I have an 84 T/A with the L69 engine 3.73 and T-5, that for some reason is faster than it has a right to be, I bought it stock with 68,000 original miles. The only mods I've done is K+N airfilter and dual snorkel aircleaner. (retaining stock lid with rubber air induction lip) It's still slow compared to my 96, ( obviously!) and it eats most tune ports for breakfast, especially my friends 90 5 speed! His is rated 220 from the factory and we all know the l-69's are 190, and his runs great??? I'm looking for a smog legal( the kkkalifornia smog *****) cam and intake to really liven things up, I have a parterner that that has the Edelbrock manifold+ Cam and lifter kit, and he's not too impressed with it's performance. I'm looking at slp headers, with a crane compu cam, but I don't know squat about cams. The whole point of all this jabber is I want to go faster legally, and under $1,000.?

 

I should have been more specific, my friends 90 is a T/A with TPI. ( I think in 90 they were all standard with TPI)

 

The 84 L69 5 speed came reletivly very well equipt. They surprise alot of people. The stock cam is decent..I think even bigger than the Edelbrock you were considering. If you really wanna upgrade it, look to favorite manufacturer for a cam with about 208-212 intake duration @ .050, and about 214-218 exaust on a 112LSA. I swear by Comp Cams personally.

Headers would be a good start. SLP's are very good, albeit a bit overpriced as well, but for smog legal you don't have a huge number of options of ones that are any good. I think wieand makes a good smog legal dual plane intake.

You best place to look for immediate gains would be to do some performance tuning to that Q jet and bump the timing a little. I think there is a tech article here on the subject..if not the Q-nuts on the carb board can help ya out with that.

 

I agree with jester comp cams are great... I would go with this one for a smog leagal change,this with a set a world 305 heads performer egr intake,slp headers should get you right at about 300 flywheel horsepower... Kevin



Comp Cams part # 12-388-4 1000 to 5000 rpm range
Grind 252AH-12
Lift
intake .425
exhaust .440

Duration@0.50 intake 206
exhaust 212

 

I'd say go with full exhaust first, like said the L69 has a decent cam and besides without a free flowing exhaust the motor will choke no matter what mod you put on.

 

Well the L69 is rated at only 190 hp from the factory...however there have been several magazines who put L69's on dyno's themselves b/c they found out exactly what you are suggesting. There's more punch in there than 190. I'll look for some of them for you and see if I can post them.

Basically, they produced closer to 240 horsepower than 190. Why would a car manufacturer do that? b/c of insurance rates. Ever hear the story of why they came up with the idea of doing a 396?

The emissions stuff is awefully tough to get over. I'd agree with everybody else, cam maybe isn't the best place to start just as of yet. If you really want some extra stuff there, you can go with 1.6:1 rockers...

Exhaust system is the best place to start.

 

I started with the same combination and also a low
milage car and was very suprised with the performance - 14.55 the first time I ran it.
Bolt on Mods are listed below with final time.
Went with 1.6 rocker arms instead of new cam.

 

Full exhaust and port your stock heads
l69 heads are dope port them.
slightly hotter cam and save the rest for suspension

 

i changed my intake and carb and my car went 14.6@95mph...nothing else...i have alot of good idieas for that motor if you got time