Hi there..

I need some help on my 305 upgrade that I am going to do on my 87 Camaro.
I have newly got it painted and it looks ok.

Here is a pic:






Now I want some more power on my engine. I have a stock 305 Carbed engine in my car. And to you guys that want to say "swap to an 350 engine" please don't respond this thread because I don't want THAT much. I just want to keep my original 305 in my car and buy another project that I will go for a 350 engine in.

But back to this car....I need some help on what to do to get a little bit more HP and torque...

Like I said this is a Carbed engine, and the carburettor is the E4ME ccc-qjet carb so there are not so many options available if I'm not wrong....

So far I have only bought a 3" Cat-back system so I have the sound on the car

My plan was to buy:

- New Camshaft (with: retainers etc)

- Headers and Y-pipe

- New intake if that would help something

- If I can afford, mayby new heads



Just a simple plan as you can see....Can someone please help me out a little bit here. I have read a lot of Building up a 305 engine but since I have a Roller-Cam and a ccc-quadrajet Carb everything is a little bit more difficult or am I wrong??

Any good ideas???

 

I just submitted a thread today "Heads for 305" and here was one of the answers The original 305 heads are better. IIRC, that crate uses low compression 76cc chamber heads, which suck on a 350 - and worse on a 305. The stock 305 heads are actually quite good, so use them. Lots of guys even use the 305 heads on their 350s, because they are better than most 350 heads. I have seen somewheres on a Comp cam installation and the 305 gained around 50! horse.

 

You've pretty much nailed it but putting a new cam in your car will require removing the heads, new lifters and all that good stuff. UNLESS...you have a roller cam. If you have a roller cam already in the car, then you just need a new cam...your lifters will work for the new cam.

If you need the emissions, then get the Hooker 2055 shorty headers. If not, do a search, I can't recall the numbers off the top of my head. The 3" exhaust is a good start. The Qjet is a good carb, so maybe a rebuild on that but otherwise leave it alone. Then have your stock heads rebuilt, polished and ported. That's about all you can do without going into the motor and boring and stroking it. MW66NOVA had a 305 running 300+ horse power. Do a search and you'll find out what he did. But, if you're going to pay to have all that done, you might as well put a 350 in because it'll cost damn near the same. It'll all depend on the head-work you need. Polishing and porting can get expensive. Hope this helps!

 

If you're looking for "big" power gains, heads and cam are where you'll see the biggest difference. Be sure to get a cam that will work with your valve springs, or get valve springs that are suited to the cam you select. You're definitely on the right track, and if you can afford a good set of heads I recommend looking in to it. A 305 and a 350 are essentially the same engine, with the 350 having a larger piston bore, upgrades such as you have mentioned here are the same to do to either engine.

 

what kinda cat did you get? i'm planning on doing all those things to my 91 RS too but i gotta get started off with the paint job first lol.

 

Get an edelbrock intake to go with the headers and cam swap. You could consider the world products s/r torquer heads too if you want.

 

a lot of great answers here....Thanks for that...

I have a roller cam so I don't need new lifters. I know that
I thought I was writing it on the Thread but I must have forgot...

Any ideas what would be a good cam since I have this ccc-qjet carb???

And for the Headers, My plan was to buy this Hooker Headers H2055.


I know this porting of the heads can be expensive but I have good experience with handling a grinder, since my job we use grinders and stuff all the time. And I also have a movie that says: "How to port/polish your heads" by your self...Mayby I will try that, or mayby I will buy some used stock heads and port/polish them

This is what I was thinking of buying:

Crane Cams 104225

Hooker 2055 Headers

Porting Heads


Is this a good setup or what?...Is the cam I am looking on a good cam??
I really need help choosing a Cam cause I am no expert in Camshafts.
I am reading a lot on them and learning something new every day..

 

That cam will be OK, I'd look for something more in the .460's and .470's though if I were you. Also, I highly recommend changing your springs. I wouldn't trust a new cam with used springs unless you personally know the condition of them. I.E. YOu put them in less than 10k miles ago and you know their original spring pressure rating.

Everything you're doing will get you the biggest gains so far. For mile performains gains, an Edelbrock Performer intake would do you well. It's essentially their stock replacement but they do flow better. Also, port match your intake to your heads. I have never seen any numbers supporting it one way or the other but I feel it can't hurt. Also, you might want to look into back-cutting your valves.

Also, what gears are you running? If you want the feel of more torque, I would suggest swapping to a set of 3.73 gears. I run 2600 RPM at 70mph in overdrive with them on my stock 15" wheels but with my auto trans first gear of 3.06 she really scoots when I get on her.