Virgin Camaro owner, inherited my mom's (cherry condition 87K) 90 RS and already ! have a desire for tweeting the performance. Getting it back on the road from 6 years of twice a year starting and sitting in a garage was costly. Anyway the catalytic converter rule was grandfathered in Iowa so the mechanic straight piped it. Step one done. So from the stock data of 170 HP does anyone know how much approximately this might add? Looking for more performance tweaks to add more umph to it. Obviously, not dropping a 350 TPI into it, but looking for some not too expensive adds or changes. What it would do and a rough cost if you might know.

Thanks

 

Cat delete isn't worth anything to speak of.

1. Headers, y-pipe, and cat-back. I like my Dyno Don's.

2. Final drive ratio.

3 Higher stall converter (assuming auto).

4. Heads, cam, injectors, fuel pump, proper tuning. Though at this point a 350 might be a better investment.

That's the general idea. Not many other things worth the investment in the big picture.

GD

 

Better aircleaner, full exhaust for a 350 car, gear ratio. That should get you close to a typical 305 TPI car for around a $1500 investment. Assuming you buy everything new.

 

Steeper gears, S10 TC, shift kit, 3in exhaust. This made a world of difference in my LO3. Headers I'm sure would help i just didn't go that route because I'm swapping to 350 in the near future anyways.

 

Um , I don't want to be the killjoy here , I really don't , , BUT ! , , ,

Regardless of what Iowa's supposed stance on catalytic converters is* , it's still most certainly against federal law to delete emissions control equipment on any car driven on any public road in the USA , including Iowa . Now , since federal law trumps state law in everything (including "state legal" pot sales) , your car most certainly IS illegal in the eyes of the feds . Now , will this ever be an issue ? Of course not , the feds have far bigger fish to fry than one dude running around with no cats on his car . Just know that if ever "push came to shove" , if the car was involved in an accident SO bad the feds (NHSTA) ended up investigating it (your car is at fault in a bus crash that kills 26 people , for instance) then yea it very well could become an issue .

* I'd really like to see a copy of this supposed "grandfather clause" that makes deleting emission control equipment legal in Iowa , because quite frankly I don't believe in it's existence . The feds just love withholding federal highway funds from states that don't "toe the line" WRT it's emissions equipment law and I highly doubt Iowa would risk loosing billions in nice juicy federal highway grants just to allow you to run around polluting everyone else's air .

PS , I fully expect to be attacked for this post , but the truth is the truth as far as the feds go , I've read the statutes personally , and I defy anyone here to present me with proof positive evidence that I'm wrong about the fed's stance on this .......

 

I agree 100%. As a shop owner I won't delete a cat on anything and I routinely refuse to install catless exhaust purchased by customers. Even if it comes in and leaves on a trailer. It's not worth a few hours of labor for a $10,000 fine.

That said, I have no cat on my 86 Trans Am. There's no testing where it's registered. It doesn't increase performance in any way to delete it. When I replaced the exhaust with custom I just didn't put one in it. Saved a few bucks on materials. Car has no other emissions equipment anyway and I personally don't care one bit.

But it is a risk. I like living on the edge. Chances are if I get into an accident with a bus in my 86 trans am with no airbags and 26 people die I am unlikely to survive so.... not going to be my problem anyway.

GD

 

I would recommend driving the 305 as is and spend your time and money on a 350 build to swap in later.

 

Totally agree. Whatever you do add to the car make sure it works well with a 350 down the road.

 

^^^ This ^^^

Because... 305.

The main thing you can do that will uncork the thing you have now as well as prep for what comes next, is exhaust. EVERY PIECE, from the heads to the pavement. Replace with GOOD QUALITY headers, a high-flow cat, and the cat-back of your choice. DON'T rush out and by the cheeeeeeepest thing you can find that nobody went to jail for fraud because of printing the word "headers" on the box!!! There is almost NOTHING you can do to a car, besides hack the AC off of it, that will more quickly and surely turn it into a stinking bucket of hilljack excrement, than cheeeeeep headers.

A cat might actually cost LESS than having someone straight-pipe it. Let that thought sink in for a moment. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/mpe-94109/overview/ as an example. These are no longer the old pellet-bad POSs that were as bad as jamming a potato in the tailpipe. They certainly won't "rob HP" like the old days; I'd be surprised if you could tell ANY difference on a TBI 305 at all. Might even make it run better.

 

Hi everyone, thanks for all the great advice.

Let me clarify my answer on the cat. So with the car in the shop a week and already $2,700 into repairs, the mechanic stated the cat was clogged throwing the timing off etc.... I asked about straight piping it and he said he couldn't by law. I was like OK do what you need to do; at this point in for a penny in for a pound. This was a two fridays ago. He calls me on Sat morning, and says hey your in luck I don't need to put one back in so this will save you a few bucks. I said great, go with it. I made the assumption there was an exception. I didn't ask any questions.

I think I'll just keep it as is for the moment, and just enjoy my mom's (my) car. I know things like tires and suspension and other little things will pop up so just keep the money to keep fixing them, Oh and I still need to replace the fuel sending unit to get the gas gauge to work.

Heck if I had that much need for speed, I should unload this one now and buy this one off Craigslist 1992 25th Anniversary Camaro Z28 - $6500 Wouldn't you know it a 92 25th Aniv Z28 5.7 TPI when up for sale in the same damn small town the same time I bring on into town....go figure

I love my t-tops though....
Thanks again everyone.

 

I have been in your shoes...did the 305 thing , heads , cam , rear gear , exhaust,muffler, headers ...looking back unfortunately you cant beat an L31 350 crate drop in .....FWIW