So i got about 2500$ from uncle sam. I have no idea what to spend it on. I eventually want to upgrade everything suspension, engine, trans, rear etc. car is a 1992 camaro 350 auto. about 125k on it. current mods are headers, full exhaust, hypertech, thottle body, intake, ac cat and smog deletes, new tires. i have always like well rounded cars. so i was thinking of building a 3g car maybe. 1 g handling, 1 g braking, 1 g acceleration. anyway didn't really know where to go next for best bang for the buck. any opinions?

 

With "g's" I assume you mean grand, as in 3 grand = $3000.

Brakes - if you have rear disc now, best bang for the buck on brakes is simply swapping out the rubber hoses between the car and the wheels - about $50 and an afternoon - it's amazing what a new set of rubber lines will do for braking.

If no rear disc, you could look into rear disc setup - that would probably spend your grand for brakes - there's a ton of threads about changing to LS1 rear brakes - but you need the 16" wheels for the LS1's.

Best bang for a 'seat of the pants' feel is rear gears, unless you already have higher ratio rear gears. But if you have 2.73 rear gears, swapping for 3.42 and posi will make a world of difference.

IF you didn't mind the rear wheels sticking out 1.5 inches farther each side - then you could swap in a 4th gen LS1 complete rear end and kill two birds with one stone. LS1 rear is easy to find with 3.42 rear gears and the Zexel-Torsen posi, and you get the LS1 rear brakes. The swap takes a few hours, and a LS1 rear should be less than $400 in any part of the country (I aid $160 for mine 4 years ago).

Entire suspension can be redone for $1500 with excellent parts. Ball joints, tie rods, centerlink, idler arm - recommend NAPA - they carry 2 part numbers, buy the more expensive ones - nice beefy stuff. In that same budget you can get poly bushings all around, really nice shocks/struts, and new springs. I did poly bushings all around, rebuilt front suspension, Bilstein shocks/struts, Eibach Pro-kit (1") lowering springs, adjustable panhard rod, new sway bar bushings/end links all for under $1500.

Savings note - Advance and Autozone both can order really nice shocks/struts (Koni, Bilstein, etc. and springs (Eibach, etc.) for cheaper than any internet site carries, there's no hassle returns, and NO shipping - usually comes in within 48 hours of ordering - you just need to talk to the store manager to get them ordered properly - those parts don't always show up as available in their computers and usually the managers are the only ones that know how to find/order from the paper books.

So - if you swap in a 4th gen rear, and redo the entire suspension, and change the rubber brake lines - I've only spent $2000 of your money. I'm no expert on your TPI engine and what can be done more to it - I'll leave that to you.

BUT ... You better spend $100 minimum on the wife/girlfriend/significant other, or you'll be spending more than $100 on hotel rooms!

 

i guess i should have been specific but i ment G as in G of force. but anyway thanks for the advice. i do like the idea of a new rear end. How do i know what gear ratio i am running? is there a simple way without taking off the diff cover etc.

 

If you're sure the rear is factory and has never been worked or swapped, your RPO codes will tell you. Otherwise, no way to really know for sure without removing the cover and counting.

 

BUT ... You better spend $100 minimum on the wife/girlfriend/significant other, or you'll be spending more than $100 on hotel rooms! [/quote]

Excellent point!

 

I have a few 350 engine parts if interested.

 

what are rpo codes? where can i find them? what engine parts do you have?

 

If i had $2500 right now, I'd get out of here, We're getting 15" of snow right now!

 

I didn't notice brfore that you have a 1992 camaro. The 350 shortblock I have is not an LT1 block.

 

Most of mine has gone into my Fully forged 383 rotating assembly for my LT1. **** ain't cheap,lol

 

:\ lucky... wish i made that much from tax returns.. i got jipped 4k taxes taken out and $575 bucks back; wtf is that all about?...

good luck man. if it were me I'd get a paint job/body work or new engine & exhaust.. but thats my car *sigh*

 

Time to start the LSX swap.

 

lsx swap seems to have to much involved. i like the 383 crates from year one. but i wanted a totally forged bottom end. it says they use nodular iron cranks. i am not to familiar with this. is that as strong as forged? would it hold up to lets say 100 shot nos?

 

brakes and suspension first.

set the car up like your putting a tt 572 in it. then it doesnt matter what engine you puy in your car will handle it.

 

loneroad u read my mind. i agree. why put power first and break everthing. I also like the zz383 gm crate. maybe paired with HSR. i get confused thou, do crate engines come with new pcm, or do i use my stock one and get it tuned? geez, so much to learn.

 

if you "like" Spohn on facebook. theyll give you a 10% discount code.Itll help stretch that refund.

 

i don't have any experience with them yet. its just the company i decided to go with. thanks man that will help.

 

spohn, umi performance, bmr. all fantastic companies. good luck with your build.