WhiteKnight

Well I'm getting close to finishing up on what I want with my GTA. I've got better stuff to spend my cash on, like a down payment for a place and restoring my 79 Trans Am which wont exactly be cheap. I'm wanting to get abit more performance out of the car though. I've kinda been working around the engine because I was originally planning on swapping over to a 350 some day, but now that this 79 has come along, I'd much rather get that restored, and when thats done the GTA is gone.
Here's what I've got

88 GTA 305 5speed /w free mods
B&M short shifter
Custom CAI with K&N cone
MSD coil and 8.5mm
Holley AFPR
Hooker 2055s into 3"mandrel bent into Flowmaster catback (cat removed)
Hotchkis subframe connectors
Spohn LCA relocation brackets
Full set of ES poly bushings
I also got all the equipment for EEPROM tuning used for cheap, so me n my friends are gonna be fiddling with that on our cars this summer.

I was planning on getting sportlines, changing the rear end gearing and then probably spend another $500-$600 on top of that and then considering my car "done" and moving onto the 79 resto.

What gears would you guys recommend me getting, and what to do with my extra 500 or so? I was figuring cam would be the next step. But I really don't know how to read cam specs yet. It just looks foreign to me so I figure you guys could probably recommend which the best one would be for me, and anything else not too expensive that might go along nicely with the new cam, knowing that there most likely won't be anymore mods comming in the future.

Thanks

rik89gta

I wouldnt recommend getting gears just yet. You've prolly already got 3.42's in there which is a reasonably high ratio. Considering you have a 5 speed car, Your cam is the same one that comes in the 350. Swapping out that cam for a bigger one might kill your low and midrange torque. If you were gonna do a cam, You might wanna consider upgrading your heads and intake too. Your stock intake is designed for low end torque. Therefore putting a big cam in alone will give You a lil more horsepower, but it wouldnt be worth it in my opinion.

WhiteKnight

I thought 305 and 350 cams were different. So since I'm not planning on doing intake or heads as I don't want to spend that much on it. Might as well just stick with lowering my car and thats it?

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

you could put a takeout lt1 cam in it for a little extra power without having to upgrade the intake/heads...

91greenbird

iTrader: (4)

well since you have a 88 your cam has more duration then a lt-1 cam and with some 1.6 rr you will have more lift too. Id suggest getting some 1.6 rr, underdrive pulleys, air foil. All those are pretty cheap and wont give you huge gains but you'll probaly have left over money to do something else with the car. I would say port the plenum but you said you dont wanna get into intake so your gonna be restricted.

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

oh, didn't know that, yeah, do the 1.6 ratio rockers!

WhiteKnight

Oh the plenums been ported and my friend can machine my heads for me. What I meant was I don't wanna go out and buy myself new heads and an intake setup.

Would 350 heads work on a 305? My friend has bought a nice set of AFR heads for his Z28 so I'm assuming he'll have no use for his old heads when he gets those installed.

Could this now open me up to some cam options? Or do you think it would still be best to just stick with the stock cam?

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

the larger combustion chamber size of the 350 heads will lower your static compression ratio by over 1 point...i say it's a bad idea for a head that flows almost equal to your 081 heads (assuming your talking about some 083 heads, which is the 350 version of your heads)

WhiteKnight

ok, i'll stick with the 305 heads then. I kinda rememver hearing once that 350 heads werent really compatible but wasnt really sure.

I'm not gonna get an air foil as the general consensus is that they're a waste a money. The jury is still out on the underdrive pulleys, considering it, but I'll prolly wait until I find a used set somewhere.

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

i think it's a good idea as it's one of those things that just allows the engine to work more efficiently (pulleys that is) throttle response, fuel econonmy, and performance all normally benefit.

WhiteKnight

I've checked the boards in regards to the underdrive pulleys and most people seem to recommend the power & amp series. Is the performance series really that much of a drain if most of your driving is stop and go in town? I have an optima red top which should make it a bit tougher to drain. Guess I should go with power & amp series just to be on the safe side though.

Do you think going with the 3 piece alum. instead of the 2 piece steel/alum would be worth the extra 80 bucks or would I be better saving the 80 bucks n putting it elsewhere.

Thanks

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

if you have a stereo with a big amp/subs, then run just the power and amp series, but if not, go for the performance series.