where to start with mods?
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Registered User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 20
where to start with mods?
i have a stock 1981 camaro z28, and was wondering where to start with mods? I was considering a cam but just confused about how much lift on the cam i could get with these stock piece of **** heads (i want a lopey idle so recommending a good cam would be appreciated) Anyway, if you guys could just tell me what to do for my first mods to make this faster (already has a performer cam and intake, this is what the owner said though but the cam seems like a piece of ****). SOOOoooo, is it possible to pull 400 hp n/a with this engine the way it is? Let me know! thanks
Classic Tech Moderator
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 469
From: Burnaby, BC
Re: where to start with mods?
You could invest in the old engine, but you'll almost certainly end up doing it twice. I've talked to many people over the years who've been in a similar situation as you. They all spent money on their old worn out engine, and later did it all over again.
Buy a crate engine and drop it in yourself.
If you must do something, install headers first. There's a good chance you'll have to replace them if you replace the engine though.
Next would be a set of vortec heads (which need different headers and intake manifold).
Buy a crate engine and drop it in yourself.
If you must do something, install headers first. There's a good chance you'll have to replace them if you replace the engine though.
Next would be a set of vortec heads (which need different headers and intake manifold).
Last edited by Erik; Aug 11, 2004 at 08:26 AM.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,768
From: Friendswood, TX, USA
Re: where to start with mods?
I think part of the reason you're not getting many respondses is that this is such a general question and been asked so many times that people are just tired of trying to answer it.
So...., you got a car, sounds like it's new to you, and your not fully happy with it. You want more power. You say 400hp, but why 400hp, why not 350hp or 600hp.
The point is you have to have a goal, or you'll just end up redoing the the same mods. over and over. Ask yourself, "what do I want to do with this car?". And be honest with yourself. You may decide that this isn't even the right car to do what you want! Then decide what you want to spend, then double it. And finally decide how long you think it will take, or at least how long you think your willing to spend getting there.
After you've thought it out, come back tell us, "I want a nice street/strip car or I want a perfect street car with lots of bling or I want a race car that can still be driven on the street."
I sure you'll get better responses.
So...., you got a car, sounds like it's new to you, and your not fully happy with it. You want more power. You say 400hp, but why 400hp, why not 350hp or 600hp.
The point is you have to have a goal, or you'll just end up redoing the the same mods. over and over. Ask yourself, "what do I want to do with this car?". And be honest with yourself. You may decide that this isn't even the right car to do what you want! Then decide what you want to spend, then double it. And finally decide how long you think it will take, or at least how long you think your willing to spend getting there.
After you've thought it out, come back tell us, "I want a nice street/strip car or I want a perfect street car with lots of bling or I want a race car that can still be driven on the street."
I sure you'll get better responses.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 522
From: CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA
Re: where to start with mods?
400HP is a big goal for that engine. First you're gonna need to figure out what kinda' heads you have on there?
To get there you're going to need to swap out everything but the shortblock (assuming your shortblock is in good condition)...actually you might get away with the intake manifold, but I'd go with a single plane or high-rise dual plane.
So we're talking new heads, headers, exhaust, cam, intake, and carb maybe(depending on the carb you got?)
You'll probably need to put some really good heads on if you want that kind of power. (I'm a pontiac guy, but I'm sure somebody here can point you to some good heads). Then get headers, a 3" exhaust, you might get away with a 2.5" but 3" would be what I would go with. Pick a cam to go with the compression ratio of your new heads, (someone on here can help you pick one when you get to it).
Where would I start if I was in your position now? Probably the heads....
Where did I start when I was in your position? With a new cam... and man did it suck because I only had 7.6:1 compression!
To get there you're going to need to swap out everything but the shortblock (assuming your shortblock is in good condition)...actually you might get away with the intake manifold, but I'd go with a single plane or high-rise dual plane.
So we're talking new heads, headers, exhaust, cam, intake, and carb maybe(depending on the carb you got?)
You'll probably need to put some really good heads on if you want that kind of power. (I'm a pontiac guy, but I'm sure somebody here can point you to some good heads). Then get headers, a 3" exhaust, you might get away with a 2.5" but 3" would be what I would go with. Pick a cam to go with the compression ratio of your new heads, (someone on here can help you pick one when you get to it).
Where would I start if I was in your position now? Probably the heads....
Where did I start when I was in your position? With a new cam... and man did it suck because I only had 7.6:1 compression!
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 20
Re: where to start with mods?
new info. the camaro has a 1971 turck engine and trans. with over 300 hp. HA. awesome. the stock engine for the 1981 z28 only had 175 hp. ****. i will reach 400 hp no problem now. i am going to take ur advice but the first thing i am goin to buy is a b&m shiftkit. gotta love a firm shift in an automatic. next i will do heads and cam. thanks for the help.
any more input would be appreciated.
any more input would be appreciated.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 511
From: Newark, DE
Re: where to start with mods?
Originally Posted by igotquestions
new info. the camaro has a 1971 turck engine and trans. with over 300 hp. HA. awesome. the stock engine for the 1981 z28 only had 175 hp. ****. i will reach 400 hp no problem now. i am going to take ur advice but the first thing i am goin to buy is a b&m shiftkit. gotta love a firm shift in an automatic. next i will do heads and cam. thanks for the help.
any more input would be appreciated.
any more input would be appreciated.
They were right on with my XS282S cam for my 383 !!! I love it !
Your definately going to need new heads and cam to produce 400 hp.
good luck.
Heavy
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 21
Re: where to start with mods?
I would still recommend rebuilding your motor sounds like it is a good motor. Some questions. Is it a 4-bolt or 2-bolt bottom end? Is this for a daily driver or weekend / nice weather car? If its a 2 bolt motor thats going to see daily use I would splay the mains for 4 bolt main caps, and get everything examined so the motor will live a long happy life. Also in the head / cam dept. edelbrock makes kits that give ballpark numbers, might be worth looking into.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,705
From: Oakland, California
Re: where to start with mods?
FWIW, I bought a 67 Camaro in November that my son and I are working on together (ha ha). It had new paint, a 327 out of another 67, and just needed the trim and interior completed.
About four months ago we set out to make performance mods to the stock 327. It had been a daily driver for the previous owner, after 25 years in storage, once he swapped in the new motor. We swapped in some headers & 2.5-in. exhaust, while still keeping the original 2bbl intake. It ran great and sounded great.
About a month later, we went to swap the intake and carb for a Edelbrock Performer and Summit Racing Q-Jet. After the swap I couldn't get it to run right. I spent about a week playing with the carb settings in my spare time and nothing seemed to work correctly. I finally threw in the towel and took it to my mechanic and asked him to play with it.
Compression and leakdown tests showed that the #2 cylinder was nearly gone. He also said it needed a valve job. Rather than dumping more money into a motor who's history I really knew nothing about, I tossed it for a new GM 350HO/330 HP crate engine. The only negative was I couldn't use the intake (vortech heads) or carb from my old engine. I also ended eating the money I paid for new plug wires, chrome accessories (valve covers, brackets, etc.) Essentially I'm out about $800 which I can try to recover by selling my slightly used parts.
The moral to this story? (This is where you come in.) I would seriously consider not dumping any money into that old truck motor. At the very least, I'd get it compression tested to see how worn out it could be. A new crate engine will give to far less headaches, but if you can't afford one now, at least by getting that engine checked out, you'll know what you're up against.
As for what is the first mod you should do? I almost always start with the exhaust system. A simple "true" 2.5-inch dual exhaust kit will do wonders over the stock 2-into-1-into-2 system that most 1st & 2nd gen Camaros came with. Plus it sounds cool, especially with some better flowing mufflers.
Next, I'd add some headers (Assuming they're legal in your state). With these two mods, even if you end up dumping the motor down the road, as long as you stay with a sbc, you can keep them for the next engine.
Good luck!
About four months ago we set out to make performance mods to the stock 327. It had been a daily driver for the previous owner, after 25 years in storage, once he swapped in the new motor. We swapped in some headers & 2.5-in. exhaust, while still keeping the original 2bbl intake. It ran great and sounded great.
About a month later, we went to swap the intake and carb for a Edelbrock Performer and Summit Racing Q-Jet. After the swap I couldn't get it to run right. I spent about a week playing with the carb settings in my spare time and nothing seemed to work correctly. I finally threw in the towel and took it to my mechanic and asked him to play with it.
Compression and leakdown tests showed that the #2 cylinder was nearly gone. He also said it needed a valve job. Rather than dumping more money into a motor who's history I really knew nothing about, I tossed it for a new GM 350HO/330 HP crate engine. The only negative was I couldn't use the intake (vortech heads) or carb from my old engine. I also ended eating the money I paid for new plug wires, chrome accessories (valve covers, brackets, etc.) Essentially I'm out about $800 which I can try to recover by selling my slightly used parts.
The moral to this story? (This is where you come in.) I would seriously consider not dumping any money into that old truck motor. At the very least, I'd get it compression tested to see how worn out it could be. A new crate engine will give to far less headaches, but if you can't afford one now, at least by getting that engine checked out, you'll know what you're up against.
As for what is the first mod you should do? I almost always start with the exhaust system. A simple "true" 2.5-inch dual exhaust kit will do wonders over the stock 2-into-1-into-2 system that most 1st & 2nd gen Camaros came with. Plus it sounds cool, especially with some better flowing mufflers.
Next, I'd add some headers (Assuming they're legal in your state). With these two mods, even if you end up dumping the motor down the road, as long as you stay with a sbc, you can keep them for the next engine. Good luck!
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 511
From: Newark, DE
Re: where to start with mods?
Originally Posted by jg95z28
FWIW, I bought a 67 Camaro in November that my son and I are working on together (ha ha). It had new paint, a 327 out of another 67, and just needed the trim and interior completed.
About four months ago we set out to make performance mods to the stock 327. It had been a daily driver for the previous owner, after 25 years in storage, once he swapped in the new motor. We swapped in some headers & 2.5-in. exhaust, while still keeping the original 2bbl intake. It ran great and sounded great.
About a month later, we went to swap the intake and carb for a Edelbrock Performer and Summit Racing Q-Jet. After the swap I couldn't get it to run right. I spent about a week playing with the carb settings in my spare time and nothing seemed to work correctly. I finally threw in the towel and took it to my mechanic and asked him to play with it.
Compression and leakdown tests showed that the #2 cylinder was nearly gone. He also said it needed a valve job. Rather than dumping more money into a motor who's history I really knew nothing about, I tossed it for a new GM 350HO/330 HP crate engine. The only negative was I couldn't use the intake (vortech heads) or carb from my old engine. I also ended eating the money I paid for new plug wires, chrome accessories (valve covers, brackets, etc.) Essentially I'm out about $800 which I can try to recover by selling my slightly used parts.
The moral to this story? (This is where you come in.) I would seriously consider not dumping any money into that old truck motor. At the very least, I'd get it compression tested to see how worn out it could be. A new crate engine will give to far less headaches, but if you can't afford one now, at least by getting that engine checked out, you'll know what you're up against.
As for what is the first mod you should do? I almost always start with the exhaust system. A simple "true" 2.5-inch dual exhaust kit will do wonders over the stock 2-into-1-into-2 system that most 1st & 2nd gen Camaros came with. Plus it sounds cool, especially with some better flowing mufflers. Next, I'd add some headers (Assuming they're legal in your state). With these two mods, even if you end up dumping the motor down the road, as long as you stay with a sbc, you can keep them for the next engine.
Good luck!
About four months ago we set out to make performance mods to the stock 327. It had been a daily driver for the previous owner, after 25 years in storage, once he swapped in the new motor. We swapped in some headers & 2.5-in. exhaust, while still keeping the original 2bbl intake. It ran great and sounded great.
About a month later, we went to swap the intake and carb for a Edelbrock Performer and Summit Racing Q-Jet. After the swap I couldn't get it to run right. I spent about a week playing with the carb settings in my spare time and nothing seemed to work correctly. I finally threw in the towel and took it to my mechanic and asked him to play with it.
Compression and leakdown tests showed that the #2 cylinder was nearly gone. He also said it needed a valve job. Rather than dumping more money into a motor who's history I really knew nothing about, I tossed it for a new GM 350HO/330 HP crate engine. The only negative was I couldn't use the intake (vortech heads) or carb from my old engine. I also ended eating the money I paid for new plug wires, chrome accessories (valve covers, brackets, etc.) Essentially I'm out about $800 which I can try to recover by selling my slightly used parts.
The moral to this story? (This is where you come in.) I would seriously consider not dumping any money into that old truck motor. At the very least, I'd get it compression tested to see how worn out it could be. A new crate engine will give to far less headaches, but if you can't afford one now, at least by getting that engine checked out, you'll know what you're up against.
As for what is the first mod you should do? I almost always start with the exhaust system. A simple "true" 2.5-inch dual exhaust kit will do wonders over the stock 2-into-1-into-2 system that most 1st & 2nd gen Camaros came with. Plus it sounds cool, especially with some better flowing mufflers.
Next, I'd add some headers (Assuming they're legal in your state). With these two mods, even if you end up dumping the motor down the road, as long as you stay with a sbc, you can keep them for the next engine. Good luck!
check this out...
mild 350
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33615
or wild 383
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33615
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