I have a Stock 1989 firebird that took me forever to get running. The Vats system was so hard to get around but we got it to work. I have driven it a few times and realized that 80's power is not what I thought it was.

I'm looking for help picking out
Upgraded Cam
Upgraded Cold air intake
Upgraded Heads
Upgraded Headers

I was gonna LS swap it but I see that keeping it Closer to Stock will making worth more in the end.
Can I get any help from yall?

 

Welcome!
I am going to let a few of the gurus answer those questions. There are a number of good cam and head choices, a couple good headers, and very veey few cold air intakes.
Keep an eye on the classified section here for good deals on parts your looking for first off.
Contact TDS (Lon) for Dyno Don headers... not sure if Don is still making them?? Otherwise I guess Hooker Headers.
Intake, you may be making your own. Or Hawks may have that intake to go with your hood??
Heads I figure most would suggest AFR or TFS.

 

1st step is realizing a realistic budget and end use goal for the car, that'll really help lay it out so you don't end up with a dead project for many years.

 

End use is just for cruising. Not going to the drag strip not racing none of that.
My budget is $2000 I have no problem putting in that for engine upgrades.
I refuse to let this be a dead project it took me so much just to get to the point that its even driving that car has gotten a whole lot out of me.

 

Thank you for your suggestions. I'm new to the Forum world and need all the help I can get.

 

After looking on the TFS Site I found this and This looks like everything I need right here all in one

https://www.trickflow.com/parts/tfs-k315-465-450 at $2,727.99 def in my price range for sure.

 

Others will advise here, but my first thought is that cam may be too much.

 

Don't forget to budget for tuning as well.

 

If that hood is from ASCD (there should be a label on the underside in the middle--two pics below), and if it's in good shape, and if you like it, then keep it. That ASCD-produced hood hasn't existed for many years. It's the good one. But now that style hood is produced in/by Duraflex, and the quality is reported to be very questionable: might be good, might not be.



That Trick Flow package looks beastly. I like it. You'll definitely need a good exhaust system. But I suspect most people who comment will suggest something far less radical.

 

230 int./234 exh. @ .050 is the kind of cam you want a dual plane or tunnel ram type intake for; it's not a good match for TPI. The TFS kit is half of a whole solution that will end up costing 5k. At 2k, I'd look into doing a full exhaust, you should be able to pay for all the parts and installation easily and no retuning needed.

 

ill be sure to check out that hood.
I have been learning about Camshafts and Heads all day.
About intake CFM's and Valve Lift. And yeah its def aggressive for sure. So it looks like ima have to do find a head Cam and Headers on their own.

 

I'll be doing all the installation of parts all by myself. I've built engines before I just didn't know anything about picking out the parts myself.
I have a Flowmaster Exhaust, I do need to install tho.

 

If this car is just for cruising dont waste your money on engine "upgrades". The L98 is great for cruising if it is running good in stock form. You aren't going to gain a lot of power with only $2k, so put the money into things that make it more comfortable to drive (like new upholstery, new carpet, recovered steering wheel, new weather stripping, etc). Drive it and enjoy it for what it is. If you want to go fast get any newer car, like a minivan or a Tesla.

 

I respect that, Thank you.

 

If you do want some performance upgrades I would start in the rear. Put a posi 3:43 gear in. If you have a 700R4 put a higher Stall converter like a 2200. Install your exhaust you have. This will fit into your budget and give you seat of the pants improvement. without have to tune, which is an endeavor all it's own.
The problem I see with upgrading heads and cam you still don't address the "choke point" for CFM's which in the TPI system is the runners. You can throw what you want to it, but you will be limited on the power gain you get for the $$ spent.

 

I see it like $500 just for some large tube intake.

I mean we are going to see what I end up doing. I'm learning so much from this convo tho I will say.

 

I think of some of my upgrades I have done and think of what I consider most impactful on my driving experience. As said above, the amount of $$ dropped into one of our cars (TPI) vs same amount on an LS1 engine... lol, our cars gain a single number of HP while the LS gains triples.
I am joking around, but the comparison isn't far off, lol.
So I think of some of my top upgrades....
Subframe connectors, tightened the whole car and made less sqeeks and enjoyable drive.
Exhaust (which you are starting), gave the car more personality to go with the driving experience.
Trans (as mentioned above), tq converter and a shift kit gave it a more muscle/sport feel driving.
Rims/tires, going a bit bigger and different added completely to the look of look of the car and the driving experience.

Again, these were some of MY personal value/$ upgrades. But they added to the enjoyment of the car. Just giving you more room to think where you want your budget to spread to. Lol.

 

Thank you for all your help on this topic.
I've decided to go with a New intake TPIS MINI RAM and TPIS Fuel rails.
Ima also changes the headers and full exhaust.
Later on, if I do decide that I need more. (HIGHLY DOUBTFUL) i will Upgrade the Heads and Cam and then upgrade the tq converter.