Ok, ive been pondering this question for a very long time since im stuck with the dreaded peanut cam in my 86 305 auto iroc. If i were to put larger ratio rockers, like 1.6:1 or ?1.7:1? would that help my motor breathe better with its peanut cam? This seems easier then trying to stick a bump stick in the motor... and it would give me a chance to replace the pushrods (im always afriad of bending a pushrod since the car never wants to shift outta overdrive and runs 1000 rpm up hills) Thats my first question, now in the near future id like to desmog the car and put headers on. Does any one have any suggestions for a header without the air setup with an O2 sensor bung? Summit has a set for 80 bucks but i dont know.... too good to be true. Do they have the O2 sensor bung? Will they fit into my stock y pipe? Then i was going to port the pleunm and block off the egr..... anybody try doing this. i dont like the idea of exhaust gas being recirculated, and i run the car on 94 octane so the added combustion pressure shouldnt make a difference. Im interested in buying a custom made chip with the smog delete stuff programmed into it. And to top it off, some bolt in subframe connectors, which can be welded in at a later date. If anyone has critism with what i plan to do, im all ears, i want to try to learn as much as possible. im just looking for some mild performance gains. thanks for your time.

 

Just a couple pointers. Most headers come with their own Y pipe. If you have a bolt in cat, then the new Y pipe should bolt to that, unless you're getting conventional old stlyle long tube headers set up for a true dual exhaust. I have the Edelbrocks in my car and they fit perfectly. I had the air tubes cut off and the holes filled. After they were recoated, you can't tell there used to be holes there. If you remove and disconnect the EGR valve it WILL set a code in about 15 minutes so PROM work is a MUST. Lastly, why don't you leave the tranny in drive at slower speeds instead of overdrive. I've been told by several people familiar with trannies that the less they shift the better. I put my car into drive until I get on the parkway and know I'll be staying above 50 mph, then shift to overdrive, and do the opposite as you slow down on the offramp. The engine seems much happier at 1500-2000 rpms rather than the 1000-1200 cruising along that you described.

 

IMO you're much better off replacing the camshaft in this case.
If your tranny doesn't want to downshift, you should check your TV-cable adjustment.

FYI, high RPM is what kills pushrods, not low RPM.

You can bend connecting rods by overloading at low RPM, but that usually takes nitrous to do that.