I have read most of the previous threads from people having the same problem, but I am still confussed as to what to choose from. The RS is stock exept for the flowmaster installed by the previous owner. I am going to do more to the engine, but I have to change out the head gaskets due to a small leak on the backside of the motor, so I figured I would do the cam and lifters while I was in there. Money is tight, so I can only do one or two things at a time. New intake and headers are coming after boot camp, but for now it is just cam and lifters. Any help would be appreciated. Oh by the way, the car is a daily driver. Thanks!

 

About the best bang for the buck is a used cam from a 4th gen LT1 motor. You can get them for as little as $40. Much more cam than that and you'll be crossing into custom chip tuning territory - something you don't want to get into on a daily driver that is needed!

This brings us to a point about modding 305 TBI cars. If this car needs to be on the road daily (ie no long periods of downtime), then be careful with your mods. Like I mentioned, you can do a non-aggressive cam (like the LT1), headers and exhaust are fine, and maybe intake. But the sorry heads on this car are restricting you the most, and there's not anything you can really do about that without custom chip tuning, which could mean weeks/months of downtime. So don't spend alot, and don't be disappointed with results - there's just not much that can be done with a 305 TBI car without chip-tuning.

Your best seat-of-the-pants feel for performance will be rear gears - especially if you have the auto tranny.

And welcome to TGO!

 

Thank you camaronewbie. I will look into the LT1 cam. I have the original posi for the rearend that the previous took out because it was too much for him. I am not sure about the gearing on it, but by putting it back in it should make it launch better? That would be great.