I've searched a bit, but can't seem to find the right answer to this question: how can I get, say, 300hp or more from my 305?

I am happy with my car, and TPI, and the auto - I like my a/c, and I don't want to use NOS. Well, okay, not just yet...

All I've done so far is install two K&N filters.

I'm told these TPI engines can't breathe in stock form. So, what should I do, and in what order? Money is available, although I don't want to go too nuts.

Because I'm told the 5 speed version of my car came with 25hp more just because it has a different cam, I thought maybe getting a good cam could add that much, maybe more. Which brand, which one, and what about the part I don't really understand (life, duration, etc).

I also thought a set of performance heads would help, but again, which ones? I don't want to spend $1500 on a set to find out that for $500 I could have gotten the same hp from a different set...but I would spend it if that was the way to go.

What about roller rockers, and solid vs. hydraulic lifters?

Lastly, and one reason I don't want to run NOS - my car has 89k miles on it, and the motor runs well and is quiet. I really don't want to pull the engine and rebuild it now, since it doesn't need it. Can I do heads and a cam with my motor as is? Can I get 100hp or more from these mods?

Thanks, guys. Sorry if these questions are the same old thing, but I know you guys know you're stuff and I hope to benefit from your experience and do this right!

 

The best thing you can do for now is change the exhaust system. Headers, dual cats and 3in cat-back system. Get in touch with Jerrywho(on this board) he has SLP runners for sale and maybe an intake manifold. You can buy my BBK 52mm throttle body. It fits your year. Modify the trans an install 2400 converter. 3.27-3.45 gears. This where you need to start. Your $1500 is gone.

Now! the rest of your money should be save up for a 350 short block and after market heads and cam. The reason is that it's not worth the money to put in a 305 and make less hp than a 350. But if you want to do it anyway,

here's the link for World Products 305 Heads.

Lunati cams

Comp Cams

This is Summit price.....
502-8 Competition Cams Xtreme Energy Camshafts
Camshaft, Hydraulic Roller Tappet, Advertised Duration 269/ 276, Lift .495/ .503, Chevy Small Block, Each
Tomorrow $245.88

LUN-54755 Lunati Hydraulic Roller Tappet Camshafts
Camshaft, Hydraulic Roller Tappet, Advertised Duration 268/ 276, Lift .489/ .503, Chevy Small Block, Ea.
12/27/05 $279.69

 

The challenge is really to get the most out of the TPI system I have now, because (this is silly), I really like the way it looks. And I think it would be cool to have an engine that looks bone stock but really moves.

The exhaust and throttle body sounds good, as do the trans upgrades. I already have 3.27 gears and posi, I beleive.

What heads and cam would go well on my little 305?

 

Like Vincent said your best bet is to start off with a 350 block and go from there. They are cheap and you can reuse your 305 crank. The TPI breathes better on a 305.

However if you want to keep your LB9 305 here is what I would do.
1. Buy a set of Trickflow TFS-30300007 heads. 56/58CC combustion chambers and 175CC ports. Dual valve springs.
2. Buy the Comp 260XFI HR13 cam.
3. 1 5/8 inch Headers.
4. Dual cats with 3' catback.
5. Jerry's SLP runners will do.
6. Jerry's intake manifold will do.
7. Subframe connectors
8. Strut tower brace.
9. LCA's.

 

If you want to keep the stock look you can get the Arizona Speed and Marine runners. They look stock but are larger.

 

That's a pretty good list, Allen. Question - who is Jerry? I was already going to have DynoDon install SFC's was going to buy a STB. Could he also put all this together and tune it for me?

 

Go back to my previous post

 

Duh. Got it

 

So whatcha gonna do now?

 

Start hiding cash from my wife and make some choices!
Oh, and PM'ing DynoDon to see if he will set it all up - no time to learn how to get this stuff together correctly this winter, but 190hp is just not cutting it for me...

 

Is this going into your convertible? If you want that much power you better start saving up for a 6-point roll bar. Subframe connectors arent going to do it.

Your rear end could be either a 2.73 posi 10-bolt or a 3.27 posi 9-bolt.

You should have the regular TPI cam in your '87, not the peanut cam. It wasnt until 88 that GM put the peanut cam in 305 TPI cars.

 

Kevin,

I read in several places that the '87 305 with an auto was only 190hp, but the 5 speed was 215 - I would love to be wrong...

Yes, this is for the 'vert. a roll cage/bar is out of the question, don't want it to look like a race car. This would be for around town, just want to be able to dip into power - not for any runs at the track. Can I do 300hp or so with SFC's if I'm gentle to the car?

 

Sure, you could... You can hit 300 HP with just bolt on's with our cars. Look at Julie's car, 253 at the rear wheels. But her's is a 350.
Do you want to keep it looking stock because its a 20th anniversary Camaro? Are you ok with using aftermarket parts like an intake manifold and runners?

I would keep the 305, port match the stock heads, upgrade the valve springs, get 1.5 roller rockers, a mild cam, siamese the stock intake manifold, port match the runners and plenum, and add 1 5/8" headers with a Magnaflow cat, and a 3" cat-back exhaust and call it done.
That will give you enough power to have fun with and still not stretch the tolerances of the convertible's limits.

 

My 1987 TA had the peanut cam 305 in it before the 350 was swapped in. In 87 you could only get the 305 with the regular TPI cam if you had a manual. Autos like mine was got the weak 190hp motor

 

Want to save a lot of frustration???????





Go buy a vette.

 

Kevin,

I just like the stock look - I've just seen too many cars covered in Jeg's and Summit stickers in primer...not to dengrate those guys, but I'm trying to make this car as perfect as I can. Otherwise, I wouldn't be replacing window switches with brand new ones, installing a newly redone OEM steering wheel, etc.

So, my goal - to make the car as fast I can while still keeping it nearly stock.

HiPo heads, cam, exhaust, chip, AFPR, etc. would be perfect. Plenum & runners? Maybe. I would probably do them last, and only if I really had to.

Can you Dad build up something like this?

 

Yep, Dyno Don can do it. Just take and ticket and get in line.

 

How long is the line? I want a fast car, Allen, like yours!

 

Buy all the parts first.

 

I hate to rain on your parade Vince, but I would reccomend don't buy the parts first. I've watched Don and helped him try to put stuff together where someone bought the parts first. Talk to Don first, face to face. Let him know what you want. Listen to him when he tells you what you need to get there. It costs a lot less to do that than it does to buy a bunch of parts and then buy a bunch of other parts because the first bunch of parts were not optimised for what you wanted to do.

 

Rob,

Check out the scrap yards and get your self an L98 from a Corvette. Must be from your year. It looks exactly like your engine except it is a 350 with aluminium heads. The only thing that may look different are the valve covers but you can just use the ones you have now. Add an exhaust and a chip and you should be where you want to be performance and looks wise.

Hylton

 

So you want a stock appearance.. I like Hylton's idea.. with the L98 with the 113's..

 

Hylton, that's a great idea. Except that I am building up my 305

Yes, I'm going to get Don's ear before I do anything... I think a PM will be coming his way tonight.

 

Don't bother with your 305. Just put it under the workbench. I guarantee you, getting a 350 will be faster, easier and cheaper than messing with your 305. This way you can beat on it and then when these 3rd gens are worth $$$ in the collector car market, you can say "yes I have the original motor right over here....."

 

Would have to agree with Hylton again..
But if you have to build your 305 then that's your choice..

 

I just don't want to buy a 350, transport it, rebuild it, install it, etc. to accomplish what I can do with my existing motor. Just doesn't make a lot of sense to me when mine is in great shape. If I were blowing smoke or had more than 100k on it, I would agree. I would replace the motor with a 350 if I had to pull it, and maybe one day I will. But not this year!

 

Yeah I can understand that.. Don should have some good information for you..

 

I gaurantee you that the labor to put a new cam and heads on your existing 305 is just as much to do the swap. Secondly, your 305 is still has very low mileage and runs well as you said but do you really want to risk blowing it up since it is the original motor?

 

I have the cash, so I don't care too much about the cost, and I will sho paround for good pricing.... And not wanting to blow it up is why I won't race it, rev it out or run NOS. I think it will be okay, we'll see!

 

Okay but get ready for me or Brandon to send you a link to this thread in a year or two. When we do, you'll be doing this -

 

And I will send you a dyno slip after I get the parts on and somehow convince Dyno Don to tune it for me!


(Hey - LOOK - 305 POSTS!!!! IT MUST BE A SIGN!!!!!)

Now I'm afraid it's bad luck to post anything.

And now, I KNOW I'M GONNA GET FLAMED WHEN I HIT 350 POSTS!
And 327, and 383....this is never gonna end...

 

Hey now.. Im only taking into consideration you wanted to keep a stock appearance and possibly Gm performance parts.. Considering you have a low mileage vert..

And taking more consideration for the 305 to maintain it's good condition as you mentioned it at now..

I really don't know how to build a 305.. If I had to build a 305 to maintain stock appearance I wouldn't know.. My build was a surprise to my ownself.. I didn't think I was going to go with a 383.. I wanted to run the 350 but hey it worked out for the better..


So good luck with everything.. I wont be telling you told you so.. Not something I would do..

 

I'm sorry, I thought CA stood for California, not Canada. I guess I am in the wrong forum.

By the way, there arent any junkyards here where you will find a Corvette with the engine still in it.

 

Building a motor isn't brain surgury- its relitively simple if you keep to a basic rule of thumb-

Just marry all componants to the rpm range you seek. If you have a cam designed for 2500-7500 rpms, then run an intake designed for that range, run proper compression, have the proper valvetrain, excavation, gearing,etc etc,--remember- marraige of all parts

 

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

 

Yeah no since on relying to find a vette with a complete motor in it here in Cali.. Were just talking a L98 and some 113's thats all.. Im seeing Nigels build in my mind but with some runners, the 52mm tb the heads ported nicely like yours.. The Slp's..

 

I found some heads for sale - Chevy 305 Vortec Cylinder Heads (1990 matched pair). Magnafluxed - Professionally rebuilt - 3 angle valve job - resurfaced - casting number 14101081

Will these work? If so, should I have them ported and flowed?
And what cam would go nicely?

Thanks, guys...

 

Those are the same heads you have on your engine now.

 

Yeah, someone just told me I need to look for a set that ends in 064... and I need to call your Dad tomorrow and talk to him...

 

A Vortec 305 interesting..

 

here is a thought...


check this out