okay i finally got a decent paying job, so where do i start?

my car has 120,000k miles, it a little tired and my radiator is about blown (thats being replaced with my first paycheck)

my harmonic balancer is loose and i need a new one (also being replaced with my first paycheck)

but other than that there arent many problems with the car except for slight body work and a suspension overhaul..

once i get that out of my way, where do i go next?

i want speed, i want power, and im going to have the money... so where do i start?

i already have 3 inch exhaust with no cat going into a flomaster, i was thinking headers but i heard headers are nothing but gasket eaters..

btw, its a 86 305, bone stock..

if it was your car, what would you do?

 

I'd start by replacing the 305 with a 350.

 

Have you done the free/cheap TPI mods? TB Bypass, Porting the Plenum, Cold Air Intake (either home made or bought)... stuff like that.

I would say since you are doing the radiator, put in new coolant hoses and a new thermostat, I'd go lower temperature, maybe 180 or even 170 depending on how your weather is.

I've learned with higher mileage cars, worry about things that might be going out soon, replace them first rather than throwing money on upgrades just to have something simple break.

I don't know where I personally stand on headers, I hear people say it's a dramatic difference, then I hear people say it doesn't do much... i lean towards the dramatic difference side, just by hearing what people say, but I didn't have headers yet (my new engine will)... But go with something good, the Edelbrock TES look like crap on the inside from the factory, I'm going to be porting and smoothing the welds out in mine, they need it bad.

If you haven't done a complete tune up in a while, that would also be a good thing to do. All the way down to Spark Plug Wires and new plugs, go ahead and replace the oxygen sensor too.

There's so much you can do, but you gotta remember the basics and simple stuff to make sure it will actually keep running.

 

getting a 350 would make the most sense, but if you want to keep the 305. here are the 3 most important things IMO: Port the hell out of your TPI, headers, and a cam. The car will come alive. That is after you do a full tune up and all the free mods.

 

1) Do all repair/maintenance things first including repairing body work.

In the process of repairs/maintenance, if you have a chance to upgrade, go ahead and do it.

Once the car is running/driving/looking like new - then start modding. Try to maintain a heathly balance between going faster and being able to handle/stop. That will make a nicely balanced daily driver.


Good luck and enjoy!!!

 

Well if you plan on keeping the 305 then I would look into getting a supercharger for your car as your best go fast option and maybe a set of slp 1 3/4 headers to go with it.

 

yesterday i met a really cool guy who runs security at the haunted house i work at (side job) and he has an 11 second mazdaspeed protege with a stage 2 turbo on it, he is a cop and also works at a tuner shop, i was talking to him about my car and he said that i should rebuild my engine and save up for a supercharger
a rebuild at his shop would cost about 2400 for a good job he said and a supercharger (i forgot what one he mentioned) but said he could do one for under 3,000 installed, so i just got to save up some money now!

oh and as far as body work, im thinking of working on that last, its more fun to have a sleeper.