Cheap HP

I've been lerking for a while, and post every now and then. First of all I've seen many people ask "How can I get more HP out of my ____" Let me first tell you, that my question is a bit more complex (not by much =P)

First, Ill have a Camaro in my heart always, and they are truly my fav car. My dad has a 69 Camaro Pace Car, and has threatened to shoot me if I get close. Second, the reason I am posting in THIS forum, is because of the people. This comunity of "Camaro Lovers" is by far the best group around, hands down.

Here we go:

I have a 1974 Firebird, with a 350, A/C, just about fully loaded. Now it runs, but there is a big hole in a major support piece in the rear, so when we move we will be fixing it and that will be my driver. Anyways, my dad said that we will just get it in drivable condition until we restore the Nova, then we will through a 350 Smallblock Chevy into it and mod it up (cam, lifters, headers, etc). Im thinking to myself, if this is gonna be my driver, 155HP is not good enough. I dont plan on telling him, but I need to get this baby to breathe better, and preform better.

I will be on a tight budget, but here is what I have in the works so far:

Headers
Remove the Cat (No more E-Check w00t)
Flowmaster Mufflers


My question to you is, keeping in under $200-$300, what else would you recommend doing. I dont want to go into the engine, just something quick, easy, and cheap to do. I was thinking about the carb, but those dont run cheap. Other then the three mentioned above, what would you do in my position

The best thing to do to an engine first is to make it breathe better. You are right to rip that old cat off there and install headers, new pipes, and mufflers. To help that out I would say you need to put in a new, 4bbl, intake manifold and carburetor. This will help you out a lot too. If you do this after changing from a 2bbl carb even better! Is this a chevy 350? If so then you have picked out the cheapest motor to mod!

What intake and carb setup are you running with currently?

without going into the engine, the only way to make power is what you listed, exhaust and intake mods.

Well there are a lot of little things one could do to a 350 before entering the engine. You can upgrade the ignition, intake, carb, headers, pipes, mufflers, electric fan, and remove smog pump. None of these make a substantial increase in power. In order to acheive REAL power two things HEADS AND CAM!!!! match those and you will have a Beast to contend with.

yeah, i know I could put on some heads and a cam and get some HP, but I need it cheap on without ripping apart the engine. I just wanted to make sure that there wasnt some mod that I forgot D:

ps: Its a Pontiac 350 right now, everything stock. Ill get a pic of the car

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/501/226090firebirdchopped.jpg

I plan on making it a Trans Am clone, I bought the shaker hood scoop and the spoiler.

up your driving skills, that will make a big difference

and i'm not saying you can't drive now, but learning your takeoffs and shifts will get you better times then most might think

I've been lerking for a while, and post every now and then. First of all I've seen many people ask "How can I get more HP out of my ____" Let me first tell you, that my question is a bit more complex (not by much =P)

First, Ill have a Camaro in my heart always, and they are truly my fav car. My dad has a 69 Camaro Pace Car, and has threatened to shoot me if I get close. Second, the reason I am posting in THIS forum, is because of the people. This comunity of "Camaro Lovers" is by far the best group around, hands down.

Here we go:

I have a 1974 Firebird, with a 350, A/C, just about fully loaded. Now it runs, but there is a big hole in a major support piece in the rear, so when we move we will be fixing it and that will be my driver. Anyways, my dad said that we will just get it in drivable condition until we restore the Nova, then we will through a 350 Smallblock Chevy into it and mod it up (cam, lifters, headers, etc). Im thinking to myself, if this is gonna be my driver, 155HP is not good enough. I dont plan on telling him, but I need to get this baby to breathe better, and preform better.

I will be on a tight budget, but here is what I have in the works so far:

Headers
Remove the Cat (No more E-Check w00t)
Flowmaster Mufflers


My question to you is, keeping in under $200-$300, what else would you recommend doing. I dont want to go into the engine, just something quick, easy, and cheap to do. I was thinking about the carb, but those dont run cheap. Other then the three mentioned above, what would you do in my position

your not gonna get much on that budget..best thing is gears or tires. they never fail!

Headers, mufflers, good plugs, wires, ignition, intake can be bought for around 120 bucks and will make a little bit of a difference, gears, just about everything that was said previously.

Rob