I have an 87 trans am 305 with an edelbrock carb and manifold, the car has no power I cant even squeal the tires from a dead stop or slide around a corner. I know its only a 305 but shouldnt it have more power than this? I wanna make some smoke

 

The carb is probably too big or mis adjusted, has the car been tuned up at all? Did you put the carb on? How old is the 305... there's so much that could be going on here we can't really help you without knowing more about what you have, and what the real problem is.

 

What distributor is on it?

 

Setting the timing and adjusting the carb will probably go a long way.

Also, in my '86 I can't break the tires loose unless I drop the clutch at 3k+, so with an automatic car (I'm assuming you have an auto) I can see you not being able break them loose. Of course my tires are 295's, so that might have something to do with it.

Shawn

 

I put the carb on its an edelbrock 1406 600cfm thats not too much for a 305 is it? the distributor is a gm hei with proform parts.
as far as I know the engine is orignal with 136k miles. yes its an auto, unfortunately

 

The lg4 really didnt make much torque [250 lb ft] that could be why.

 

the link in my sig will give you some ideas on how to make your little 305 a mighty mouse...

 

Can we assume that "gm hei with proform parts" means vacuum/mechanical advance type? If not, then that's your primary problem.

Assuming it is the proper type, describe how you went about setting the timing.

 

yes it has a vacuum/mechanical advance. I used a timing light to set it, its set at 0 tdc It might be retarded a few deg. I dont rember, I was haveing problems with detonation. I'd have alot more power with the timing advanced right? should I try running higner octane to stop the detonation? im running 87 now.

 

You shouldn't be having problems with detonation with a stock engine. With the vacuum disconnected you should start with around 8 degrees advanced at idle. This is assuming the mechanical advance is working properly. Total mechanical advance should be around 36 degrees - that requires timing tape or an advance-type timing light to adjust.

 

that cant be true! BEFORE i tuned my 82 t/a with a 305 w/ 4bbl carb. i could squeal the tires in a change of gear...and its an automatic, lol.

 

Ill try to advance it again when I get some time to work on it, but last time I had it advanced it was pinging.
do I have to rev the engine up to check the mechanical advance? how much vacume advance should I have?

 

Would it matter what kind of tires he is useing?

 

Yes. It should advance from where it is at idle with increasing RPMs up to about 3000 RPMs for a stock spring/weight distributor. That's with the vacuum disconnected.
I'll have to admit I haven't paid much attention to specific values. If you have the vacuum advance hooked to a ported or timed vacuum source on the carb, it won't have any at idle. As you come off idle, it will add somewhere between 15-25 degrees advance. When you open the throttle rapidly from off-idle (vacuum advance engaged), the timing advance should drop and then catch back up.

Those are standard checks when you check the timing with a vacuum/mechanical advance system.

 

not so much on power, but bald tires would make him squeal alot easier, lol.