Gentlemen-

I have done some bolt on modding to my IROC-Z, and am now ready for my next upgrade, but I am having trouble deciding exactly what step I wish to take next...

Therefore, I am going to let you guys give me suggestions.

I have a '90 IROC-Z Camaro, 305cid TPI / A4 and am looking to do a nice mod that will produce noticable performance increase... my options are as follows:

- Headers (what brand? stainless steel worth it?)
- Heads (what brand? should I just do a stock rebuild?)
- Hi-Flo Runners (worth it? what brand? maybe I should polish?)
- Hi-Flo Intake (worth it? what brand? Edelbrock any good?)
- Performance Chip (JET sounds good, any comments?)

I have money to spend ($1500), and want to get the best bang for the buck here. What kind of modding would you do with this money?

Thanks

-ONE2FLY

 

With 1500 I would get heads and headers. JET chips are junk. You are not going to feel much if you mod the intake on a stock 305 engine. So don't wast money on Hi-flow runners.

 

New heads should help quite a bit!

 

World torquer 305's have produced nice results for many people. I would probably buy the heads and a set of headers if I was you. PROM burning is definetly something to look into if you are serious about having a well tuned car. As said earlier DO NOT BUY AFTERMARKET CHIPS! I think the stuff needed for burning your own PROMs costs around $300-very similar cost to a custom chip from ed wright. While you have the heads/intake off, you may as well toss in a healthy cam . A good torque converter would probably get you through the quarter .4 seconds quicker, so that would also be money well spent. If you did everything I mentioned you'd probably end up with a high 13 second 305tpi...something often talked about, but seen very rarely . I would leave the intake alone for a while, its probably not holding you up too much. If anything just port out the stock setup. There should be no need for aftermarket runners/base on a 305.

Good luck

 

Agreed about the chips, get into making your own, they cost too much for what they do, raise your timing.

For headers I'd say go with SLP 1 5/8's and a good set of heads. Maybe u can port the stock intake if u know how because you're probably gonna be almost out of money by now. TC's are always a good idea too.

 

Thanks for the input guys

I guess that really narrows it down to heads and headers....

As far as heads go... should I just have the stock ones rebuilt or should I go with aftermarket? I heard Vortech heads are awesome... can anyone give me some price estimates? How much labor is involved in this (because a shop will need to do it)

As for headers... I got a quote from a shop for about $1200 for SLP stainless steel headers... 8 hrs labor @ $70 per hour = $560 + $650 (price of part) = approx $1200.... that's pretty damn expensive... is it really worth that kind of money? Should I just go with Hooker headers or something cheaper?

Thanks again, without you guys I dunno what I'd do

-ONE2FLY

 

do not get the hooker headers unless you get the ones with the y-pipe included, even then i would go with the edelbrocks. everytime i get under my car to change those *** forsaken collector gaskets i wish i had spent a little more and got the ones with the donut style collectors. the edelbrocks run about 315 or so from summit. what is the 8 hrs labor for?

 

The shop...

They quoted me 8 hrs labor to install them since my system is TPI and I have A/C....



-ONE2FLY

 

tell that shop to lay off the drugs! (8 hrs!)

you can do it your self. and it only takes an after noon.

 

man i have to know what mods do you have? you have 240 RWHP with a 305 tpi and an A-4? that means you had 205 hp at the crank stock. That kind of power is over what my 350 had stock. Mater of fact i pulled 243 hp at the rears with headers and no cat and a cat back. I spent nearly a grand on my exhaust and i installed it myself. You should already have a 13 second car. I tought that my power levels were good for what i have done but your is astounding. Can you post the 8th digit of your vin for me? headers are not that hard to install i say go for the headers.

 

I would do heads and headers, go to chevyhiperformance.com they have a link to flow tests or alot of heads.