engine question

iroc-z89 · 02-19-05, 03:38 AM

I presently own a 1989 Chevrolet Camaro Iroc-Z Electronic Tuned Port Injected 305cid. engine. The engine has the L98/Corvette Camshaft and the 305 cylinder heads. Engine oil cooler, stock ram air style intake and 4 wheel disc brakes. The transmission is a borg warner T-5 manual world class transmission, mated to a steel drive shaft and finally to a 9 bolt 7.75" borg warner 3.45 clutch type limited slip differential. The car is a false dual exhaust and has stock exhaust manifolds. The car currently has 36,347.7 miles and at the crankshaft is rated to be pushing 230 horsepower @ 4600rpm and 300 foot pounds of torque @ 3200rpm. It has the original 16" rims with Goodyear 245/50 HR-16 tires. This camaro is "pure stock" and somewhat rare.

Though I am unhappy with its performance, I have in my possesion a 350 sbc crate motor. It is carbuerated and has cast iron cylinder heads. I plan to build this motor. My current plans are to bore the lifter valleys from 0.843" to 0.875". Have Competition Camshafts grind a hydralic roller camshaft with a .51 intake lift / .45 exhaust lift and 224, 230 duration with ford lobe separation. Bore the the cylinders to 0.060 over. Have Ross Racing Pistons cut forged and balanced aluminum pistons with a 11.5:1 compression ratio on 64cc GM fast burn vortech cylinder heads. Titanium valves, 3/8 screw type rocker studs, with 1.6:1 Lunati Solid Aluminum Rocker Arms. And the largest valve springs the camshaft and lifters can accomodate. The crankshaft would be that of Lunati's sledgehammer line with standard firing order, and stock 350sbc travel. And forged and balanced H beam connecting rods. Mallory ignition, TPIS/Edelbrock intake baseplate/ lower manifold for a TPI engine, AS&M Polished Intake Runners, Bored, Ported and Polished Plenum, and a Holley 52mm twin throttlebody.

Can anyone pick out any problems in my ideas or waste of time parts and suggest better ones. If anyone can also take a guess @ estimated horsepower and torque I would be thankful. I am only 17 and I am doing this as my sole hobby on a grocery store salary. Laugh all you want. This the type of conversation that drives my significant other crazy. Thank you for your time and any suggestions. Ryan

LateNightCable · 02-19-05, 06:11 PM

Hello Ryan,

Hard to say what the final figures would be with all that done to the motor, but I think it's safe to say that it would provide you with a level of power that would require you to modify other parts of the car, namely tires and suspension to maintain the cars balance - i.e. power/control ratio. For one thing, your tranny, the Borg-Warner T5 WC is rated to handle 300lb.ft. of torque which is what your 305 is making stock, so you can see how the modified crate would be too much for it, not to mention other parts such as drive shaft and differential possibly as well. Planting a highly modified motor into an otherwise stock Camaro would destroy some things I'm pretty sure. And bringing everything to spec of course drives up the cost of the project. And you're on a pretty tight budget.

Whatever you do with the crate motor, make sure you know what you're doing, or have it done by someone who does. Especially in regards to grinding, boring, and porting and such. But I would reccomend hanging on to the 350, and just slowly go about modding other parts of the Camaro, starting with some mild work on the 305. And then follow that up with wheels and tires etc. Little by little is good to remember.

wEstSide · 02-21-05, 02:30 AM

Also, if that IROC Z is as mint as you say, I would keep it stock.

iroc-z89 · 02-21-05, 04:48 PM

I completely agree, but i dont like how an old "legend" (or at least holds the reputation of one) gets put away by a four door, i mean most 80's vettes are slower than my car, mostly due to condition but they are geared better and have more torque, i dont mind it when i get taken by the stangs and true muscle cars, but when a car with half of my engine is puttin a beatin me, sti's, evos ie(the four door wonder) and im just pullin away from civics in the mid to low 14's. Its like a kick to the stomach.

I have my classic, i have my beater(lincoln), i might see if i can find a wrecked car and build it from there. My paychex just got cut in half so my project is gettin killed from the start.

LateNightCable · 02-21-05, 08:31 PM

Yeah, get something else to mod. Find something really small and cheap, and turn it into a sleeper.

iroc-z89 · 02-22-05, 01:12 AM

any ideas on a car i looked @ a 68 Cutlass Convert and was told no

whats small cheap and has an 8 cylinder

LateNightCable · 02-22-05, 01:21 AM

Small, cheap, and has 8 cylinders. It has to be 8?

A pickup, no no forget that. How about a 5.0 Mustang, like a late 80's early 90's. Great for modding, and lots of options for that car. How cheap are we talking?

bleh · 02-22-05, 01:32 AM

i was going to say if you want a cheap sleeper get a civic

but if it has to have an 8....hmm....that means it has to be dumestic.

i think a grand national would be sick to mod....but thats a bit of a compromise. i wouldnt care though. modded those things are fast as scrotum on a bottle rocket. dont know how cheap they are though

iroc-z89 · 02-22-05, 03:48 AM

i could swing $2,500 easy , i have an 91' LSC with the mustang 5.0, heavy car though. factory horse ratings are 235hp 300tq, but has 180,000 miles with about 65k on the rebuild. Plus the lincoln has trouble burning out but thats my college car. there is a late seveenties fox body i could get for $100 but its beat, my lincoln looks good compared to that thing

'96ModZ3 · 02-22-05, 04:14 AM

I would have to agree with the mustang idea. Go for an '88 or later since it comes with the mass air and makes a little more hp. I had a '91 that I bought new and took it to germany when I was in the Army. The only things I did to it were: remove air baffle, insert K&N (10-12hp), flowmasters (approx 12-17hp) and upgraded the ignition (jacobs ignition). I could drop into fourth at 120 and walk away from the carrera 2's. I could also stay with the 5 series BMW's that were limited to 159, they couldn't lose me and I coudn't lose them. The car was an absolute blast!!

I don't think that I would mess with the IROC at all. If it's everything you say it is..........look at what the early seventies muscle cars are going for, keep it stock and you could be on the next Barrett/Jackson auto auction!