Performance question

[Heath88Caprice]

Alright, this question isn't quite as immediate as the last, but I was wondering if anyone would know if the performance mods I've been thinking about will destroy my drive train or anything else for that matter. I have a 1988 Caprice Classic with a 305 and it puts out stock as far as I know 145hp. I was thinking of upgrading my stock Rochester carb to an Edelbrock 650cfm (I believe this was the one), changing the heads and intake to Edelbrock, switching to an open air cleaner rather than the Thermac. Which I'm also having trouble figuring out how you would go about sealing off some of the vacuum hoses and how to disable that temp sensor. I was also thinking about getting some headers that may fit and a new exhaust system, hopefully to make it a dual exhaust. I had also found a performance chip from Hypertech that I was also thinking of adding. Any info would be greatly appreciated. I know that it's a low performance car and I shouldn't expect too much out of it, but if anyone could give me like a rough estimate of how much I could actually stand to gain from that.

[mike_mike22]

i got a 91 caporice i would like to know how to put more power in to it and how much a 305 v8 has thanks

[Heath88Caprice]

If you have a 91 is it a fuel injected engine? If so, performance chips, heads, intake, exhaust even the small stuff like a basic tune up will boost your performance. A 305 in 1988 in a Caprice had only 145hp according to Chilton's, but now I would expect a 305 to have at least near 300hp

[CD Smalley]

I hope you missed typed and meant 200HP....

The 91 L03 would be around 170-180HP IIRC.

The L05 350s were only 200 with a boost to 210 in 93.

Two great mods for a 91 L03 would be to get an exhaust system, from the manifolds back, from a 93 9c1. Then do the $.25 mod to the TBI unit.

[Heath88Caprice]

I didn't mistype anything, like I said, I would expect a 305 engine today to have about 300hp, especially since a little 4banger in the Lancer Evo can pump out about 280hp and I wasn't talking about the Caprice engine at all, a crate 350 from Edelbrock can pump around 440hp, and my 305 from 1988 only had 145hp. Remember it's old and emissions controls screwed it. I do expect even a newer Caprice to have crappy hp, it's not a performance car. I was looking for insight on whether upgrading parts of my engine would screw my drive train and transmission at all. Not on whether or not you knew the hp of a 91 Caprice.

[CD Smalley]

Oh I misunderstood then. I thought that you thought the last 305s made that kind of HP. My Bad.

Given enough $$$ I'm sure 300hp is possible with a 305. But it would be easier and cheaper with a 350. But I'm sure you've heard that before. If you're stuck with the 305 then you have to do what you have to do I guess.

Carb and intake changes will help. But the downfall of most of the 305s and 350s from that era are the heads. Anything you can do there will help. While not a dual exahust, the one I mentioned should handle quite a bit of power since it's a 3" system from the collector back to the muffler.

[quaddriver]

The LG4 H code 304 with a 4bbl in 88 made over 165hp.

if it was a y code 307 it made 140hp

[HLandin]

Speaking of performance, any recommendations for a '90 9C1? It has a 350, single exhaust.