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Basic performance upgrades???

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Old 04-12-2009, 12:30 PM
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Basic performance upgrades???

Looking to find out what are some basic performance upgrades on a 89 305 tpi irocz.
Old 04-12-2009, 05:52 PM
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Car: 87 Firebird, 90 bird coming soon
Engine: 355 Chevy Vortec Heads TPI, LT1 inj
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 2.77 posi 9-bolt
Re: BAsic performance upgrades???

Cam, roller rockers, heads, intake system, throttle body air foil, exhaust, headers, Just about anything that is upgradeable from a 350. Take a look at a performance catalog from either Summit Racing or Jegs. They have a bunch of things in there.
Old 04-12-2009, 08:38 PM
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Re: BAsic performance upgrades???

what upgrades would be the easiest and yield the most performance boost
Old 04-13-2009, 12:26 AM
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Car: 86 IROC-Z, '71 RS
Engine: 305 TPI/ 350
Transmission: 700R4/TH350
Re: BAsic performance upgrades???

I personally, think that headers and a free flowing exhaust system are one of the best bang-for-buck upgrades. Even if it dosent make it a lot faster, it will FEEL and sound faster. Also, you can never go wrong with a K&N air filter. Wanna spend more and get even more power? Go with cam and heads.
Old 04-13-2009, 10:32 AM
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Car: 1982 Trans-Am
Engine: 355 w/ ported 416s
Transmission: T10, hurst shifter
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt, true-trac, 3.73
Re: BAsic performance upgrades???

Priorities;

1) exhaust
2) sub frame connectors
3) rear end gears
4) camshaft/intake manifold/heads. <- These should be done at the same time to avoid re-tearing down the engine, and to get maximum results.
Old 04-13-2009, 09:28 PM
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Re: BAsic performance upgrades???

is a new intake manifold just an easy swap or is it a time consuming process. should runners go along with this. how much should i be looking to spend and how much extra horses am i looking at
Old 04-14-2009, 12:59 AM
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Car: '87 Z-28
Engine: LT1-topped 400
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: BAsic performance upgrades???

If all you do is an intake swap you won't notice a gain. There's much bigger gains to be had in other places, leave the intake until you do heads/cam
Old 04-14-2009, 09:12 PM
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Re: BAsic performance upgrades???

where are the other gains???
Old 04-15-2009, 02:42 PM
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Car: '87 Z-28
Engine: LT1-topped 400
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: BAsic performance upgrades???

as Sonix said, exhaust, rear gears, cam+intake+heads.
Other than that there's always a power adder (supercharger, nitrous) though you wouldn't be able to get much out of those on stock internals, other than that you're pretty much down to weight reduction, and expensive pieces that only free up a couple horses (underdrive pulleys, electric water pump, etc).
Old 04-24-2009, 08:44 PM
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Re: BAsic performance upgrades???

what are rear end gears?
Old 04-25-2009, 02:23 AM
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Car: '87 Z-28
Engine: LT1-topped 400
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: BAsic performance upgrades???

The gears in the differential. They come in different ratios, in the format (number of revolutions on input) : (1 revolution output)
example 3.23:1 takes 3.23 revolutions of the driveshaft to turn the wheels once.
Lower numbers will give lower RPMs at any given speed, and are generally better for fuel economy, higher numbers make the car accelerate quicker but the engine turns faster so economy goes out the window.
Old 05-10-2009, 09:22 PM
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Re: BAsic performance upgrades???

what are good rear end gears to get?
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