Hi,
New guy here.
I have a stock 86 trans am 5.0 Lg4. Automatic 700r4
I want to do the edelbrock performer package. There site says the kits made for the lg4. I don't believe I need emmisions on this car..
I was also thinking go with performer heads and intake with the xe262 cam??
I want it street able and can't afford the 350.

Parts owned but not installed yet, full exhaust headers back dynomax ultraflow, transgo shift kit, 3.42 rear gears, big brake kit,

It is a everyday driver that I need to get out of its own way

Let me know what you guys think
PLEASE keep the "get 350" comments to a minimum thanks

 

First thing to understand is, in order for some mod to make the car faster, it has to address something that's inadequate about the car currently.

From that blinding flash of the obvious, you can then move on to the next one, which is, you should start with the thing that's MOST making the car not be fast (the "bottleneck"); and upgrade it in some way consistent with everything else about the car, and your ultimate goal. Doing that will expose the NEXT thing that is now the one MOST hurting the car's performance; and so on.

The first and foremost problem with the LG4's performance is the exhaust. EVERY PIECE needs to go in the trash, from the heads to the street; and be replaced with a chassis-specific (NOT "universal") part, but NOT for LG4. Any part that is "compatible" AT ALL with the rest of the LG4 exhaust, will preserve the bottleneck. Get the ones for a TPI 350 or a L69 instead. They all bolt up exactly the same to the car and the motor, just, not to each other.

THe next thing about that motor, is that a bunch of the things that make it slow, aren't THE MOTOR at all. Gears are a very good idea, because you almost certainly have 2.73s in there from the factory. Next biggest bang for the buck in that area is a converter.

THe intake is not "the bottleneck", nor are the heads. Spending your money there will get no results.

After you do the exhaust, gears, and converter, the next "bottleneck" is the cam. The XE262 is the absolute largest you should consider. The 256 is probably a better idea.

Somewhere along the line it needs an air cleaner. Since you have a Firebird the L69 one (best choice for a Camaro) isn't really applicable. But that single snorkel POS has to go.

 

Forgot to list I also have duel snorkel air cleaner.
What about the edelbrock e-street. Heads ,cam ,intake ,carb package.
Not looking for 10second car!!! just want to wake it up..

 

The 416 heads arent that bad.

The only thing in your motor that needs attention is the cam. Do the rest of the work first (exhaust, gears, converter), then the cam last.

 

I have exhaust headers back, duel snorkel air cleaner, gears, shift kit,brakes, ect. Want to do everything all together. It's everyday driver. Doesn't get much down time. So if I can take off road for a weekend I'd like to just get it done. But done Right.
So would Xe252 cam be better??
As far as converter. 2000 good for what I want to do or 2500 better??

Thanks for the help guys

 

Stick with the items the other guys mentioned headers, gears, exhaust and save for the 350

 

Hey guys I also found a after market duel snorkel air cleaner that fits this car and runs 2 k+n open filters. Would this be better then the closed?
I can run it a # of different ways. Where the closed is only to the front right under hood..

 

I probably would not waste my money on that until I had some serious engine mods or at the lease headers and exhaust.

Right now the best bang for your buck is headers exhaust and gears.

I think all the 1986 LG4 autos got 2.73 gears and they are really keeping your performance down get some 3.42 or 3.23s

 

1. What exhaust do you have? What headers? What catback? What is the diameter of the catback piping?

2. What gears do you have?

3. With gears, stall, and exhaust, you can throw a decent cam in it. An xe262 would be fine with the right stall and gears and make decent power.

Other points I'd like to make.
- That edelbrock stuff is overpriced. You can do better, for cheaper.
- Dont dare buy heads for that 305. The 416's are decent for factory heads. If anything just do some minor bowl blending and pocket porting. Theres just no sense in spending a bunch of money on heads for a 305. Ones that will work well on a 305 usually wont work too well on a 350.

 

I have the full ss dynomax headers and ss ultra flow 3" exhaust. I have the 3.42 gears. I don't know what is best converter??. It's a 700r4 automatic.
You guys seem to have diff ideas on cam. This is every day driver.


New problem ..Oil pressure gauge not working. It just sits at "0". Doesn't move at all. I checked for oil pressure. It's fine and plenty of oil in it

Would oil pressure sensor help it's like $8. Or could gauge just be bad??

 

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

 

usually the sending unit. almost never the gauge. cheap and easy fix...probably.

 

Problem with oil pressure gauge all Fixed

The plastic to the wire was little melted and wouldn't clip tight. Replaced sender anyways. For $8 why not!!

Thanks for the help guys

 

this is what i went with
Edelbrock 2098 Power Package Engine Top End Kits
Part No. 2098

bought it from guy down the street for $800 he got in accident with his car (totaled) so he sold me whole thing brand new..

it runs like a champ, after exhaust gets put back on its going for first drive.. trans was rebuilt and transgo shift kit added with 2500 stall 3.73 rears

ill let you guys know if this little LG4 holds all this retard power. few customs for it all to fit but runs and looks good

 

Runs, drives, looks, sounds awesome.. What a difference in this car.

 

How did you get it all to work??