Ok, you can see what kind of car and mods I have in my signature.

I just bought a ZZ9 cam. Will this make me slower if I don't do the heads and replace the intake manifold?

What heads should I go with? Basically I need some specs. Would aluminum L98 heads be too big?

I'm really confused on this issue and could use anyone's help

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'92 Formula
305 TPI
Mods: SLP headers,SLP catback,SLP air foil,ported plenum,Crane AFPR (50psi),MSD6AL,homemade cold air,K&Ns,3:73s,JET fan switch, Macewen white face gauges...ZZ9 cam is coming!

 

well L98 heads are for 350's and yours is a 305. in thoery the valves will hit the cylinder walls. i dont know about putting a zz9 in a 305. it can be done, just dont know if it will run right. IMO i would not spend money on a set of aftermaket 305 heads if you EVER planon putting a 350 in. i would just live with them. as far as intake, beats me. my engine ran OK for having a stock intake on it. try to port the upper plenum like it descibes in the tech articles section.i am guessing you ordered the springs that matched this cam?

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Brandon
"ScreaminDeamin 360"
350 60 over, TRW forged 9.83:1 pistons, crane cam 216/228 .484/.512, crane 1.6 RR's, ported plenum, home made ram air, 19 lb SVO injectors, crane AFPR

 

I think the aluminum L98 (with porting work) is an excellent head for your setup. They maintain the 58cc combustion chamber while giving you increased flow with the larger intake valve (1.94").

The list of 2.02/1.60 heads that work with a 305 is limited as virtually all will problems with the valves clearing/hitting the bores. Frankly, unless you had a very large cam (with matching heads/intake) the increased valve size will lose velocity and cost your performance.

For your intake I suggest either a large base/large tube runner/ported plenum or semi-siamised runners. Semi-siamised will have better flow at higher rpms and be a better match for the ZZ9. Oh yeah, you should get a custom chip to optimize this setup.

A ZZ9 by itself probably won't kill performance, but you'll lose torque at low rpm but be unable to take advantage of its top end HP making capabilities with your stock heads/intake. My best guess would be a "mushier" feeling at low rpm and a strong pull at over 3,500 rpm with it quickly falling flat from 4,500-5,000 when the intake/heads show their limitation.

You don't mention your tranny, but if it is an automatic I would recommend a higher stall convertor to compensate for the loss torque at the bottom end.

 

Hey thanks for the response.
I have a T-5 tranny.

I'm probably going to ask the guy if he'll except the cam back and I'll probably go with the comp 08-304-08.

Firebird 87 (Jim M) uses this cam on his stock head 305 and loves it. It took him from a 14.4 to 13.9

I just hope I'm not wrong, if i am I'm out of an awesome cam!


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'92 Formula
305 TPI
Mods: SLP headers,SLP catback,SLP air foil,ported plenum,Crane AFPR (42psi),MSD6AL,homemade cold air,K&Ns,3:73s,JET fan switch, Macewen white face gauges...ZZ9 cam (i still have to install it )