well, i just made 100 bucks on the side and want to spend it on the ol' bitchin camaro. what is the best mod i could buy for under 100 bucks, headers and exhaust are coming, i just want somethin else that i can buy for under 100. thanks guys :rockon: :rockon:

 

Are you doing the work yourself. I think a cam would be your best bet. You can get a Summit cam for $70 w/ lifters. It's not the highest quality cam, but you'll definately notice a power increase of that peanut cam. Or you could get a cam like Comp or something $100, but you'll have to spend about $30 on lifters.

 

i would say a cam. if you saved up about $30 more you could get the comp cams with lifters. I have the summit cam in one of my cars and that made a huge difference. however if you have more money spend it :-) I would also recomend about 215-220deg or duration. it'll give ya nice sound too ;-)

 

Wow cams are cheap eh? Do you have to take out the engine to do that? I'm sure ya have to.
:hail: :lala:
just had to do that

 

actually you don't. take out your radiator and slide the cam out/in. you don't have to pull the motor, trust me I've seen it done several times!

 

Yeah, I need a cam. How hard is it to intsall? I know you have to take out the radiator, but as far as getting it in/out and adjusting the heads and such could a begainer get by doing this on his own?

-Matt

 

well I'm just 16 and I've done it, not acually while the motor was in the car. it would be the same thing thoug cept a couple hours of labor difference. I'm sure there is a book or someting out there for ya

 

Don't forget about the 2 oil filters and 2 oil changes plus the intake manifold gaskets, timing chain cover gaskets, Valve Cover Gaskets, RTV, and if you have a TPI setup, the TPI gasket set(which should include the manifold gaskets), and some coolant, as well as a new thermostat and gasket since you have everything off already.
I must have spent $100+ in gaskets on my car when I did the carb to TPI swap.

All the small things add up quick.

The cam swap on my 86 Trans Am was pretty easy, just took a number of hours pulling everything apart and putting it all back together.
Make sure you have a Pulley Puller so you can get the Harmonic Balancer off, cuz it won't just pull or pry off.

I installed a Crane Powermax 2050 into my 305 TPI motor.

 

As you can see it's not a short process. The only thing I would add is on my car I had to bend the front supports in front of the radiator to slide the cam out.
Correctly setting the valve lash is tricky, because the lifters may not pump up at first then you have to readjust the rockers, that is of course if you get a hydraulic.