OK, so a HO motor is a high output, and no TPI engines were HO, right? My 1988 TA has an LB9 engine. I have read in several locations, part stores computer screens, and this website that my engine is a HO. This website shows that the LB9 engine is a HO, or high output, unless this HO stands for something else, or there is a mistake on the RPO database. This can be viewed by clicking <A HREF="https://www.thirdgen.org/cgi-bin/rpo/viewall.pl">here</A> and scroll down to LB9. Could someone please enlighten me and let me know about this?

 

It doesn't mean anything, it is a regular 305 TPI.

 

If it means nothing than why is it there? Or like I said does it stand for something else?

 

I believe the 305 HO was the 305 TPI motor.... the non HO 305 was the LG4 and carburated 305s.

I believe the logic behind this is that the 305TPI is a high output motor in comparison to the carburated 305s.

 

ok, now that makes sense. I have heard that TPI motors are not HO, only carbed ones are. But many computers say that the TPI is a HO.

 

Does anyone else know what the deal is?

 

HO TPI engine on Part Store computers = Garabge IN /Garabge Out.

 

what do u mean?

 

It means a computer is only as smart as the operator/programmer.

 

but wouldn't you think that it would be only on one computer if it was wrong. I mean like at sears's computer it says HO, on o'reilly's computer, same with autozone and advance auto parts. Is it all a mistake of programming??

 

It's nothing to even waste time thinking about.
Start here: you have a 305 TPI. who gives an f about two letters: HO.

 

It may mean that all these stores buy a COMMON CONPUTER
PROGRAM And like the reply before, it meams .

 

This sums it up perfectly. I have no idea why anyone would waste time thinking about this or debating it. Sometimes you see TPI cars get labeled HO. Sometimes you get a purist who thinks the HO only applies to the L69. It doesn't matter, there is no special 305 TPI HO, an LB9 is an LB9, and even the peanut cam MAF 305s are sometimes labeled HO. I think even some factory literature may have called LB9s HO, considering it only means high output and all TPI cars are high output (even a peanut cam car makes more power than an LG4 / LO3).

 

TPI's are generally considered HO motors. Its even listed in quite a few brochures that way, not to mention the hoods of some Formulas. I wouldnt ask why, I'd just accept it. Also keep in mind there is not a HO TPI and non-HO TPI that have different power outputs.

 

Yes... in the end, all that matters is that you have a TPI car which is on the top of the thirdgen fbody food chain. Be happy.

 

Near the top. Near it, but damn all of those LS1's and LT1's and you stroker guys, damn you all too =D

 

GM shoulda differed the 305s. The code LB9 aint gunna tell you that you have peanut cam. I know there were two versions of the 305. The 91-92 auto had the crappy cam...peanut cam. 205hp...LOL. And the 5 spds had the L98 cam which wasnt as bad as the peanut cam. The ones with the L98 cam shoulda been the HOs. But who knows...there is a possibilty of GM slipping the L98 cam into the autos...vice versa. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

 

boy this cam topic comes up alot, 90- 92 speed density cars have the same cam(5.0 and 5.7), the reason the autos are different from the 5 speed LB9's is the dual cat option giving the increase in HP over the automatics. My 1990 Iroc LB9 is rated at 210hp from the factory, I have the documentation to prove it. I believe the 5 speed G92 cars are rated at 230-235 hp.Bottom line is that the 305 auto and 305 5 speed have the same cam shaft.

 

this myth will probably be around as long as these cars still are. It's been proven wrong, yet it won't go away. It's the ****ing cockroach of automotive myths.

 

edit....damn 56k

 

90 to 92 have the same cam...hmmm. There is a Tech board here on this site. Looks like there is two different cams, different duration and lift, not the same #s if you ask me.



Could this data be wrong then.

 

Borlazo6, it's common knowledge among the people in the know here that all SD 305s have the same cam and that the technical database on this site is wrong.

This has been proven through measurements taken by a few different people, actual dissassembled engines and comparing cam PNs, and anecdotally through performance (for example do you think i have a peanut cam LB9 running 14.1 @ 95 with basically nothing done to it in a heavy convertible?) And MOST proving of all in my mind....ALL SD 305 bins have exactly the same fuel curves in them. AT / MT, G92, non-G92. If GM was using more than one cam they would have HAD to use different calibrations. Other evidence has also been found in other places as well, including an official GM service parts CD that lists one cam for all 90-92 TPI both 305 and 350.

The tech database on this site is ancient, a historical oddity that reminds us how much we've learned over the past 6 or 7 years from this site and it's predecessor.

Don't worry, you didn't know better. And like GI Joe says, knowing is half the battle. Please don't try to argue unless you can produce a GM chip with a different fuel curve, or an unopened 90-92 factory 305 with a cam that measures out to peanut specs.

 

I can see you have some mods done to your heavy vert. Was that 14.1 achieved stock, before those mods on your link. If so thats freakin impressive.

I've never seen a vert launch like that with stock suspension....

 

No, stock it ran 15.0 at 90ish, but i'm talking stock down to 2.73s and a 2.25" Y-pipe and cat/catbackj. Consider that most peanut cam cars are around a second slower than that, and that would be a lighter coupe too, with a 3" cat/back, etc. And that it usually takes a mircale to get a peanut cam car into the mid 14s without opening the engine too. I got my car after the myth was basically dispelled, and it never surprised me to see it run ok. Hell mine's kinda slow, Another memeber here Rob P managed a 14.2 @ 96 something in his 5 spd 92 convertible really stock except intake porting IIRC.

The dual cats are what made the HP difference in the SD cars, i swapped to dual cats with L98 exhaust manifolds and picked up 3mph just from that. The non-G92 305s got the TBI sized exhaust manifolds, y-pipe, cat and back.

 

So are you guys saying that the LB9 has a wimpy cam? I may possibly be rebuilding my engine this summer. Can someone give me what size cam they use (lift/separation) and have had awesome results. I don't want an illegal cam, but i don't want a stock one, but I want one that will give LT1's a good race. Also, with the rebuild I will be porting/polishing the plenum, and throwing in some better pistons(not sure what yet) and maybe be boring it if it needs it. I still have stock exhaust system, single cat, 2.5" back with no muffler. Can i not get the speed i want unless i throw a catback system on it?

 

i believe that GM would not have differed the Red lines on the tachometers if the cams were the same in every car. i know that my car has the same cam as the 5.7 did in 89, because its 5 spd, and it has the 5500 rpm tach. the auto/5Ls always had the smallest cams, and the 5.7s and 5.0 5spds had the larger ones.
i think other proof of this is the large hp difference between auto and stick 5.0L cars.

i have a best time of 13.9 @ 97.08 with my LB9 M5 IROC-Z
and these are the mods:

Mods:

vehicle weight with driver 3350 with a 1/4 tank of fuel

hollowed cat
emissions delete
A/C delete
throttle body coolant bypass
cut the bottoms off the air box
manifold air temperature sensor relocated to the air box cover
160 stat, manual control dual fans
dynomax super turbo exhaust
dynomax headers
headman Y pipe 2.25 to 2.50
ported plenum
fog lights removed
ac delco plugs
centerforce dual friction clutch
removed the spare tire and jack
removed rear seats
energy suspension torque arm bushing
energy suspension tranny mount

 

I have seen MANY 5.0L TPI / automatic cars with quite a bit of mods and they still do high 14s and low 15s. mainly because of the 2.73 gears, single cat, the small cam GM put in them, and the automatic. if u wanna go fast and cheap the 5.0L TPI 5spd cars are the way to go or the G92 5.7L cars. personally the only 3rd gens id buy are hardtop model: 85 305TPI auto with 3.42s, 89 305TPI 5spd g92 or non g92, 89 or 90 G92 5.7L. the non G92 5.7s are really restrictive with the single cat and 2.77 gears. those would need to be swapped out for a highflow or cat delete tube and some 3.45s. i heard that GM designed the TPI unit for the 305 and at the last minute they put it on 350, dont know the truth to that, but its what ive heard. for a stock head and cam 5.0 the 48mm tb is sufficient and so are the runners, porting and polishing the whole tpi will give some power because the motor will breath a bit better, headers and all the free mods. after that the 305 isnt worth heads and cam, if ur gonna do that stuff do it to a 350. 350s have WAY more potential when naturally aspirated. i have a 305 and i :hail: to 350s even with my 1/4m time

 

y did gm put the small cam in the auto's?

 

For all you dumbasses that obviously don't know this motor did exist but was extremely rare. I know for a fact because I had one and it would blow the doors off any other camaro or firebird. Didn't matter if they had a 305, 350, or 5-speed. I raced very many third gen cars and none of them could compare to my 87 IROC Z28 5-speed. Any third gen car that dared to line them up was pretty humiliated. First camaro or firebird to beat this car was an LT1.

 

Holy old post batman..

dude, look at the dates from now on on what your about to reply to.. this topic is over 5 years old almost.

sheesh.

 

seeing a new post date on it got your attention didn't it

 

BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA

Go back under your rock.

 

loser