need more power 88 MC ss w/305

[teske]

i just bought a 88 monte ss for $1500. I put a nice paint job on it. it looks great. but it doesn't have the power i want. what are some inexpensive upgrades for a 305 that are worth the money? i am probably getting a k&n air intake and a throttle body spacer and i have an old holley carb that i might rebuild and put on there. i am also putting headers and a true dual exhaust, right now its only dual cat back. will this give me the power im looking for or do i need more? and does any one know how much a used posi-trac rearend cost, i hate limited slip.

[slimfatboy]

that 305 will cost a lot more to build up than a 350 to get comparable power, might consider cruising it as is and finding a cheap block to mess with. what are you gonna do with a throttle body spacer on a carb'd engine? anyways, you can get heavier duty (8.5") gn posi rear's (olds 442's too) for 4-800 dollars. obviously the 800 ones are more available than the 400 dollar ones.

[teske]

Originally Posted by slimfatboy

what are you gonna do with a throttle body spacer on a carb'd engine?

i meant to say a carburator spacer. i usually work with tbi or efi.

i dont have much experience in building engines. but i have a 350 4-bolt main that threw a rod. what would i cost me to rebuild it and how hard would it be?

[slimfatboy]

everything depends on how much money you have and want to spend. i know you can get a master rebuild kit from northern auto for $150 or real close. theres a baseline anyways. how hard it is depends on how knowledgable and interested your friends and family are, soak their intelligence, maybe muscle too. does it need the crank machined or a new crank? its all a learning experience, a worth while one at that.

[teske]

i havent done any thing to the motor. so i dont know anything about it. it was in a truck i bought and the guy told me it threw a rod. thats all i know about it.
would i be better off buying a running 350 that needs some work.

[slimfatboy]

simple solution there. i would call around and see whats available before making any decision. my buddy bought a 350 for $150 with 70k on it, sounds good, doesnt smoke and relatively clean. then he can make upgrades and get more familiar with everything before breaking into the internals. swapping is a whole lot easier though and only takes you off your feet for a weekend or so if you've got all the tools, parts and equipment ready.

[teske]

i can get a 350 for $200 from a guy i know. but my buddy told me that i didnt want that motor. he said it isn't any good, so i took his word for it and never went and checked it out. maybe i should go take a look. the owner said it ran good. im going to go check it out.

[slimfatboy]

dont toss your buddies advice. remember that going in there that you heard it was junk. ask about the mileage, what it came from and all that. ask your buddy why its junk too. what are your ideas for emissions? keep them or lose them?

[teske]

i will talk to my buddy a little better then go look at it maybe i can get him to come with me. i will also take my dad with me he would be able to tell me if its worth it.

by the way, at the bottom of the page i saw an ad for a turbanator. have you looked at that site or have any experience with those.

[slimfatboy]

good plan. no i havent. i refuse to bother with that nonsense. if it were to use exhaust gas to compress air, then by all means. most of what i've seen are electric fans encased in pvc and produce .25 inwg or something ridiculously small like that. better off piping a quick talking girlfriend to your, what would then be called, HAI.

[teske]

thanx for all ur help. that turbinator doesnt even use an electric motor. its just a fan that stays still and gets the air twirling. it sounded like a rip off to me so i figured id ask someone with more knowlege of car.