I have an 85 Firebird with a stock 87 LG4 305 and stock hood. I need to know what the best intake and carb combo is that will give the most power gains, be reliable, fit under the stock hood, and possibly be a good fit if I put a 350 in the car later.

I currently have an EGR and am upgrading the exhaust and putting headers on w/o air tubes and might have to get rid of the EGR from what I'm told, not sure if that is important information.

Also, right now I have the E4ME computer controlled carb but I'm looking to get rid of the computer by installing a new distributor and carb. Not too sure if I want to go manual or electric choke...I'm not sure of the pro's and con's.

Thanks

 

In that case, may I suggest a Weiand AirStrike 8501, because it's within 5 horses of Edelbrock's RPM AirGap, but about an inch shorter. For a carb I'd suggest a Holley 0-80681, air cleaner SUM-239422, and if you're using a 700R-4 you'll also need TCI's 376705 TV cable bracket and TCI's 376715 geometry corrector.

 

Whichever carb you go with, testing has shown that switching to an aftermarket intake such as the Edelbrock Performer is worth 25 horses by 5000 rpm, on an L69 305. Which uses the same intake, from the factory, as the LG4. So an intake is worth doing with stock heads. Cam: Xe268 is far too much for an LG4. Swap on some Vortec 350 heads and an RPM AirGap, and the XE268 will work from 3000-6000 rpm on a 305. But your stock heads are done and wheezing by 5500, so it'd be silly to choose a 6000 rpm cam. I can say from my own experience that an Xe256 is plenty for an LG4 with intake and headers.

 

350 heads on his lg4? even if they are vortecs, that will sufficiently lower the compression ratio of the motor. i wouldn't advise that unless he's going to run a power adder.

 

I wasn't suggesting the heads. But the rpm range of a cam stays the same even if your compression ratio is far too low for it.