I have a 1989 Firebird Formula that I acquired a month ago and was wondering how to get more power out of the stock 305 TBI without breaking the bank? Thanks

 

Intake, exhaust, cam, tune up parts and make sure everythings working.

Its never gonna gonna be fast with a 305 and tbi that's the farthest I'd go with it.

Auto or manual?

 

Its an automatic. Where can I find an intake that will work with a TBI or should I just eat the cost and convert to a carb? If so how?

 

There have been a lot of people wanting these "easy" power gains either for free, or a couple hundred dollars lately.

My suggestion would be to save up $2,000-$4,000 and buy yourself an older 600cc sportbike if you want to go fast. Something like a 2002 GSXR 600 with an exhaust and tune will put down around 100 RWHP, only weighs 360 pounds, has a 6 speed. Then you can zoom around at 150 MPH.

But really I wouldn't bother with a 305 unless you feel like putting a lot of money and time into it to get a decent amount of power. Even if you just cam it, get a decent tune, headers and exhaust, whatever, you're going to think every time you drive it "That money could have been saved towards building a decent 350 or swapping in an LS1, I am an idiot."

 

Like implied ... there are no easy or cheap power gains ... "easy" and "cheap" connot be in the same sentence as "performance" or "power" - Murphy's Law.

The problem is multifolded.

1) restrictive intake
2) restrictive heads
3) restrictive exhaust
4) restrictive computer

Getting an intake is great, but doesn't help without better flowing heads. Gettine better heads is great, but doesn't help without better exhaust. Better exhaust is great, but now you have all this extra airflow from intake, heads, exhaust that the computer doesn't know what to do, so it literally dumps huge amounts of gas on top of it - killing the $1000 you just spent on intake/heads/exhaust. So now you have to spend another $300, and start learning programming to custom tune a chip - that in the end will still never get you where you want with the little 305.

Swapping to carb is only an option if swapping motors as well - a carb on an otherwise stock 305 will just get you much much worse gas mileage. AND - carbing is only an option if it's legal in your area!

Do exhaust - that transfers to a 350 - you won't 'feel' anything though.
Do rear gears - that transfers to a 350 - you'll at least feel rear gears.

Save for a 350. Can go carbed on the 350 if it's legal, or can swap to a 350 TBI setup, swapping the 350 block, using your TBI with 350 injectors, 350 knock sensor, and 350 TBI prom from a Caprice or truck.