I have a 1983 pontiac firebird my brother sold me with a 305. i was wondering what i could do so i'm not intimidated by the local douchebags with thier moms "raced out" toyota corollas. I just graduated highschool, money's sorta tight and i'm not too advanced with engine builds. I was curious what i can do to my car myself that will make her a little bit meaner. i would realy prefer to keep my 305 because of mileage and i realy don't have the sort of gear required for a swap. I heard if i get it bored and stroked to a 335 ill get a boost to my torque and ill still get good mileage which is important since it's my daily driver and i'll be going to the local community college soon. so... any advice to a kid with his first car?

 

Doing the 334 stroker is actually more advanced, more difficult, and more costly than doing a 350. Also, until you do all the supporting mods, either one is nearly pointless.
Your first performance mod should be changing out the entire rear axle assembly. It's easier than it sounds, and easier than a 334 or 350.
You want the axle from an '85-up V6/automatic car, preferably '90-'92. This will improve your gearing, the car will feel way stronger from a dead stop, and in fact, will accelerate better all the way on up.
3.73:1 gearing is out there, but relatively scarce.
Once you do the axle, you'll be ready to start on the exhaust system. You need a 3" cat-back, a 3" cat, and headers with y-pipe. You should forget more displacement until you do the entire exhaust system.
Doing all that, correctly, will eat most of $1,000.

 

thanks for the advice i'll get right on finding a new real axle assembly. as for the exuast someone else had already tinkered with it some. the cat has been replaced with a 3" steel pipe and the exauast doesn't split till very close to the rear axel. i believe there was also a flowmaster muffler installed also.
i was just wondering if thats a good exaust setup at all?

 

Stock configuration is a single exhaust with dual muffler outlets. Having a 3" cat-back won't help much if you don't change out the manifolds and y-pipe too... go ahead and take a look at your exhaust manifolds, they're tiny little things with sharp corners that restrict the exhaust flow right out of the cylinders. You'll want to replace those with some proper headers and a y-pipe.

 

Another often over looked area with new (new ownership) cars is a tune up.
Having a well maintained machine is a firm foundation to begin with. How are your
spark plugs, plug wires, emissions components (pcv valve, oxygen sensor, etc.)
a thorough cleaning of the fuel system (carb, tbi, injection?) makes a little difference too. carb cleaner or throttle body cleaner sprayed on the butter fly valve, and into all vacuum lines going to the fuel supply systen cleans up any residue and gunk.
oil change and filter
belts
Doing a good round of maintenance on all disposable/ serviceable parts is a great start.

More advanced maintenance things to keep in mind are
transmission fluid, axle fluid, steering fluid, brake fluid.

I like to use a a few (2-4) ounces of Marvel Mystery Oil in the gas and engine oil, to keep the respective systems clean.

there are lots of folks who swear by SeaFoam (liquid or spray) to clean out the fuel system, I have tried this and was impressed by the difference it makes in cleaning out carbon deposits for the engine, prviding smoother operation.

Get a basic tool set and learn to use it fixing up your awesome new ride, the cash you can save fixing your own ride will be more money for performance, and doing your own work will teach you new things and build the bond between you and your ride.

 

Look close at what you want out of that car. Do you want a all out street legal screamer? Or do you want a mild mannered, but still blow the doors of the ricers.
If im right, your opinion of the ricers you mentioned probably consist of moms hand me down. The kids your age usually throw a weed whacker on steroids muffler, a cold air intake..(maybe), and may have fooled with the tuning a bit. On the other hand, some may have the money to do more. who do you want to show up? mommas boy, or the twin turbo, all out *****? If most of the ricers are of the first type, you have to do almost nothing. My kids was in the same boat as you..surrounded by ricers. Well being short of cash he was able to make his little 305 tbi camaro show up an awful lot civics, accords, mitsu's. First tune it real good, throw in pugs, wires, cap, rotor..See how it runs.

Want a bit more? Throw on a nice big open element air cleaner. More??? Well by this time you have spent about 100 bucks, and you should be eating the first brand of ricers alive. Get a set of nice gummy tires used for 150 bucks. Now if those bad ricers are still making you nervous..screw em all, and cough up about 4000 bucks, and go all out. Millions of posts on this froum on how to go all out on 4 grand, but not with a 305. My sons car being a tbi was pretty easy to get going really nice with just bolt ons. A carb 305 is even easier. Heads, headers, cam, manifold, carb. Along with the gears Atilla meantioned you are all set.

 

thanks for all your advice. I have had the car for a while and forgot about doing a complete tune up. so far pretty much all ive done is bare minnumum maintanence( oil change K&N air filter) and sprayed a lil carb cleaner( it has a 4 barrel carb and was told its a carter but not sure) interestingly i have a plaque on my dash that says daytonna 7X of 500 but the vin disagrees with it. but as soon as i get home a tune up. since i got it people either helped or i payed to get the brakes bleed, new "drive shaft assembly" (i know nothing about transmissions) and new u joints. (just some extra information in case it's relevant. i was hoping to get the car a little ballsier than factory but maybe go a crazier a few years down the road when i get a newer car for "practical" use.
I never heard of that marvel mystery oil. i'll have to pick some up sometime when i go the car i had no dust covers for the front axel so repacked new grease and bought some cheap chinese made caps but i was hoping to replace those bearings soon. i also purchased a carbuerator recently for 50$ (holley 650 double pumper) but when i got it found out they dont agree with auto transmissions especially with overdrive.
thanks again for sll your help.