Ok, so I just got this car a few days ago and I'm loving it. I want to improve it a little bit and I just wanted to get some ideas from all you pros out there about what is good (and relatively cheep) to improve on this car. I've already added a cold air intake to it (using home depot supplies) so what would be good to do next? Get a tune up? What about the Quakerstate "Q Horsepower" oil? Does it make a big difference? Is it ok to use in older vehicles? A friend tells me better spark plugs will improve performance aswell?

 

Welcome aboard thirdgen.org, and congrats on your new purchase.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/faq-...5-engines.html

Most everything you need to know about improving performance is in there.

Most any synthetic lubricant is better than their petroleum based counterparts. QS is a "me too" synthetic, made from a less expensive base stock, and this is a case where you get what you pay for. The PAO synthetics such as AMSOIL, Mobil 1, and Red Line are the better way to go.

Fresh inexpensive spark plugs are better than old expensive spark plugs. Makes more sense to upgrade the coil and module than to spend $5 more per spark plug.

 

with five7kid. My '86 T/A is an LG4 305 car. The only mods done to my car is an Edelbrock Performer intake, Accel Super Coil and module, Flowmaster 50 series Deltaflow muffler with Dynomax 2.5" intermediate pipe( I originally had a Dynomax catback on the car,ditched the turbo muffler and kept the int. pipe)and an L69 dual snorkel air cleaner. With 2.73 gears and 205k miles on the clock the old Bird is not quick by any means, but she's definitely quicker than what she was when stock. Like five7kid said, Amsoil, Mobil 1, Red Line, and Royal Purple(from what I hear) are top line synthetics. I'm broke and married with kids, I run Castrol High Mileage 10W40 in my car(remember 205k miles and worn valve guides ) I also run Bosch Platinum plugs and before the SBC experts shun me for not putting AC Delco plugs back in my 305, I'll say this: I got 62k HARD miles out of the Bosch Platinums I just replaced. It was the Moroso Blue Max wires that failed, not the the plugs. As long as you got good ignition, i.e. coil and module, and wires, to each his own about plugs as long as they are good quality plugs.

 

hooker 2055's and a 3" catback made a HUGE difference on my bros LG4.

get a s10 converter and a 4th gen ls1 rear for cheap.

 

Thanks for the replies guys. My only concern is about using the high performance oils. My car has 233k kilometers on it so would using a synthetic oil hurt my engine? darkride86T/A uses high milage rated oil...

 

No, it won't "hurt" your engine. Your engine may already have been "hurt" by petroleum-based oil in the form of varnish and sludge deposits, and hardened/cracked seals and gaskets. What the synthetic will tend to do is loosen up the varnish and sludge, contaminating the oil and possibly leading to higher consumption. Getting the crud cleaned out is not a bad thing.

If the engine has had regular maintenance, the deposits shouldn't be too bad. But, factory valve stem seals rarely make it very long with petroleum-based oil.

High mileage oil is a marketing tool to separate well-intended car owners from their money. They add seal plasticizers and detergents to the oil, which means something has to come out in order to put those things in - a quart only holds 32 fluid ounces of oil. What do you think they leave out of those oils???

 

Thanks five7kid.