Just for grins, now think about this. A budget build up, what would you build? TPI only, no carbs. I have a 305 TPI now, with a cooler fan sensor, throttle body airfoil, ported plenum, transmission cooler, gutted air boxes, TB coolant by pass... I know headers are first... would you build the 305 by porting the iron heads, get a cam, port the intake and get runners? Or, get a used 350 for rebuild and buy heads? The bottom line is dollars per horsepower....

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Blue '86 IROC, 305 TPI
Ported Plenum, gutted air boxes, SuperChip, KN filters, TB Airfoil, transmission cooler... more to come. Not raced yet. 70,000 original miles. Owned since 1992.

through in a stock LT1 cam. you can pick it up for 30-50 bucks adn get the whoel install doen for under $200 if you do your own work. it will provide better torque, hp, and provide a longer power band by a few hundred rpms.
then go for a good set of gears, like 3.73's and service your posi to make sure it is tight.
after that a good torque convertor will help you off the line a ton, soemthing 2600-2800 woudl be a good choice for a driver, 3200-3400 if you are more of a racer.

later
tim

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NJ SPEEDER
91 Camaro RS
305TBI/700R4
12's Coming Soon
2nd Annual East Coast F-Body Nationals
July 20,2002
www.geocities.com/njspeeder
My MAFB.ORG Home Page
http://www.mycar.net/mafb/registry/detail.cfm?id=299

If you're set on keeping the 305 and TPI I'd say: Typical bottom end rebuild with stock rods and stock crank. A decent forged piston made for a .030+ bore. I don't know who sells one off the shelf but the worse that could happen is that you have JE, Diamond, Ross, or Lunati, or whoever MAKE you a new set. Those should include a ring package also which is cool.

Port match and polish all of the TPI components. The plenum can be ported and matched to the runners, the runners can be port matched to the base and the base can be polished and mildly cleaned up with a good carbide bit and some paper rolls(nothing TOO wild!). The heads will be ok but I would have the intake and cumbusiton chamber cleaned up and the exhaust would have a good bit of porting done to it by a PROFESSIONAL. A good set of headers with a matching Y-pipe and a very free flowing exhaust system(maybe a pair of bullet mufflers a the end of the Y-pipe and dump it right there). Why? Because then I would hit it with a 100 or 150 shot of nitrous oxide. NX makes a beautiful "wet" style kit. The stock throttle body will be good enough with that airflow booster thing. Maybe take ONE of the screens off of the Mass air sensor and get 2 K&N filters to st in hat gutted airbox. Cam? Well if it's all being rebuilt from the bottom up basically, I'd do something Mild. Your 1986 305 has a flat tappet camshaft and non roller lifters. Look in the comp cam's book or right here http://www.compcams.com/catalog/064_065.html and I would use the SMALLEST of the "Nitrous HP" lineup. I supposedly pulls from 1200 to 5600 rpm...That's where your TPI wants to be 212/218 duration isn't too wild and the lift is perfect for a set of cleaned up TPI heads. The 113 lobe seperation will probably work well with you computer(Ditch the Superchip and use the stock chip because nobody "really" knows what hat superchip does to the engine timing!) and on the juice, Comp Cams claims a few added ponies with this line of camshafts

After that empties your wallet a litle You can do a 2600 RPM Vigilante converter custom built for our application, a nice set of 3.42 gears and some 26" tall 11.5" wide ET Street tires mounted on your rear stock IROC rims....It'll hook like you don't believe Wish I could do this buildup myself!! Goodluck!

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Denny Villemure
1989 Camaro IROC-Z Convertible, 305 TPI, 2.73 Gear, Flowmaster 2 chamber. 15.60 on motor, 14.20 on a 75 shot from NX. Woo hoo!
www.denny.cz28.com

This is getting interesting. I forgot to mention that I have a 70,000 mile car with 3.23 gears and posi. Thanks.

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Blue '86 IROC, 305 TPI
Ported Plenum, gutted air boxes, SuperChip, KN filters, TB Airfoil, transmission cooler... more to come. Not raced yet. 70,000 original miles. Owned since 1992.

Vortec heads if you can spring for the SDPC intake manifold. They're an amazing little head and I picked up mine used for $405 already machined for higher lift cams. Not the best deal ever, but I was happy with it no doubt. If no the 305 SR Torquers are a good bet. They're about $600 new from Jegs/summit I think.

350 Transplant would probably be the cheapest way to get the most power. I getting one next summer. YAY!

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Blue 87 IROC-Z Camaro,305 TPI
3" Flowmaster
http://hometown.aol.com/rage502/myhomepage/profile.html

The best idea is to go with the 350. Cheap as hell to find and the parts are everywhere. Even if you want to stick GMs supercharged crate 355 in that would be ample power . I got my fairly gutless 305 and im gonna do the bolt on stuff like headers exhaust and rearend but that can still benefit me when i get the money to do a 350. Hell trying to make a 305 very powerful for ****s and giggles is fine but if youre looking for bang for buck the 305 can start to become a deep cash pit.

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Remember to free up your time around June 22 2003 and bring your Camaros to the Peach City Beach Cruise.(Plenty of classic and muscle will be there lets bring the Camaro contingent). For more information see www.peachcitybeachcruise.com .

1989 Iroc Z28 1LE 305
100% Stock (For Now)

If I am correct, the post late 86 305 TPI motors had roller cams. Mine does not. If I install the LT1 cam, what valvetrain parts will I need to install it? Will I encounter problems with taller valve covers and my existing engine wiring lengths? Will the taller valve covers used with the roller cam interfere with any vacuum lines or fuel rails? Thanks. Jess

Personally i think the 305 build up would be a waste of money. Why? because down the road you will wont a 350, then all that money and time you spend on the 305 will be wasted. I personally would go with an lt-1 i just did the swap and was well worth it. Your buying an engine that will get you into the high 13's stock when put in an iroc. I did away with all the smog stuff and had a chip made, plus FULL suspension. I would be happy if it runs a 13.8 but i think it will do better then that.

Now $$$ it cost me no more then $3000 for the full thing, not including the suspension. The engine and trans with 21k miles on it and everything included from the radiator to the driveshaft/torque arm cost me $1400. Then i got a really nice wirring harness made with all sorts of goodies including a custom burnt chip for another $1400. I bought new spark plugs and wires so that is why it cost me about $3k. It was worth every penny, it sounds good and runs good. So personally, i would do it again before building another tpi engine. good luck

Bobby