Camshaft upgrade.

In the future I think I might like to slip in a better cam for my stock 305 tpi. What year was that they had a really good cam? like 89 or something? Can I find a cam with the same lift/duration without making mine a roller motor? Thanks.

Just go aftermarket Jon. Go aftermarket cam and intake (maybe a HSR or something) and you will be in business.

Yeh, like said, aftermarket will be better than the '89- 235hp 305 cam. Use something "mild" for a 350, it'll be "hot" in the 305, like a base LT1 cam as on another thread, depending on your modds. Newer tech = more power and efficient.
Check out GMPP online at www.gmgoodwrench.com

I would just call up Comp, Crane, Isky etc... and talk to an in-house mechanic and they will tell you EXACTLY which cam you will want for EXACTLY what you want it for. Oh ya, and they all make custom cams if need be :cool:
I would NOT go for an LT1 cam though. If you have it laying around, go for it. But otherwise I would do it proffesionally and right the first time around.

I figured I'd hear go aftermarket. I'll check em out. But can someone tell me the stock lift/duration of this crap cam in my 86 tpi? its also a automatic car, for now.

From Thirdgen.org:

Lift Duration Lobe Rocker
Motor GM P/N Int. Exh. Int. Exh. Separation Arm Ratio
1985 (L69 and LB9)
305 AT 14088843 .403 .415 202 206 114.5 (115/-114)
1986 (LB9)
305 AT 14094097 .350 .385 178 194 109.0 (106/-112)
1987
305 AT (LB9 10088155* .350 .384 179 194 109.0 (108/-112)
305 5spd / 350 AT
(LB9/ L98) 14093643* .404 .415 202 207 114.5 (115/-114)
305
(LM1 Police Pack.) 14093640* .383 .404 291 202 112 (108/-116)
1988, 1989
305 AT 10088155* .350 .384 179 194 109.0 (108/-112)
305 5spd / 350 AT 10066049* .415 .430 207 213 117.0 (116/-118)
1990-1992
305 5spd / 305 AT 10088155* .350 .384 179 194 109.0
305 G92 5spd / 350 AT 10111773* .413 .428 202 207 114.5 (116/-116)

*roller cams

I've got my entire stock setup sitting in boxes. Cam, lifters, lifter retainers, valve springs, keepers, pushrods, rockers, etc. The lifters have been bathing in a coffee can of fresh oil since I took them out. They look just as good as the new ones I put in. $100 shipped to anyone's door.

!986 was rated at 25 LESS hp than the '85 LB9. 215 '85/190 '86...

1986 TPI motor in the Camaro/Firebird all came with what has affectionately become known as the "peanut cam." It's a wimp. Tiny duration, tiny lift. In 86 they hadn't even put roller cams into the motors, either. Still a flat tappet. So you can't just bolt in an LT-1 roller cam anyway.

Fortunately, flat tappet cams are cheap. You'll have plenty of choices available from the aftermarket. Check out Comp Cam's like of flat tappet Xtreme Energy cams available for fuel injected TPI engines. These are just like the regular Xtreme Energy cams but on a wider TPI-friendly Lobe Separation Angle. Something like this would be a fire-breather compared to your stock "peanut cam":

http://compcams.com/Technical/Search/CamDetails.asp?PartNumber=12-249-4

It's a little hotter than the factory 305 HO cam they used in those days. Obivously, there are bigger cams available, but this one would be a bolt-in and would probably even run pretty well with the stock chip. The bigger the cam the more critical a custom tune becomes.

Thanks all!