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How to Get the most power out of a V6

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Old Apr 18, 2006 | 07:30 PM
  #1  
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From: Bow Island, Alberta
Car: 1985 Camaro
Engine: 305
Transmission: 5 speed
How to Get the most power out of a V6

I have a 1985 camaro with a 2.8 litre V6 in it. Im rebuilding a 305 and im gonna bore it out and put performance parts on it. In the mean time iwould like to get some more power out of the V6. Does anyone know some things i could do to get the maximum performance out of it???
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Old Apr 18, 2006 | 07:40 PM
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Car: 1992 Camaro RS
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I would save my money for that 305 you're building. But in the mean time, you could do some porting in the heads and throttle body. Maybe do some exhuast work. If you want real power, then you're gonna have to consider a power adder=$$$.
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Old Apr 18, 2006 | 07:56 PM
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Car: 1973 Datsun 240Z/ 1985 S-15 Jimmy
Engine: Turbo LX9/To be decided
Transmission: 5-speed/T-5
Axle/Gears: R200 3.90/7.5" 3.73
I've never understood the whole metality of: I already have bigger plans, and parts, but I want to waste my money on this engine, because I'm impatient and want more power now instead of putting the money where I really want to and get what I want done.

If you're already planning on dropping the 305 in (Why you wouldn't you use a 350, is beyond me), then forget about the 660. If you want to open your eyes and have some potential quick car with better handling then forget the 305 and build a 660.
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Old Apr 18, 2006 | 08:07 PM
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From: AR
Car: 1991 Camaro RS Vert
Engine: 350 S-TPI
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: GU5/G80/J65
Only thing I would do is upgrade the ignition, because it can swap over to the v8.

Otherwise leave it alone.
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Old Apr 18, 2006 | 10:51 PM
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From: southern maryland
Car: 2012 Ram express
Engine: 5.7 hemi
Transmission: auto
Axle/Gears: 3.55
i agree with dale

if your gonna mod it get like flowmasters or some kind of catback that way when your upgrade to a v8 you can still use the exhaust. Maybe beef up the rear end with lsd and some gears.
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Old Apr 18, 2006 | 10:53 PM
  #6  
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not to be picky but why going 305? unless you going TPI or some other form of MPI your really wasting your time... granted yes it will be leaps and bounds (unless going TBI) above the V6... V8 - V8 your bringing a .22 when everyone else has .45's...
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Old Apr 19, 2006 | 08:37 AM
  #7  
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From: Central NJ, USA
Car: 1986 Firebird
Engine: 2.8 V6
Transmission: 700R4
It could be because he wants a 305... but hey, who knows.

People love to do that on these forums... oh, a 2.8? Put a 3.4 in. Oh, a 305? Put a 350 in. Oh, a 350? Put a 383 in. Oh, a 383? Put a Merlin 509 in.
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Old Apr 19, 2006 | 09:22 AM
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From: Harford County, MD
Car: camaro sportcoupe
Engine: 7.0L
Transmission: G-Force GF5R
Axle/Gears: Moser 9"
the 305 is a decent platform to make a car go fast if you want to spend time and energy on the smaller platform. click on the "HOW???" link in my sig to know how to go low 13's with a 305.

HOWEVER!!!

if your plans are to just go fast, then you should definietly go bigger on the motor. if your plans are to be different, stick with the v6, cause it's way different then even the 305 or other oddball v8's.
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Old Apr 19, 2006 | 12:47 PM
  #9  
Project: 85 2.8 bird's Avatar
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From: BFE, MD
Car: 13 Ram 1500/ 78 Formy
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Axle/Gears: 3.55 posi / 3.23
five7kid did his 305 up pretty good. other than that, maybe concetrate on handling & weight reduction to get the most out of both.
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Old Apr 19, 2006 | 04:51 PM
  #10  
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From: Bow Island, Alberta
Car: 1985 Camaro
Engine: 305
Transmission: 5 speed
Im going 305 because i got a 305 for free from a buddy and it would be the cheapest thing to do.
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Old Apr 19, 2006 | 09:31 PM
  #11  
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If you're looking for cheap power some mods I did were advance the timing ~5*, double up the throttle gaskets to enlarge the plenum some (don't forget to adjust the throttle cables!), bypass the throttle coolant lines and some porting. Made a noticeable difference on the 'ol butt dyno up top, around 3000rpm-up it wakes up and starts to pull pretty good. $2 tubing and a couple $5 gaskets was all it took.
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Old Apr 20, 2006 | 10:32 PM
  #12  
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From: Bow Island, Alberta
Car: 1985 Camaro
Engine: 305
Transmission: 5 speed
Originally Posted by Bluechrome
If you're looking for cheap power some mods I did were advance the timing ~5*, double up the throttle gaskets to enlarge the plenum some (don't forget to adjust the throttle cables!), bypass the throttle coolant lines and some porting. Made a noticeable difference on the 'ol butt dyno up top, around 3000rpm-up it wakes up and starts to pull pretty good. $2 tubing and a couple $5 gaskets was all it took.
Thanks man
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Old Apr 21, 2006 | 12:11 AM
  #13  
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From: Harford County, MD
Car: camaro sportcoupe
Engine: 7.0L
Transmission: G-Force GF5R
Axle/Gears: Moser 9"
Originally Posted by burnt_rubber
Im going 305 because i got a 305 for free from a buddy and it would be the cheapest thing to do.

incorrect, because once it's together and running and your dissappointed, you'll spend more money on getting a bigger motor. you can buy a 350 block for around $50, and the hard parts for building a 350 are actually going to be cheaper than a 305. so the money you saved on pistons for the 350 instead of the 305, you could spend on getting the 350 core. trust me. i've been down that road, and had i spent the money on the bigger cubes first, i'd be that much further ahead of the game. i'd be trying to break into the 10's or 9's by now instead of the 11's.
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Old Apr 21, 2006 | 03:57 PM
  #14  
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From: Bow Island, Alberta
Car: 1985 Camaro
Engine: 305
Transmission: 5 speed
Originally Posted by mw66nova
incorrect, because once it's together and running and your dissappointed, you'll spend more money on getting a bigger motor. you can buy a 350 block for around $50, and the hard parts for building a 350 are actually going to be cheaper than a 305. so the money you saved on pistons for the 350 instead of the 305, you could spend on getting the 350 core. trust me. i've been down that road, and had i spent the money on the bigger cubes first, i'd be that much further ahead of the game. i'd be trying to break into the 10's or 9's by now instead of the 11's.
Ok thanks...ill take that into consideration..because it would make more sense to get a 350 if i never spent any money on the 305 yet beacuse i got it for free i wouldnt be out any money..and the 350 would make alot more power.
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Old Apr 21, 2006 | 10:03 PM
  #15  
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From: Harford County, MD
Car: camaro sportcoupe
Engine: 7.0L
Transmission: G-Force GF5R
Axle/Gears: Moser 9"
just think about it though, cause if you have to bore the block over, you'll have to put new pistons in it, and 305 stock replacement pistons are on average $10-$20/set more expensive than 350 pistons.
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Old Apr 21, 2006 | 10:06 PM
  #16  
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From: Bow Island, Alberta
Car: 1985 Camaro
Engine: 305
Transmission: 5 speed
yeah ur right
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Old Apr 22, 2006 | 09:53 PM
  #17  
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From: Harford County, MD
Car: camaro sportcoupe
Engine: 7.0L
Transmission: G-Force GF5R
Axle/Gears: Moser 9"
Originally Posted by burnt_rubber
yeah ur right
lol, i know
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Old Apr 23, 2006 | 01:12 AM
  #18  
burnt_rubber's Avatar
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From: Bow Island, Alberta
Car: 1985 Camaro
Engine: 305
Transmission: 5 speed
yeah does anyone else know any cheap or easy ways to get some horses out of a V6???
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Old Apr 23, 2006 | 09:50 PM
  #19  
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From: Upstate New York
Car: 1988 SC Camaro
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: 700-R4
There are many things you should/can do now before you put in a bigger engine, some important things include: better gears, positraction, maybe a better axel, a shift kit if its an auto, 3" catback with a hi-flow cat...those are some things that you'll need with a bigger motor that you could start doing...might be a better use of time instead of working on your current V6 motor. Getting Sub Frame Connectors is also a good idea. The things that i listed are going to cost you a bit of dough, so you might want to start looking into some of that. Good luck with the car.
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Old Apr 23, 2006 | 11:02 PM
  #20  
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Car: 1973 Datsun 240Z/ 1985 S-15 Jimmy
Engine: Turbo LX9/To be decided
Transmission: 5-speed/T-5
Axle/Gears: R200 3.90/7.5" 3.73
Originally Posted by Crusin' 1980's
There are many things you should/can do now before you put in a bigger engine, some important things include: better gears, positraction, maybe a better axel, a shift kit if its an auto, 3" catback with a hi-flow cat...those are some things that you'll need with a bigger motor that you could start doing...might be a better use of time instead of working on your current V6 motor. Getting Sub Frame Connectors is also a good idea. The things that i listed are going to cost you a bit of dough, so you might want to start looking into some of that. Good luck with the car.
Good suggestions, except for the shift kit, since the tranny will need to be swapped for a different one when going from the 660 to the V8.
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Old Apr 23, 2006 | 11:09 PM
  #21  
burnt_rubber's Avatar
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From: Bow Island, Alberta
Car: 1985 Camaro
Engine: 305
Transmission: 5 speed
sweet
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Old Apr 24, 2006 | 01:19 PM
  #22  
Crusin' 1980's's Avatar
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From: Upstate New York
Car: 1988 SC Camaro
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: 700-R4
except for the shift kit, since the tranny will need to be swappe
Good observation!, Thanks
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Old Apr 24, 2006 | 10:31 PM
  #23  
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From: Or-eh-gun
Car: 2012 Nissan Leaf
Engine: 80-kW AC synchronous electric motor
Transmission: Automatic
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speaking of shifting.... the FIRST non tuneup mod your 660 should recieve is a manual trannsmission. these things see so much loss from a tourque converter and tranny it's rediculous. at one point i was driving an auto and manual 660 (sister had an auto for about 4 months), night and day difference. but like others said: do suspension and chassis mods, then you won't loose the investment when you swap.
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Old Apr 25, 2006 | 12:31 PM
  #24  
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From: Bow Island, Alberta
Car: 1985 Camaro
Engine: 305
Transmission: 5 speed
sweet thanks man
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