I have an 88 formula and I'm not sure if it's a tbi but if so what would be the best carb setup for this I know the air cleaner is black and completely closed with a tube running up to the headlight. Anyways I'm not sure if running tbi set up is good performance wise, or should I go carb and get a Holley double pumper 750 I'm planning on sticking with the 305 but with a beefed up intake and carb along with headers and a larger pipe diameter someone please help. I found the tbi intake through edelbrock but don't know where to order the tbi??

 

Post a pic of your engine, then we can determine if it is TBI or TPI. Assuming the car doesn't already have a carb.

 

It is a TBI. The last year for carb was 87 and if it has a black round air cleaner it is TBI. I currently run a 91 RS with the TBI and it can work really well if you're not looking for 500hp out of a stock fuel injection setup. With what you're describing for mods you want to do I don't see where you'd gain anything by going carb. Especially if you go with something as big as a 750. That's way too big for a stock 305 with maybe headers and an intake.

 

Okay here it is and I look at the intake and yes it is a tbi I've been looking at all the sticks and can't find a tbi upgrade. The reason I was thinking of going carb was to avoid the computer tech stuff and avoiding the running but maybe I'm just being lazy. The guy I bought it from say the engine locked up and he think a rod is to blame by the looks of this engine I don't think I'm going to try a rebuild but what's your guys thoughts on this build and whether I should go carb or the original tbi setup?

 

The vin is 1g2fs and there's an E further down that oreillys uses to ID the car.

 

Ultimately that is your call. I would personally go back with the TBI but I have grown used to it and actually come to like how it works. It is very reliable but does depend on what you plan to replace your motor with. There is a way to build a 350 and keep the TBI but that depends on whether or not you want to do the work to keep it. It will require working with the ECM though. You'll have to decide what works best for you. Swap over the fuel injection, or go through the process of swapping to carb.

 

A E in the vin number indicates a 5.0 TBI. At least that's what it came with from the factory

 

Why is it that all aftermarket throttle bodies I find for 305 say tbi application do they not have performance tbi that fit my car? I understand this was an era were they were transitioning from carb to fuel injection and tbi happened to be in between them but do they not have what I am looking for? I'm trying to price all parts and locate them before I get into tearing down the car I've found most all interior pieces thanks to Hawks and year one and now I'm onto engine and drivetrain. So I really need to locate this oreillys doesn't seem to have it on there web page and the only intakes they have are directed towards building a carb 305

 

Here's another picture.... Yes it's a t-top.

 

Holley makes one that will fit our cars but is labeled for the c10 and silverado. They have the same throttle body but unless you're going for high hp or heavily modded then it's not really needed.

 

I meant tpi app.

 

what would be the best gears/rear end to go with I used to have an 84 z28 and that thing was sluggish and I know it was the rear end because that 305 was decked out along with exhaust system. And I'm sure this firebird has the same rear end.

 

I recommend a set of 3.42 gears. They'll give the car a little umph without killing mileage. Another option would be 3.73s but that's (in my opinion) a little aggressive for your setup without doing some other mods. The best mods I've made that would apply to your car if you have an auto trans are definitely the exhaust work, tubular rear suspension, and air cleaner. If you have a good set of gears then those would be my recommendations. You should keep in mind that if you're in a state that has emissions tests that will make it a bit more difficult also.

 

I'm thinking of going with the 305 lb roller block do you know what cam would go nice with it a mild one is all I desire seeing as how I don't plan to upgrade any other internals

 

I would recommend looking at the tbi forum here as they have a lot of good info. Personally I would get something like the LT1 cam or just above an rv cam. Hell even an rv cam is a step up from the stock cam.