Give my Caprice some more power

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by GreyGoose006

anyone know how to remove a speed governer. it seems like my '84 civvie caprice just wont go over 85 MPH. it'll pull hard up to 85, then it just stops.

Remove tired old 305 and replace with 350

Seriously, a 305 isn't going to have the pull to get it much beyond that. I had a 1982 Impala with the LG4 and it pulled hard to about 85 and fell on its nose. No limiter or governor on it, or on your car. Just a power-reduced, smog and economy friendly (translated as anemic) 305. There are things you can do to that 305 to get it better without replacing it, but it involves headwork as well as intake and exhaust work. Your carb should be just fine, you might want to try a different intake such as an Edelbrock Performer EGR 3701. As Blue Bowtie stated, valvesprings on that are probably weak and should be replaced. Might as well install a new or rebuilt set of heads - Blue Bowtie has a casting number for a set of 305 heads that you can even run 1.94 intakes on! Open that thing up and make it breathe. Use a good RV cam such as a Comp 12-238-2, and increase the size of your exhaust system. You can use the catback portion of the exhaust from a '89-'93 Caprice in place of the system you now have - this increases the size of the pipe from 2.25 to 2.5" and this will help it open up. These mods should bring your 305 to a performance level close to a stock 350 for that year. Making it breathe with the above mods will enable it to pull beyond 85 MPH - but I doubt it would hit 100. The 350 would be a better choice here, but I can't seriously tell you to install one in place of the 305 in today's world of $3/gal gasoline.

[GreyGoose006]

Originally Posted by silicon212

Remove tired old 305 and replace with 350

Seriously, a 305 isn't going to have the pull to get it much beyond that. I had a 1982 Impala with the LG4 and it pulled hard to about 85 and fell on its nose. No limiter or governor on it, or on your car. Just a power-reduced, smog and economy friendly (translated as anemic) 305.

only one problem w/ that,
ive got the even more anemic 3.8L V6
DOH'
the way i understand it, (correct me if im wrong) the V6 really is a 350 with the back two cylinders cut off, and a different crank, for obvious reasons.
the way i see it, i already do have a 350 of sorts.

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by GreyGoose006

only one problem w/ that,
ive got the even more anemic 3.8L V6
DOH'
the way i understand it, (correct me if im wrong) the V6 really is a 350 with the back two cylinders cut off, and a different crank, for obvious reasons.
the way i see it, i already do have a 350 of sorts.

Close, it's the FRONT two cylinders that have been lopped off, not the back two. The engine you have is a 305 with the front two cylinders removed, not a 350. That would be the 4.3.