Hi all. This is my first post but I have been an on and off lurker for 3 or 4 years now... Now I have a decision to make and I'd like some added opinions. I have an 86 T/A with an LG4 and an auto. The car has 5,000 miles on the 305 since it was rebuilt and is very original and stock (including almost all of the emissions equip.) with the exception of an Edelbrock 2102 cam (installed during the rebuild) a hypertech chip and the removal the catalytic converter. The car is pretty anemic, possibly even more so after the rebuild do in part to the loss of torque with the cam without changing other components to go along with it. At the time I was knee deep in another project and didn't have the finances to build it how I would have liked. Now I'd like to make some improvements. My question is if I go ahead and put on an Edelbrock Performer intake and a pair of shorty headers am I likely to see(feel) a noticeable difference or a barely noticeable difference? The salesman at my local "speed shop" said that it wasn't worth trying on my 305 but then again he was also trying to sell me a $4,000 crate motor so...? According to my G-meter I'm running pathetic mid 17's @ 77 in the 1/4. I think I'd be satisfied, at least temporarily if I could get this at least down into the mid to high 15's without nitrous. I thought about adding a pair of World Products S/R Torquer heads to this list but this puts me over halfway to a new GM 290 HP crate motor. Which brings me to my next question. Should I just wait and swap it? I just hate to swap out a good running (but weak) fresh engine. Thoughts? Suggestions? Oh one more thing, I’m also tempted to keep some of the smog equip. hooked up and running (with the exception of the air pump, converter, ect.) in case I move to an area where inspections are required and I need to make it smog legal again.

 

Welcome to TGO.

Yes. Once upon a time, I modified my LG4 with cam, intake, L69 dual snorkel and complete L69 exhaust (manifolds back). While the car did run better, I'd advise the 'fun' factor of a crate motor. The difference between my modified LG4 (155 hp), which I imagine was the match for an L69 (190) or perhaps a bit better, and my 350 HO Deluxe (330 hp) is night and day--and brings a grin to my old mug every time that I drive the car. See my Car Details below for more info, should you wish.

JamesC

 

just do what im doing.. im building an ls1 motor and waiting for my 305 to die... im ganna run that 305 till it blows and drop in the ls1 or drive the 305 till the ls1 is done.

 

Everything you would bolt on to a 305 will be needed for a 350 or 383, but going the LSX route is the better bang for the buck. Any '01-up LSX (avoid pre-'01 versions) comes with aluminum heads that are at least equal to GM's Vortec 350 heads, and you can get complete 5.3L LM7s, with under 100k miles on them, (less than half their expected service life, or comparable to 50,000 miles on a 350) and with a 30 day to 1 year warranty, depending on where you get it, for under $500. That's less than the price of a new pair of Vortec heads alone, and this is a complete engine.

 

stay on the look out for a LS1 or a LQ4 or LQ9 and do what quickkris is doing because all of the LSX motors have potential to make boo koo's of horsepower and still be a perfectly streetable set up making over 20mpg.