I have an 86 Z-28 with the 305 TPI. It's pretty well factory. I want more power out of it, but want it to be a "sleeper". I want every bit of that car to look 98% factory from the outside (with the exception of exhaust). Would I be better off doing heads/cam combo with headers and duals on the 305, or would it be more worth my time and money to find an LT1 to drop in there. If the LT1 is the way to go, will everything be "plug and play" or will I have to change anything. Please be specific. If the heads/cam combo would be better, what would be good heads and cam to use. Another thing that's killing me is the 2.73 open rear end. I want to find a rear axle from an 89 or so Iroc. I want the posi rear, rear disk breaks, and the 3.23 or 3.42 rear gears. Thanks for ANY input!

 

Sorry...A couple more things I forgot... If I go with the LT1, will that bolt to my factory 700r tranny? Will the stock tranny hold the power from an LT1? Will the third gen rear ends hold the power from an LT1? Thanks Again!!!

 

Asking a lot of questions?? Now I'll ask two for starters, how much money is available & how much HP/TQ do you want?? Answer these two then, may be someone will offer realistic suggestions. Note: A LT1 engine swap into a 3rd Gen car is not cheap even if you do your work.

 

Base your answers on "money is no object". If you're gonna do something, you might as well do it right the first time. I really don't have a HP/TQ goal. I don't want a 600+ HP monster, but the 190 HP just isn't enough... I'm gonna say somewhere around 250 HP. Hope this helps.

 

Are we daily driving this car, or is it just a toy?

250 isnt nearly enough dude, you need to set sights a little higher, at least 300+, so with some suspension mods you can run with LS1s.

Get rid of the 305 regaurdless. What you drop in dpends on how much you wanna drive it. I would say an LT1 swap would be good, if your gonna drive it alot. I think the tranny will bolt up but you have to switch the computer to the LT1 computer.

If this is just a toy, I would say swap out the 305 for a 350 or 400. Or even a big block if you wanna get brave and go with a carb.

500th post

 

I'm using it as a weekend driver. I wanna keep the fuel injection setup.

 

You could always go crazy and do the stroke and bore thing, but by the time you are done it will cost a crap load. Your starting out with an engine that is lacking in alot of areas and to fix those areas it would'nt be as cost effective as going to a 350 or something bigger. When you go to high horse power you also got to consider what will handle this, such as tc and such. Where do you live? If you live near the Houston area then I may have an LT1 with 500 miles on it that you can buy pretty cheap. The insurance guy I talked to said that $250- $350 is not unheard of. That's the tranny and all! The cool thing that your doing is the sleeper thing. I lOVE that. That was how my car was and it made it fun. But if you got all the money in the world then go get a GM crate. Another cool scam is to get a long block from Autozone. Tell them you have a 350 and when you bring back the engine core most have no clue what you just brought them. Then start modding away. It's wrong I know but some of these Autozone people are tards.

 

Not for nothing, but there's a guy on the site that swapped an LT1 into his 3rd gen and wrote about it...very detailed maybe he'll see this post...I'm looking to drop in a 350 I would say that's the way to go..you'll have to replace some parts with the LT1 swap but to each his own...

 

That guy is Eric, LT1Powered85Z. Maybe an L98, mod it and bam! Starting off with 245/345 would put you way ahead of the game.
-Rippin

 

me personally, full exhaust(ORY if you can), 3:42 posi, full intake w/LT1 TB, new lower manifold and runners, port matched of course! Maybe even an LT1 cam. Ok, seriously, if anyone gets on my case about the whole LT1 cam in a TPI motor, I'll kill you!! Not really!! I'll probably just ignore you Well, there you go, you now have my $.02

 

Replaced my 305 TPI with a 350 Crate engine using the old TPI
system. Upgraded all sensors, chip and injectors & etc required for a 305/350 swap. Very good results for the last 2 1/2vyrs now and a daily driver with all emission controls to pass State Inspections.

 

if all you want is 250 hp then theres no need to get rid of your 305...there are guys that i know personally who push well over 350 horse with an N/A 305...its all in the selection of parts....
smaller bore+180cc head+214 cam=high velocity torque ****

keep your 305...IF your not looking for big power
have your heads ported with a 1.94 intake valve installed
a cam with AROUND 214 degrees intake...
LT1 intake.
like i said..i know guys that run mid 11's with 305's
so it has potential...just not as much as a 350 or 302 ford for that matter...
and youll be more then happy with the results...IF your NOT looking for a sat night special...

i swapped in a carbed LT4 motor into my car....
i road race it so i wanted a lot MORE then i was making with my 305...(375 at the crank)...now my LT4 puts out almost 500 flywheel upcapped...

 

Thanks for all the replys. The more I think about it, I rather keep the 305. Again, I like the feeling of having a "sleeper". Anymore I Ideas are more then welcome!

 

If your keeping the 305, (which is cool) Then do the heads, cam, intake, boltons and a bore job. That would make it a good sleeper. But 250 hp? You would still be asleep. I want to know how this one turns out down the road. Could be interesting!

 

yeah with 250 hp youd have a fun car but basically all you would have is a stock 350 and a mid 14 second car. Mind you like said earlier a 305 can hit 350 hp no problem but the majority of people who do that are people with cash to blow and want to make their 305 fast because its something not too many people do and do it just to say it can be done because its not exactly cost effective. If you stay with a 305 youll still be looking at getting smoked by the ls1 camaros and having a relatively slow car (sorry but in my opinion being able to beat a 16 second civic isnt owning a fast car). If you want fast ie 300 + your looking at swapping the engine and then your car would be fun. If your still convinced you want a mid 14 second car and staying with your 305 start with doing the exhaust and see where that gets you...then maybe a cam upgrade and you shouldnt be too far off.