Would my car be considered fast?
Specs are as follows:
-305 5.0 V8
-5 speed manual transmission
-I don't know its exact weight but given the year, make, model I feel that should give anyone more familiar with third-gen Camaros a rough estimate
-Max power 256@4500 rpm
-Max torque 348@3250 rpm

I'd like to know if it's 1) fast, 2) if not, what would be considered fast for this car, and 3) what I could do to make it faster. Also any other knowledge would be useful, as it is a project car

 

Where are the HP & Torque numbers coming from? Engine dyno, chassis dyno, on line calculator? Fast in the Qtr? Fast on a track? Fast on the highway? What gears do you have in the rear? Which 305 5.0? What induction system, TPI? TBI? Ram?

 

Engine dyno, TPI, LB9 305 5.0 rebuilt, and as for fast where, I don't know you tell me that's kind of why I'm asking.

 

My 87 IROC with the LB9 305 5spd 3:45 rear gears in completely stock form with 88k miles on it turned a 14.57 @ 91.71 MPH with a 2.090 60' on it (that's the only time it went to the track). When it was new it beat just about everyone I lined up against on the street except for the Grand Nationals - unless we were on the turnpike & their speed limiter kicked in.

If yours is a fresh rebuild, I would expect better.

 

Depends who you ask but IMHO No your car is not fast.

 

In its time it was fast stock like it was. Now days everything is fast so it just depends on your idea of fast.

 

Depends on what YOU think is fast. My cbr F3/ totally custom, from engine to fairings, I thought was fast. I went 175 mph on it. 1st gear almost 60mph in no time...... Thats what I think is fast.... IMO

 

Compared to cars nowadays, no its not fast. There are 4 bangers out there putting down faster 1/4 mile and 0-60 times now. In the mid 80s it was fast. Theres alot of work to be done to keep up with todays cars.

 

Basically the same answer all the way across. I've hit 150 mph, but I feel like any faster I'd blow it to hell and back. My idea of fast is AT LEAST doubling it's power, somewhere around 400 hp and being able to actually compete in 1/4 mile. Make it a real muscle car. I know it will be expensive and take years to achieve, but I have all the time in the world so my next question is what would be the next sensible step in bringing it up to such speed? For example, I'm not just gonna go from this to supercharging it. A buddy says getting a dual exhaust, swapping for a 383 stroker, and stiffening the chassis? (not sure what that means).

I thought it'd be best to ask here. My goal is getting it to at least 400 hp

 

It will be faster than it was stock... But is it a fast car? NO

256 HP is nothing really in a 3400 lbs car... You loose about 15-20% through the drive line so at rear wheels you will have about 200 HP

Quick in these cars would be 350-400 HP at the engine
Fast in these cars would be 500 and up HP at the engine
Just my opinion though.

As far as getting more out of it... Sure it's a RWD GM car with a SBC engine... Your only limit is your bank account.

As to what you need to do next, it depends on what all you have now. Give us all of the specs on the car, engine, rear end, etc.

Like what heads, cam, compression, exhaust system, etc.

 

Here's a good book that really helped me understand the nature of modifications and performance. It covers 4 categories of project: street high performance, drag racing, autocrossing and road racing. It all depends on what you want to achieve and your budget. I am up to $40K in mods and countless hours of research and work. I haven't got to the engine yet, though the car is now ready to receive it. It took a fair bit of time for the intake pilot project to be completed. Lots of testing and tuning. Quite the custom job and lots of head aches. The car is still fairly slow!

More power means a need for a stronger structure (stiffening the chassis), increase breaking power, strengthening of drive train and rear-end for increase torque capability, improved suspension to put the power onto the pavement, fuel delivery and ignition upgrade, cooling capability to name a few. You want that increased power onto the pavement not in smoke!

Everything works in synch so you must have a vision and a plan.

Check out Mark Stielow interviews on youtube and you will get a good insight on what it takes to take on a project like that.

Best of luck!

 

Great classic look. That was the beast of the late 80's

 

She looks great wet!

 

i can go from 80 mph to 120 mph in less than 4 seconds with my Hyundai Genesis 2.0T (stage 3) and it's heavier than my 84 camaro, soooo....no, not fast but it's cool as hell

 

Camaro.

 

There was no such thing as a fast IROC.
If you want reliable fast, and street-able, 20K should get you started.
The thirdgen was never meant to be a high hp, high torque, or fast car. The structure and components were designed for the meager 245hp it was given at birth. And the structure couldn't even handle that. That's why the t-tops disappeared with the 5.7 option.
Considering the investment it requires to make a thirdgen a contender on the street, track, or strip, the money is better spent on a newer vehicle. The pay-out will be less, it's drivable now, and will have a higher return in investment.

 

x2 better off buying a used late model car.
C5zs are in the teens now 12 sec car stock.

 

ok

 

ok

 

Quickness is the shortest amount of time it takes to reach point (B) from point (A). Fast is the speed at which this feat ban be accomplished versus the competition. Example would be drag racing. (A) jumps the line quicker than (B) when light turns green, but (B) catches and pass (A) mid point in the race and finishes first at 112 mph @12sec. making it faster than (A) whom finishes second at 101 mph @ 13sec. My son's pro racing go kart is quicker than my camaro off the line, but I'm faster than he is to the finish line. Hopes this helps, but don't go racing your car for any blue slips just yet.

 

It all depends if someone wants to go fast, or wants to go fast in a third gen. Both are expensive, comes down to money and/or ingenuity.

This thread is from 2015, however, so I suspect the decision has already been made.

 

hee hee hee.....

 

Can I ask where you pulled those numbers? I ask as they are incorrect. The top offering under the hood was the brand new Tuned Port Injection (TPI) 305 cubic inch V8, which first boasted 215 horsepower and 275 ft/lbs of torque, but was later tuned to about 230 hp, which was a (TPI) 350 that was only available with an automatic. I could be wrong but I do not believe the 5.7 was offered until 1988.

If you truly want it to be a reliable strong runner I highly suggest replacing the 305 with a performance crate engine.

 

this was 5 years ago and he said on an engine dyno which can easily explain the higher numbers.

 

For its day it was reasonably fast/quick. These days….not so much. But it would be a cool cruiser for sure.

 

Oops