Want 200hp

I was wondering what affordable upgrades i can do to get my 305 4-barrel 150hp engine to 200hp, and no k&n filter suggestions, they go for $80 here, i just feel its not worth it for a 8hp increase. I may need a cheap azz exaust system soon to pass my safety, so that could be a possibility, but thats real expensive. Also to clear things up, i work at mcdonalds! lol:D so you can tell my financial situation. I also don't want to go through the effort of getting a tpi 350, even though they are like $800 installed from friends(at least a month of work for them). I've covered the basics such as spark plug wires, spark plugs, some what good air filter, etc. Also when I floor the gas I kinda get a delay in acceleration, maybe fuel filter?

Originally posted by 83z28blue
I was wondering what affordable upgrades i can do to get my 305 4-barrel 150hp engine to 200hp, and no k&n filter suggestions, they go for $80 here, i just feel its not worth it for a 8hp increase. I may need a cheap azz exaust system soon to pass my safety, so that could be a possibility, but thats real expensive. Also to clear things up, i work at mcdonalds! lol:D so you can tell my financial situation. I also don't want to go through the effort of getting a tpi 350, even though they are like $800 installed from friends(at least a month of work for them). I've covered the basics such as spark plug wires, spark plugs, some what good air filter, etc. Also when I floor the gas I kinda get a delay in acceleration, maybe fuel filter?

Well I would highly recomend the Hooker Catback Exhaust (http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=26681) for $263.00. They make great exhausts and will sound amazing. That will give prob 12-15hp im guessing, and is a good buy. Upgrade your carb and air cleaner to a Edlebrock Q-Jet Carb (http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=13968) for $460.00, they will prob add another 12-15hp with a good edlebrock air cleaner like the elite ones. Hope that helps

SSXeon

I say Intake manifold and a mild cam ...would be a great start !!:)

yea,heh heh,cams are so awsome...whenever i blow my motor up again (well,hopefully i wont) ill be puttin a redical sounding 1 in!

I don't care what you've seen/heard or whatever, but no air filter will give you 8 hp. You'll be lucky to see .8 from a K&N.

Headers will give a solid gain. 10-15? I'm not too sure. I dropped nearly .2s in the 1/8 with just headers. Exhaust really wakes these cars up, so a catback is a must (I'd go with Hooker). Like said, an intake manifold and carb upgrade would help out too.

I would say headers will give you the most HP per $, get some used and it'll be even better. Try an open element air filter 14" X 3" which is less than $20. Make sure your timing is good/acurate. Cooler T-stat 180* or 160*. $15 for a few dragstrip runs will say a lot about your current power/state of tune.

My 305 TBI in sig has ~205 hp (178.1 RWHP) with only a few bolt ons and full weight 3500+lbs w/ driver.

Headers, cat, cat-back exhaust, new intake manifold, and a new cam should just about do it. An L69 is conservatively rated at 190hp, and the cam, exahust (exhaust manifolds to tail pipe), compression ratio, and maybe the intake manifold are the primary differences. You can't do much about your compression, but you can fix the rest.

Headers, catback, intake, and aircleaner. 200HP should be easily attainable WITHOUT swapping a the cam.

And whatever you do don't waste $460 on a $hitty Edelbrock carb which you certainly don't need :rolleyes:

Go here:
http://www.goingfaster.com/spo/carcraft325hp305.html

The cam in the LG4 sucks. Even if you do get 200hp, a cam is definately a cheaper way to get there. Look at the link you posted. They almost got to 200hp with exhaust work (that alone amazes me). They got another 25hp with an intake (also amazing). They got 45 horsepower just from the cam.

Yeah, but not everybody likes to swap their own cams, I'm currently 7hrs of work into mine and I just got the new cam in, still have to change valve springs and put it all back together. I'm figuring ~12hrs or so total. That's a lot of work probably cost $400+ in labor to let someone else do it for you. I agree the cam sucks, but I think you'll need the exhuast anyways to get that 45 hp gain.

Man, that was an awesome link there Marc. That's exactly the kind of stuff I wanted to know, real stats, with exact engine. I am now considering a good exaust system, but what to use, hooker or flowmaster. Flowmaster is more expensive though isn't it? Also, what would be best, new intake manifold or a new cam, with cost in mind. What would exaust and either one of those cost in Canada here? Or are there better upgrades to do. Sorry for such demanding questions, i just am not too good at the whole car and car parts thing.
Thanks

It really doesn't matter what exhaust you go with. Just as long as it isn't stock. Just about any type of header, high flow 3" cat and 3" catback should do the job. You might see a small difference with certain combos, but all should work well. Muffler choice is more a sound issue than power.

And as far as cost effectiveness, a cam will make much more power than the intake for about the same price. HOWEVER, there is a lot of labor involved in swapping a cam, and is NOT something for a beginner to attempt. An intake swap is not that difficult on a carbed car. The cam in the LG4 is pitiful, but for the 200HP goal I'd stay away for now.

Get rid of that single snorkel aircleaner setup. Go with an open element or better yet, an 83-86 305 HO dual snorkel - if you can find one :)

Sorry, can't help you with the Canada issue :(

Not for sure without seeing it, but I would say that hesitation that your getting is from your Q-junk. I would look into having the carburetor rebuilt or tuned by someone who knows what they are doing. Q-jets can be tricky.

If money permits, I would look into a good holley or elderbrock carb.

This combo got me about 200hp out of my LG4 motor.
Edelbrock 1406 carb
Edelbrock 7101 Performer RPM intake
Edelbrock Air cleaner
K&N Air Filter

I had stock manifolds and stock exhaust on the car and ran a 14.9 @ 91.67mph (http://www.transamws6.com/pics/transam/timeslip.jpg). Not bad for a 130K mile motor.
http://www.transamws6.com/pics/transam/Edelbrock.jpg

Originally posted by Marc 85Z28


And whatever you do don't waste $460 on a $hitty Edelbrock carb which you certainly don't need :rolleyes:


Yeah ok your a cool guy :rolleyes: those are really good carbs and yeah u dont need it, but it does help performance :P

SSXeon

Originally posted by SSXeon5
Yeah ok your a cool guy :rolleyes: those are really good carbs and yeah u dont need it, but it does help performance :P

SSXeon

$460 for the carb. And because its NOT computer controlled, you will need a non-CC distributor, tack on another $150. Have an auto tranny, add on another $100 for a TC lockup kit. Car is no longer emissions legal... That's $700+ he just flushed down the toilet. You can make a stock QJet perform just a well as that Edelbrock for $50!

Originally posted by Marc 85Z28
You can make a stock QJet perform just a well as that Edelbrock for $50!

How!?

SSXeon

Just learn how to tune it.

A properly tuned Q-jet will run just as well as a properly tuned Holley or Edelbrock carb. Just because somebody replaces a worn out Q-jet in need of a rebuild with a brand new Holley and sees big gains doesn't mean that it's because the Holley is better.

Well, my carb is in serious trouble though...so a new one wouldn't be so bad. I was thinking maybe get one from a scrap yard, I dunno. So far, I still can't get my stripped bolt off my tire, so i'm pissed.:mad:
Upgrades in order of importance.
1. Tires!!!
2. Exaust system
3. New carb
4. Intake manifold
5. Paint
6. Cam

Originally posted by SSXeon5
How!?

SSXeon

Like Jim85IROC said, tune it.

I was fed up with mine years ago. I had the same problems everyone else has with the QJets. So I bought a book on Rochester Carburetors by Doug Roe. Following his suggestions, I rebuilt another QJet and learned how to tune it. I put it on my car and it made a HUGE difference. Other than the high idle for 2-3 minutes at cold startup, I doubt even the most observant car enthusiast could tell that it wasn't fuel injected - until they looked at it. A decent rebuild kit should cost around $25-$30, and the extra $20 I spent on secondary metering rods new from GM.

Originally posted by Marc 85Z28
Like Jim85IROC said, tune it.

I was fed up with mine years ago. I had the same problems everyone else has with the QJets. So I bought a book on Rochester Carburetors by Doug Roe. Following his suggestions, I rebuilt another QJet and learned how to tune it. I put it on my car and it made a HUGE difference. Other than the high idle for 2-3 minutes at cold startup, I doubt even the most observant car enthusiast could tell that it wasn't fuel injected - until they looked at it. A decent rebuild kit should cost around $25-$30, and the extra $20 I spent on secondary metering rods new from GM.

Wow thanx guys well sh!t ima look into that, sounds interesting. I just need my damned tax return and im going to get the flowmaster american thunder 3" catback for $321.00 :D

SSXeon