Guys, what kind of power gains can I expect if I toss in the intake and cam from a ZZ4 into the LG4? Heck, will they even fit?

Thanks,

 

Come on guys, help me out here. I'm new at this stuff.

 

The intake would be an good addition. The cam might not work that well because of the 305 small bore, a smaller engine probly
will not produce the right amount of vacume for the ecm.

 

I had the intake on the LG4 before I did the other mods. It did run better, but part of the problem may have been that the EGR passages were plugged in the original LG4 intake. So, yes, for that part, it fits.

The cam is a roller lifter design, you have flat tappet. Retrofit is very expensive (and no, you can't use flat lifters on a roller cam). The other problem is that the stock heads can't handle that kind of lift for springs, rocker studs, or flow. In fact, I did my head porting intending to use that cam until I discovered my roller block was cracked. I ended up using the Crane compu cam, and just love the way it runs. So, for this part, no, it doesn't fit (at least not economically) for your application.

Unless you do a lot of other things to the engine, like heads (at least ported stock), cam, and exhaust, the intake isn't going to help that much. After you do all that stuff, you're going to want a higher stall converter, too. And, your vintage LG4 has the low compression dished pistons, so the effects of the modifications are going to be diminished.

Ever considered a 350?

 

Hey thanks for all the good advice guys.

Yes, I have considered a 350 but I want to drive the 305 until it dies. I'm selling my '98 VW GTI after this car proves itself reliable to get out of some debt. But I don't want to drive a friggin' DOG. Heck, I can take 5.0 Mustangs with my GTI right now. I don't want to be left in the dust. Besides, I also trailer my motorcycle in the mountains in the summer. I need more power than an "advertised" 140 hp. So I was thinking about doing some minor mods such as air filter, intake, headers, exhaust and (maybe) cam. I was hoping for maybe 225 hp with these mods which I can live with.

The reason I ask about the ZZ4 intake is because there is one f/s on the classified board.

 

Sure, do the normal things. Intake, headers, 3 inch exhaust. Good for around 35 hp. Look over Damon's tech article for the QJet--that will make you happy for cheap

I'm not sure how your ignition advance is accomplished. If you have a HEI distributor then have it recurved with a Crane vacuum advance kit. Best $15 you'll ever spend, bang for buck wise

The nice thing about LG4s is that almost anything helps. They really respond--and get really good mileage to boot.

 

Sheesh, 35 hp is all I can expect? Why did I have to get the #1 most underpowered engine in all of V8-dom.

Yes, I have HEI. I'll look into the Crane stuff.

Yeah, great mileage. Must be from that awesome 8.5:1 compression ratio.:lala:

 

Wait, wait, wait... HEI's come in more than one version. The typical LG4 US version is computer controlled, and for that, the vacuum advance is not applicable. Do consider, though, the Accel HEI coil and module as good sense upgrades.

Yes, the LG4 responds to all of the other "typical" mods. Even with the lower compression. If you have to get into the short block, though (pistons, rings, bearings, over-bore, etc.), consider getting a 350 instead.

 

If, after I get the intended modifications completed, I find the need for increased ingnition performance, I'll look into it. I don't expect to get high hp numbers from high rpm so I may just stick with stock ignition. That's really where upgraded ignition comes into play, right? At high rpm? I DO have new wires and plugs though. It made a world of difference.

 

I would recommend the coil and module upgrade even on an otherwise unmodified LG4. It makes a difference from idle to redline.

 

Well, I've done all of the mentioned mods on my 305, which has 9.5:1 compression because it's an 86, and Desktop Dyno 2000 tells me I now have 243 hp gross. Subtract about 25 hp to turn all my accessories and whatnot, and I'm now tooling around with maybe 220 hp. I started with 155 hp, so I've gained around 60 hp. It sure feels a lot better and more fun to drive than when I bought it

Now, add a decent set of heads and you will have 250 hp. Throw in a mild cam that is liveable for driving daily and you will then be at around 280 hp net.

Suddenly you are pushing one hp per cubic inch. That's mid-14s in the quarter mile--even with 2.73 gears. What's wrong with that?

 

Nothing wrong with that! I can live with it, and it'll tow the trailer. I think I've got a deal going on the ZZ4 intake. Is there anything special I'll need except carb, coolant nozzle, and intake gaskets and a thermostat?

WRT the cam, I was thinking of going with the Comp XE256. It seems to be the cam of choice for the LG4.

I'll price the Accel stuff and decide based on price. Us Navy guys are kinda on a budget.

 

The carb and thermostat housing you have now will fit the ZZ4 intake. You just need the gaskets to make that switch, although a new thermostat isn't a bad idea since you'll have it apart anyway.

Desktop Dyno says I have over 350 horses now. Subtract the same 25 hp for accessories, I'm still happy. Very street friendly, too. Heads & exhaust make quite a difference.

Exhaust wouldn't be a bad idea for you to consider upgrading, either.

Oh, that stock LG4 air cleaner is a killer. Go dual snorkel for sure.

The coil and 7-pin module will run you about $150. Worth it.

 

Hey Greg!

The Comp Cams XE 256 is exactly the cam that Comp Cams recommended to me for my my 305. A few guys even like the 262 but Comp said I'd be borderline on vacuum for the brakes and whatnot, so I'll stick with the 256. It has a max lift of .454 on the exhaust valve, which means you can just plug it in without any extra head work.

I'm on a disability pension budget, so I hear you

 

Headers are on the way. With Hooker shorties, I can use my stock Y-pipe, right? I already have a 3" Flowmaster that I plan on using, doing 3" all the way back from the Y-pipe. I'm considering a new cat. There's someone selling a ton of 3" high flow cats on eBay for $60. That seems like a pretty good deal. So the exhaust seems to be taken care of.

I've done research on the air cleaner. For $40 I can get an open air 3x14" K&N that flows a lot more hotter air, offsetting the $120 (if I get lucky) dual snorkel drawing cooler air.

Ouch, on the $150 for the Accel.

Remember I'm trying to do this on a BUDGET! The whole point of getting the Berlinetta back on the road is to sell the "expensive" car.

 

There is a tech article for building your own dual snorkel cleaner for cheap

Try advancing your timing to 6 degrees. Everyone with computer cars says it helps.

You might have to fabricate a y-pipe, I guess you'll find out soon enough. Anyway, the improvement in power is well worth it.

I've found Proform coils to be very good and less expensive than Accell.

 

Yeah, sure. And then I need to get the hose and snorkel. Check this out: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cg...item=601640892

...$71 and it's still got 17 hrs to go. And this is only the hoses and snorkels, no air cleaner! K&N for me, thank you.

 

Greg, don't be so pessimistic. Keep your ear to the ground and you'll find what you need at the time when you have the money to buy it. I just found the dual snorkel cleaner here in Calgary for $75 Canadian--that's about $45 US! Surely you have a Bargain Finder type of classified ads newspaper in Virginia. These things DO pop up from time to time. Just keep an eye open and you'll find one.

If you think ahead you can save some dough on the K&N, too, by buying the 14x2 size because it fits both the stock cleaner and the dual snorkel.

Moreover, you can "open element" your stock LG4 aircleaner by going to the junk yard and picking up a lid with a 14 inch diameter for about $2. That'll work just as well as a store bought chrome job. That's called hot-rodding

 

No, the $141 Hooker p/n 2460 Comp shorties will not hook up to the stock y-pipe. You don't want to do that, anyway, with a 3" cat. A custom y-pipe will cost you a bundle unless you can do the fabricating yourself (do you work for a muffler shop?).

The Hooker 2055 Super Comp shorties come with a y-pipe made for a 3" slip-fit cat. In the end, their $349.95 price may be less than the Comps and a custom y-pipe.

 

These are the headers I got off eBay:



However, the loser has not contacted me with shipping costs and it's been 2 weeks. I'll tell him to screw himself and get something better.

Thanks for the info.

 

Hedman is another good bet. I think they also have a set that comes with a y-pipe that might be cheaper than the Hookers.

 

Double post

 

Guys,

This is the Accel coil that will fit on the LG4, right? P/N 140003?



Thanks,

 

That looks like the one for the non-computer cars. It might be the same, I don't know.

 

I got my hedmans and y-pipe for 198 dollars at jegs

 

Greg, that's the coil I'm using. It fits all large-cap HEI's (have one on my non-CC van as well). It's the module that's different between CC and non-CC HEI.