I know this topic has been covered about a million times over, but somewhere along the way all the info has become scattered about and muttled so much that it is impossible to figure out the "correct" answer.

I have the above mentioned vehicle. I have no intention of switching up to a 350...so please dont give me that advice.

I have 1000 bucks right now.

I would like to get 300+ HP out of the engine.

How can i do it? Where can I get the parts? How far will my grand get me?

on a side note i have a 98 grand prix everyday driver....i have been looking into dashboard swaps for third gens and was wondering if a 98 grand prix dash would fit into my 88 iroc. Just a thought, otherwise im about to junk it, scrap it out, or sell it off for next to nothing.

Thanks....

 

if you do a lot of smart shopping a grand can get you pretty far..

you tryin to do bolt ons or motor work?

and no the dash wont fit

 

I'm interested in seeing where this thread goes as well.. Friend on a tight budget has a LG4 V8 (yes, I know. Don't have to say how bad it is) and is wanting to get some extra HP out of it. It's not fesable to go to a 350 yet for him, so he's trying to stretch the most out of his 4bbl 305 for the time being. Any ideas?

 

go with 601, 416, 081 or the newer vortec 305 casting heads. Port them.

i'd say your talking 100$ for a set if that.

a roller cam along the lines of a lt1 camshaft thats another 50$

or if you want to go aftermarket so it's a little nastier used wil run you 100-200$

100$ for gaskets.

300$ for head machine work.

thats 750 currently....

if you have a efi engine don't forget the price of an upgraded set of injectors, an easy 100$, if tpi you will want to mod the **** out of it or go to an aftermarket stealth ram or such s.r.= 500$, modded tpi =free but, much less power.

either way ported above heads with full machining done and a good camshaft will get you near 300hp on a 305 with perfect tuning be it carb'd or efi.

then of course you have the dreaded exhaust thats between 400$ and 1000$ to get it out the rear.......

basically if you go used and shop around a set of headers and used catback will run maybe 200$ if you have tpi and plan to mod yourself by porting thats free, injectors = another 100$,

basically at cheapest you'd be around 1050 for a efi setup i'd say.

i bought a 2032 crane cam for my 305 and had 416 heads in the shed, that i ported so basically i plan to siamese the base and blend the plenum and leave it alone.

i'll have 125$ in my cam, 300$ in machining, but, i already have 22# injectors and edelbrock headers and borla catback so basically i will be a 700$ upgrade or so 4 me.

 

Rather do bolt ons....however i have access to a full mechanical shop to do some work if needs be....however, past changing out alternators, water pumps, and pullys i am not that familliar with engine work.

Thanks for the info on the dash!

 

Headers and free flowing exhaust.

Free mods: Port the plenum, etc. Do a search, and you will find many.

Adjustable fuel pressure regulator.

Heads, and cam, as mentioned above. It is challenging, but, not impossible for a neophyte to do this. Get a GOOD manual, and draft someone that has done it before, and you should be good to go.

 

Ok....So...

what heads do you reccomend?
cam?
exhaust?

should i buy these from jegs or summit or is there somewhere i can go to get them used/cheaper?

thnx..

 

The easiest way to get that kind of power in a 305 at the rear wheels is headers and a 175 wet kit of nitrous.