Hey everybody. I sure am glad i discovered Thirdgen.org. I'm in need of some advice. I got my '88 GTA about 3 months ago. Its the LB9 5.0 but it sure can run. I've heard even the GTA 5.0's only had 190hp with the auto/OD trans but the manuals had a 'hotter' cam and got 220 hp. Is that correct? well my GTA has the Auto LB9, 3.27 rear, K&N Air Filter, Hypertech Air Foil, Flowmaster 40 series muffler. I have $1000 in the bank and would like to know what the next step should be. I'm thinkin some World Heads and a Comp Cams roller cam. what do you guys think, am i on the right track?

 

LB9/auto's for '88 were rated for 195hp.. sticks were 220.
Ya... those heads and a nice cam are a fine way to go IMHO. Figure out a way to get some headers on that while you got it apart also.
Obviously somebody already swapped you in a nice 3.27 rear (9 bolts on the back cover correct?) since yours most likely came with a 2.73 or 3.23 (G92 package)10 bolt from the factory.

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'89 Formula - Thunderchicken - 355 Vette L98/T-5/3.45 9-bolt/black/t-tops - the fun car!
'90 GTA - The GTA - 5.0 LB9/TH700/3.27 9-bolt/black/t-tops/tan leather - the cruiser.

 

Listed in my sig is what I did to make my car respond better. The headers were the best mod I tried. They were worth 5 tenths and 5 MPH in the quarter.

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1988 Formula 5L/5sp 3.45 gears, SLP cold air kit, MAS gutted, TPIS air foil, TPIS AFPR, MAC headers, Mac under drive pulleys, MAC cat back, Relocated MAT.
Best ET street tires 13.85
Best 60 FT street tires 1.930
Best MPH street tires 99.29

 

Well, I guess it depends on if you are doing the work yourself or paying someone to do it. I would start with the freebies and headers. Then heads and some 1.6 rockers. I don't think I'd touch the cam until I had done the rest of the intake.

 

Good fuel pump, and good ignition system (MSD, CRANE), plug wires.
Then gather the stuff to do chips.
Then you can tune for changes.
First being go to a 89 base calibration, and then once you optimise what you have and a good baseline, you can make some changes and know where you are.