-TOPS, TINTED WINDOWS, BRAKE LIGHT BLACKOUTS
GM GOODWRENCH 350
EDELBROCK TES HEADERS
3" Hooker CatBack w/Aero Chamber muffler
EDELBROCK 600CFM CARB.
KN AIRFILTER
ACCEL HEI DISTRIBUTOR
160* Stat
3:73 Posi
Rebuilt 700R4
B&M Megashifter, 5" Autometer Tach w/shift lite

 

I agree with Mark.Go with the headers but the guy who said make the car lighter had the best least expensive idea.

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92' Camaro RS/Black,T-tops/350 TBI Targetmaster Comp.engine/5 spd/march underdrive pulleys/hedman hedders/3" dynomax exaust/hyper tech stage 2 chip/3.42 gears/K&N air filter/MSD blaster GM coil

 

If I get Headers will that increase my gas mileage. And will I need to get different spark plug wires or anything like that.

 

coated headers?

Mine arent coated...make a big diff? less heat so cooler under hood temps right?


I was reading about insulation type tape for headers...anyone use that?

I want to fix that prob...

what should I do?

 

Yes new ignition components can increase your gas mileage. Look into some new spark plugs, all of the expensive ones claim great gas mileage improvements. I don't think you would see a difference in economy from headers, since they are after the engine. I have heard they can help with that from somewhere, though.

Gears will hurt your gas mileage. I have coated headers, and besides looking better, they don't get as hot as uncoated headers. I have had spark plug wires sitting on them without being burned badly.

 

yes, headers ought to help the mileage.

 

What size dual exhaust did you get, with that 305 and minor mods you might actually be hurting your HP with that exhaust.

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'86 IROC
T-TOPS, TINTED WINDOWS, BRAKE LIGHT BLACKOUTS
GM GOODWRENCH 350
EDELBROCK TES HEADERS
3" Hooker CatBack w/Aero Chamber muffler
EDELBROCK 600CFM CARB.
KN AIRFILTER
ACCEL HEI DISTRIBUTOR
160* Stat
3:73 Posi
Rebuilt 700R4
B&M Megashifter, 5" Autometer Tach w/shift lite

 

Yes. The ODB (when he posted here) was running very fast, but at under 2,600 lbs. IIRC. No one on the boards believed his posted times, but no one ever directly asked him what his race weight was, either. He was pretty elusive on that point, but then again no one reveals all their secrets. I think his times were legit, and people just assumed he was running a stock or near-stock body. He never volunteered anything to hint otherwise, and must have laughed more than once because people were overlooking the obvious. People that assume usually lose at the traps. If nothing else, we should learn from this type of lesson, or at least take a hint from the imports. Low weight, even with a moderate HP, can provide pretty good performance. Put some real Bow-Tie power in a 2,400 lb car and stand the hell back, Mr. Nissan...

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Later,
Vader
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Justice and Freedom will Prevail