Ever since I was a kid, and my neighbor (you know, the cool older kid on the block) got his 92 RS, I have always wanted a third Gen. Well, a few weeks ago I came across one that seemed like quite a good deal.
84 Z28
305 HO
Carburated
700R4 (newer)
Flowmasters
94000 Original miles, about 5k on the tranny.
Pics attached, unfortunately none of the engine atm.

At this point, I pretty much want to know where to start for some more power. I mean, I'm not entirely inept with cars, I know how to do general maintainence (brakes, plugs,wires,etc), and part of the reason in getting this car was to learn more as I go along.

I've searched many, many things and the web, mostly on this forum, from headers to lsx swaps, so mainly, I would just like some guidance and where to start.

Sorry if this is on the wrong board, mods feel free to move/delete if entirely necessary.

Thanks everyone!

 

The quick and easy way is to just jack up the carb and drop a ZZ4 crate under it! Exspensive though. A good high flowing exhaust is always a good place to start. I have a Dynomax ultra on mine. Wakes them up a little. And a good tune up.

Sorry you already have Flowmasters! Disregard!

 

Haha no problem. If I had it my way (read lots of money) I would drop an LS in there, but as a 22 year old, 5-7 grand for the conversion is it a bit too high for me. I guess I should say wat can I do with it while keeping the 305?

 

why not grab a 350 drop that in with a set of 62cc heads edelbrock intake some headers and a nice cam should put you in the 300hp+ range (just guessing) should keep you happy for a bit

i got mine ditched the 305 bought the 290hp 350 crate motor slapped headers on it MSD dist. MSD wires Performer carb n intake and it rips for now. it moves pretty nice but motor cost`s 2k ish so it big a nice little upgrade im getting around 20mpg if i baby it a little and step on it occasionally but not bad its my daily driver

 

Welcome man. Nice Camaro. As far as mods go, I haven't really worked on a Z28 HO for a while. But I'd say I nice open air cleaner for that carb if you dont alread have one, then in order of most to least helpfull, headers back exhaust (it'll really help that thing breath, opens the engine up for future mods and makes it sound good too), intake manifold, heads, cam, and computer chip if you got it. Mods not engine related, transmission shift kit, stall coverter, and new rear end gears (10 bolt 3.42 would be optimal, 9 bolts are better). But i would say the top five mods would be most noticable and cost efective would be The Exhaust, the intake manifold, the shift kit, heads, and the rear end gears. Correct me if I'm wrong guys. And yah, a nice 300hp 350 would be right at home in that car.

And yes, this post is in the right section.

 

Why thank you, Skelitor.

Here's where my extreme ignorance comes in... is having a Carb inhibiting me at all? Is it possible to switch to tbi or tpi, and if so is it worth it?

Also, I know it has flowmasters, but beyond sounding amazing, what good is it doing? Should I look into something else?

Thanks again guys, and sorry for my utter stupidity. I have always wanted to work on cars but never learned unfortunately.

 

If you really have the 305 HO (you should have a dual inlet air filter assembly if you do) you're one of the few who does. I'd leave the dual inlet setup alone - it pumps cool air into the engine instead of hot engine bay air. Most guys who see improvements going to open element filters had single inlet air filter assemblies. I'd leave it alone.

The 305 HO was faster than the CFI cars, and the TPI has it's own limitations.

I'd keep the Q-jet on it and roll with that. They're good carbs.

Flowmasters sound like flowmasters, some hate them, some love them. Allegedly they're not the best for performance but when it comes to "performance" mufflers, most street useful mufflers are within a few hp of each other. On a stock car just get what you think sounds good and roll with it.

If you're trying to drag race it and do cam swaps and headers and so on... you may want to look into something better, but better isnt going to be much of a difference unless you go with some hillbilly sounding glasspacks or something.

If it's really a 305 HO, you got one of the better stock 305's made. I'd leave it alone unless you want to do a head/cam/intake swap with headers and full exhaust. The engine itself is pretty well set up for power. You'll have better gears too.

One thing I'd suggest you do with the exhaust is to measure your I-pipe... the pipe that connects the catalytic converter to the flowmaster muffler in the back. If it's a 2.5 pipe and not a 3 inch pipe there's room for improvement right there.

HOWEVER... if you have the single inlet air filter setup... it's probably just an LG4 305... Slow garbage. Maybe someone more familiar with these things can tell you a better way to tell the difference between the LG4 and the L69 (305 HO).

Do you know where your SPID sheet is? with all your RPO codes on it? Look in the console and see if it's there, if you find it, look for LG4 or L69. If it's LG4 it's garbage, dont bother with performance, just drive it til it dies and then move up to somethingh faster. If it's an L69, it's decent.

BTW... L69 = 190hp, LB9 (TPI 305) = 215hp.

If you really wanted to get serious about upgrading your engine for more power, the L69 is, IMO, a better base to start wtih since you're not crippled at high RPMs by the TPI intake.

 

^X2.

Stick with the dual snorkel air cleaner if you have it- an open air will cost you power.

There are a few manifolds that will fit under the stock flat hood. Don't go crazy with some 'high rise' single plane intake. It's a street driven 305. You need a good dual plane. Anything too crazy and you're cutting holes in the hood, or buying a cowl induction.

Do the basic tuneup parts like upgrading your cap, rotor, wires, etc while you are at it. Make sure you get copper contacts with the cap and rotor. Wires, get the lowest resistance possible per foot. MSD Superconductors or Taylor Thundervolts. Don't forget to do you fuel filter while you're in the area.

You could always get some 1.6 roller rockers. Easier/cheaper than doing a cam. Typically they don't fit under the stock valve covers.

Headers. Go with some GOOD shorties- if it has a 1.5" primary- walk away. Those with a 1.5 primary are only a marginal improvement over the OEM manifolds. Long tubes are nice, but are a PITA and it gets expensive to clear everything.

 

The L69 has a 'G' in the eighth VIN digit, "H" for the LG4. The L69 will have an electric fan in '84 along with the dual snorkle intake (which could easily be missing now-they fetch a healthy price). Peruse this:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/carb...tions-lg4.html

 

sand and prime the rust on the hood before it gets out of hand

fix the leaky passenger side t-top

talk to 1a, a sponsor on this site about some new window sweeps and weatherstripping

you just spent several hundred dollars on that stuff but it will help the longevity of the car

good luck

oh, does that house have a basement? That's a heck of a hill in the back yard and when it rains the water must go somewhere.

But, if you get snow where you live that's a good tubing hill

 

No prob, but to answer your exhaust question, I will ask a question. You said you had "FlowmasterS" What do you mean that? Do you mean you have flowmaster headers? or a cat back exhaust and/or muffler? Replacing the stock exhaust manifolds with headers, and the rest of the system, will help the engine breath better (Not to insult you but you know what those are right? Want to be on the same page here). Right now the engine is useing up power to push out the burned up fuel/air mixture.

 

If it's the G model it will have the upgraded factory exhaust with larger y-pipe and cast iron manifolds (similar in size to the later TPI). Still could use replacement with Headers/etc., but not the garden hose system that cripples the LG4 and LO3.

 

Very True ^^^