Hey,
I have an '87 IROC-Z with a 305 TPI in it, auto tranny, coated headers, fairly new dual exhaust, new gaskets, and newly resurfaced heads. What basic performance upgrades would you recommend to add a little extra hp without killing my gas mileage? My friends have a '69 Chevelle, '78 El Camino, '91 Firebird, and a '96 trans am. I know I could take the Chevelle and the El Camino, but the Firebird has me worried. Also, the '96 trans am is extremely fast, and it'd probably smoke me. I'm only seventeen so I'm just looking for some low budget things that I could tweak on my car to add more horse, and torque to at least be able to take the Firebird. Any suggestions?

 

Your pretty much at the full boltons stage.Free mods you can try is opening up that tpi with some port work..cold air intake,run a cooler t-stat/fan switch.Biggest thing with tpi is making sure its got a good tune up already and running efficiently.From here adding hp/tq isnt going to be from cheap mods.cam,heads..or reworked heads with valves/springs etc,trans would be a shift kit..maybe a slightly higher stall and set of gears depending what you already have in the rearend..if its even a limited slip diff back there.And new prom flash to optimize everything all said and done.

The only free mod that can help alot also is shed weight.

 

Its going to be a pain to get the LB9 to run with an LT1. Not only does the 96 Trans Am had a 100hp advantage, the LT1 doesn't run out of breath like a TPI setup does. The LT1 pulls all the way to 5000rpm.

As far as the 91 Firebird, you should be pretty even with the mods you have assuming the bird has an L98. If it has a L03, you can walk on by and laugh.

Also, the closer you are in power to weight, the bigger difference your rear end gears will make.

 

Sometimes horsepower just isn't the answer. Your running a Tuned Port Injection system, and even when my 305 was stock, the stock TPI setup choked it severely. If you can't open up the TPI system to rev the engine, then your going to need to focus on the engine's torque, because your not going past 4500-RPM to make any horsepower with the stock setup, let me assure you. If your literally talking low budget, then advance the camshaft, adjust your timing to compensate for advancing the cam, followed up by a better tune in the prom. From there, get sticky tires and work on your launch. Don't race from a roll, it will defeat the purpose...

 

HSR/Weiand?

 

There are a few items that will help add more power to your 305:

Underdrive pulleys
Cold air induction
Larger intake runners
TB air foil, K&N filter, remove MAF screens
Tuning PROM

 

correction

 

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm gonna have to see how she holds up against the firebird. I might actually be selling it and getting an IROC-Z with a 350 TPI instead. I'm not sure yet. Mine is giving me too many problems currently.

 

Buying another car won't fix your issues.. you'll simply have new ones at that point.

 

Make sure you check the:
Vin 8th digit 8
block and back of the pass head
to make sure it a real L98...ppl lie ALL the time.

 

Yeah, but if I find one that has been taken good care of for closer to $5,000, I'd probably be better off. My car has had issue after issue. Which can be expected cause I got it for $2,700. I've already had blown head gaskets, radiator issues, and parking pall issues. I'm also slowly leaking oil, and I can't figure out where from. I don't have AC, and my heater box is torn out. It's not a bad car by any means. I just feel like I should get rid of it before I have bigger issues. In about a month or two ill be able to afford a $5,000 car provided I can get between $2,500-$3,000 for this one. I've already got about $3,600 in it after the head job and new gaskets, and getting the valves adjusted. I'm gonna work on it and get a few things looking better before I sell it or anything.

 

Don't get me wrong, I love IROCs. I've practically fallen in love with third gen Camaros. I'll probably just buy a better one that's a similar year.

 

That changes things, then. You're obviously willing to spend double your budget this time around, and 5K will get you a nice modified IROC if you look around.

 

$5k will get you a great shape 3rd gen. It will also get you a decent shape LT1 4th gen.

If you're not stuck on the Camaro side of 3rd gens, Id recommend taking a look at GTA Trans Ams. More often than not, they have L98s. They also only came with TPI engines. If you find one with a 5 speed, TAKE IT. Those are very rare.

Its also a lot harder to fake a GTA than it is a IROC-Z from what I hear.

Plus the seats a lot more comfortable.

 

Yeah, Pontiacs are nice, but I've always liked the body style of the third gen Camaros better. The front end is a little beefier so to speak. Lolol and Pontiacs are like a dime a dozen around this area. Well at least Firebirds and trans ams are. I kind of want to stick with something that not a lot of people have. It's more of a head turner if people see a car that isn't often seen in this area. I only know of one other person that owns a third gen Camaro around here. So uniqueness is a pretty cool factor too. I know of quite a few firebirds and trans ams. I guess I could look into GTAs though. I honestly don't know much about them. If I could find a really clean looking IROC with a 350 TPI and not too high of mileage I would jump at the opportunity. That is, provided I can sell this one of course. When I bought this car I wasn't bringing in nearly as much money as I am now. I would fix this one up and tune it, but I feel like it's becoming a bottomless money pit, and sooner or later I won't be able to get that much out of it. I'd rather just buy a car with stuff already looking good on it. Haha

 

First where do you live that there o many firebirds? Around hear there are more camaro's the firebirds,
If your start looking at GTAs you will find they go for a lot more than an Iroc as they made a lot less of them.
And most of thee third gen are becoming money pits, think about it they are all over 20 years old. They will always need new parts or something rebuilt, And with that said if it was me I would get a new motor for it. I won't diss your 305, But You can find a 350 or bigger SBC, get a good intake and header, Maybe do an LS swap. That is if your cars body is in decent shape, More than likely you'd end up adding more goodies to any car you get to make it better and make it yours anyway.

 

GTAs will typically cost a little more also due to the fact that Firebird is an extinct model. The Camaro is still around so it doesn't have the " collector " thing going for it.

GTAs were bar none, the top of the line when it came to TAs. Its HARD to find a regular TA/Formula that had 3.23s and a L98. Most were L03/LB9s with 2.73 gears.

GTAs had the best of the best options available on your run of the mill thirdgens standard ( L98, 700R4, 3.23s, 4 wheel disc brakes, upgraded suspension ). Aside from special models like the B4C and Turbo Trans Am, they're the fastest models available most of the time.

 

Instead of spending 5k on another car(if the car you have is decent) get a crate motor, do a lsx/lt1 swap their are plenty of donor cars in junkyards all over the country.

 

I agree it sounds like your car is already what you want as far as body/interior. The engine runs strong too it sounds.

Some of your mods will transfer to a L98 or vortech l98. (l31?) you could easily get a used l98 cheap and even make money on your 305 probably for same money and/or have the l98 stripped and rebuilt at a shop the way you want it.

then when ready drop it in, swap over parts and all probably for less then $3000 labor and parts