I have a question about the so called H.O. Hight Output engine. Was this engine actually a different version of the regular engine or was it just some type of clever marketing by G.M. back in the 80's to sell more vehicles????
I simply can't see how an '84 Trans am with a so called High Output engine rated at say 185 H.P. was considered to be High Output ,,,Hello my V6 Saturn Vue has about that. Can anyone shed some light on this topic I'd really like to know if there was a difference. I know that many may have no idea but I hope someone can really give me an honest answer on this. Thankyou.

 

yes, it's slightly different then the "normal" 305. The normal one put out about 150HP.. Sad eh? That's the "low output" version.

the high output version has:

dual snorkle air intake
bigger chamber exhaust manifolds
slightly more aggressive camshaft
maybe different exhaust piping (?)

 

Add to that list a few things

Flattop piston with 4 valve reliefs vs dished
Corvette style monolithic converter
Different secondary metering rods and hanger
Revised prom chip with a hotter timing advance table
Higher stall torque converter (automatics)
3.73 gears (typically)

 

Thanks for your input on this topic,,, I often wondered why GM misled the public with this so called H.O. designation, the horse power rating for these vehicles by today's standard is pretty embarassing considering that today's 4 cylinder engines are capable of 150 horse power on regular octane gas.

 

Its all relative... 190hp is higher than 150hp, so there is now an "HO" motor and a "LO" motor.

 

uhh yea, kinda hard to compare it to future vehicles, I don't think they could read the future...
At the time, the 4cyl camaro had 92 HP I think, 112HP for the V5 I think, 150HP for the LG4, and up to 190HP for the L69 "5.0L HO". The 350 around '75-'85 was also around 170HP, so a 190HP 305 was pretty good.

 

Thanks reason why I ask is because I have an 84 Trans am I recently purchased for $500 with a blown engine and am really debating on which route to go with it ....Should I return it to stock 305 form or just go with a 350 engine.......

 

I still think that GM should have saved the hype for an engine that could put out a respectible horse power rating 190 horse power aint much when you consider passengers air conditioning and so on.

 

Once again, look at when the car came out. At the time, it could beat up just about any other new car on the market. As sad as it is, it was pretty much the most power they could make with the technology of the day while meeting emissions standards.

 

Yeah, but you are still talking about the early 80s with emissions a real consideration then. Todays technology really opens up the potential for alot higher HP numbers. The only thing is that the torque from the newer engines still has not been substantially increased. What that amounts too is an engine that is gutless at low engine speeds but makes good HP @ high rpm. The 305 makes plenty of low speed torque for what it is which is good.

I will take a torquey 180 HP engine over a peaky high reving one anyday.

My 180 HP 1983 305 HO pulled my 5,200 lbs G-van around just fine for nearly 200,000 miles

 

yea, driving 200HP hondas with 120ftlbs of torque is just plain annoying, compared to driving my delta 88 with 150HP and 215ftlbs of torque...

anyway, trade up, build up a 350, or heck, better yet, go for a 383. If you're building it ground up that is.

 

okay i'll buy that.

 

You hauled a G10 for how much ????!!! I'm not saying you didn't do it but I have 1996 G10 conversion van and that thing is a monster. Lol how did you pull that machine around with an '83 was it an f body ????

 

Please,,, Please,,, don't get me started with those **** hondas those cars are plain annoying not to mention the *******s that drive them please excuse the french.

 

quick question now that you're on the 383 topic. Would you know if a pontiac 400 crank can be used for a build up on a 350 chevy motor ???

I have two pontiac 400 's from the mid 70's sitting in my back yard just curious.

 

No, different animal entirely.

 

Thanks would you know of a web site where I can sell these machines? Perhaps a second gen web site.

 

The factory 305 (175 HP/265 TQ, 9.6:1 compression, 4bbl Q-Jet) in the van pulled it around for nearly 200,000 miles.

 

What was the top HP rating for a honda in 1984. 90hp

Heck even the bad **** Porsche where under 300 in 1984 and the average mans Porsche was 150hp. Doesnt make the F body twins HP and the mustangs 175-210 look so bad afterall.

Basicly the technology want there in 1984 and the mid 80s HP wars where a dream to anyone that remebers the mid 70s.

kyle

 

Yeap 90 horse power sounds about right for a glorified blender.

 

NastyZ28 Home Page

 

Just to let everybody know....the HP rating for the L69 was 190, not 180 or 185 as some people said. Ive had LG4's, L69's, LB9's, and L98's. Ill take the L69 over any of them and day. And in stock form, Ive never lost to an L98 with my L69, and Ive come across many. Surprisingly a good engine for its day, and doesnt take a hell of a lot to put one in the 13's N/A...which is decent for a 305.

 

Dont forget about...

Dual electric fans
Lightweight flywheel with the 5 speed
Aluminum dual plane intake manifold

 

They actually had a single electric fan. Also, every LG4 ive owned had an aluminum intake manifold. I think the older (pre-thirdgen) LG4's had cast iron manifolds.

 

its MUCH larger piping. my brother's 84 T/A is an l69 car, and the exhuast is bone stock. it's a good 2.5+" system. the y- pipe is bigger also, compared to the puny lg4 y-pipe. the cam is a pretty hot one too, conisdering it is from a carbed motor in the early 80's

 

the L69 (305ho) came with 3'' exhaust.my 84 Z28 with cam work cam smoke all the other older 80's car round,never had a mustang do it yet.i even had a good race with a 305hp subaru wrx STI model,good drag it was,he said he was doing 240kph and he couldn't pass me.i think the H.O.'s r wicket