Help With Building The Beast

Hi everyone, I just purchased a 91 Camaro RS 5.0l TBI V8. The body is in great shape as is the engine, basically everything is great i just have a need for more speed. The previous owner converted from a dual exhaust to a single (not sure why) but other then that the engine is compleatly stock. What im wondering is how to add some speed.... for not alot of cash. I though about moving up to the 350 engine but it just seems so expensive and as a college student money is in short supply. I am willing to spend some $$$ but i still gotta pay tuition! The way i see it, if kids nowadays can take a tiny V6 and soup it up to the max for cheap why cant i do the same with my V8?

So lets break it down into a few questions...

1. How can i upgrade my 305 for maximum performance ?

2. How can i cut weight without just replacing everything?

3. How can i modify my transmission (automatic) for max performance

4. Would it cost more to trick out my 305 or to upgrade to a 350?

5. Any other speed adding tricks, i got time but little money or expertise

6. Suggestions on how i can learn to do some of this stuff

Any input is appreciated, thanks!

as a college student money is in short supply. I am willing to spend some $$$ but i still gotta pay tuition!

Oops, you bought the wrong car, :sorry:

Truth be known, these cars, like most of it's counterparts derived in the anti-smog revolution, need a bit of help to get some true grit power out of them (or put into them to be more precise).

Other than a free(er) flowing exhaust system, trans kit, and rear gear upgrade, I would leave well enough alone in your current financial status, and especially if this is your only means of transportation.

Trust me. And welcome to the forums. :wave:

^^^I agree. The parts that you probably can afford (bolt-ons) won't give you the speed and satisfaction you are looking for. Plus, some mods like gears and a shift kit are usually best done by professionals, and that means labor charges.

Thanks, i got the car for cheap, recently, so im just trying to decide weather or not to keep it, or sell and go bigger, i donno... i just dont understand how all thease people buy a cheap honda with a tiny V6, put 2000 into it and get serious speed, i figured i could do the same thing to my camaro and with the addition of the bigger engine would make my ride even faster..... ill figure something out... what i really need is mechanical experiance... to bad i dont know anybody

Well the thing is those guys with the "cheap Honda" have a little bit of a advantage in this case. Some of their "modiifcations" is merely a programming change. Coupled with a ever expanding market.

And, yeah, if you had bought a 96 and up 4th gen f-body you'd be able to as well. Let's face it, I'd hate to say it, but you can get a darn 4 door Accord today with a far stronger powerplant in it than the 305 TBI was designed to perform. It's unfortuantely the guniea pig in the war to combine power and efficiency , well power drew the short straw.

Now i'm not saying its not possible to get so good power out of it, don't get me wrong there. What I am saying is that it won't be cheap, and it won't be easy if you need this car to get by on.

Sorry to say, most aftermarkets consider the TBI a 'dead technology' and not too many invest a lot in making parts for them. Nowadays, most of their business comes from Gen III/Gen IV owners. Luckily, the Gen II had a big aftermarket when it was big, and it still has a decent-sized following, so parts for the LT-series engines are still easy to come by.

HHHmmmmmm this makes me think......

its seems like if i spent all the money to fully upgrade my 305 i end up sepnding so much that i might as well have put in a 350 to begin with... maybe ill just leave things be for the winter (dont really drive then), cut weight and new tires in the spring, then think about an engine swap... i just wonder if i could do it.... probably not..... hope installation isnt to expensive.

I just love the F bodies, plus if i keep the body in good condition the value might start to rise in 10 years or so... i donno... i wonder if i could sell the 305 to offset the 350 cost, its only got 77000 on it. I just wish i knew more about this stuff.... does anyone know a good, simple manuel?

I like your that plan, use what you have for now and expand later. :)

This will make the financial burden easier, and allow some time to pass. Never said there was nothing wrong on going with a 350, just seen some folks that have come around in the same thirst for power, and met with utter dissapointment for falling behind on time, money or ability and got over their heads and had to give their cars up.

There are 350's out there that just drop right in, no need for new mounts or really any fabrication. You'll basically need the new engine and ECU (or whatever they used back in 91). While you have it out, you may want to check out Hawks 3rd Gen's website for longtube headers to put on that 350 before you drop it in. We had a guy on here who dropped an LT1 in his 3rd gen and mated it with a T-56 6-speed. Sounds like fun.

Yeah i have no idea what most of those abbreviations mean... its alright though... i just got my car 2 days ago. Ill figure it out