Slayn

I have a 78 camaro with a really really really stock 350 in it, and it is a slow car. Powering this 205hp or so engine is a 2.42 one legged rear end. The car has 162,000 miles on it. It leaks some oil, but generally runs pretty damned well honestly. The engine is all original, but I do not want to keep it forever. I am a poor college student, and if it can last me another 3-4 years ( I only drive like 2-3k miles a year heh ), I will be fine, until I can put a newer fuel injection engine in it.

Other than putting a 3.42 or 3.73 posi rear end to get the car moving, is there anything I can do to the car that wont bust it? I have to smog the car, but thats not a huge problem. I have an edelbrock performer intake that I want to put on, is there anything else? Is it even wise to put more hp through this engine? I was thinking the performer intake, one of those competition or crane smog legal cams, cheap headers, and perhaps a set of roller rockers. Any recommendations? I already have true dual exhaust on the car, just with stock exhaust manifolds.

Ps. My cousin just got a brand new 2005 GTI 1.8T, and he thinks it can smoke my camaro. It would probably be pretty close, this thing moves rather slow with a 2.42 peg legger, anyone know what it will take to beat him?

CTSV05

Well, the general health of your motor will determine your answer.

I would do a compression test, and if it checks out, then I would add a smogable cam, 1.6 rockers, your intake, try to open up your exhaust, and add a 3.42 posi./limited slip.

This should net you a 3/4 to 1 sec drop in your qtr mile times. A noticeable improvement, and should keep you in front of your cousin.

Slayn

I dont think I need a compression test, my dad is a mechanic and has had the car for some 25 or so years, so its in ok condition ( as much as one can be at that many miles ). I just wasnt sure if pushing the horsepower up was a good idea or not. I am keeping the stock heads, because I dont feel like putting on something else ( Im not sure the casting ), but are 1.6 rockers too much? Will I need taller valve covers to fit roller rockers, and if I do, will taller valve covers fit with the EGR port???

Slayn

I dont think I need a compression test, my dad is a mechanic and has had the car for some 25 or so years, so its in ok condition ( as much as one can be at that many miles ). I just wasnt sure if pushing the horsepower up was a good idea or not. I am keeping the stock heads, because I dont feel like putting on something else ( Im not sure the casting ), but are 1.6 rockers too much? Will I need taller valve covers to fit roller rockers, and if I do, will taller valve covers fit with the EGR port???

Also with a new cam and rockers, will I need to redo the whole valvetrain?

CTSV05

Well, anytime a new cam is installed, you will put new lifters in, and if you install rockers, all thats left is pushrods, as cheap as they are you might as well.

As far as valve springs go, any small cam should live with the stock spring, but the question is, will they handle any increase in the rpm range......prolly not, just from being tired.

If you go with the cheapie roller tip rockers then no you won't need tall covers. As I always say, budget is always the determining factor. If you and Dad can do the work, then a good hard weekend and about $800-1000.00 should get you all fixed up.

Now for the gear, this will depend on your desire to crawl around in the dirt or to purchase new, for the posi and gears, you can find them in a car, but what is your time worth?

Or you can buy new and be done with it. Make sure you get someone experienced to set them up, and not all mechanic types can do it.

Slayn

I wanted to get a junkyard 3.42 or 3.73 posi, drum to drum ( or disc to disc from a WS6 trans am ), because I figure I can just install the entire thing with no troubles.

As for the engine, i wasnt looking to spend $800+. I have the intake manifold I want now, I just wanted to bolt on a cheap pair of $100 headers and maybe a new cam, cheapie set of $100 rockers, I figured after the intake, I could only spend another $300-$400 for all the cam and header stuff. If I have to go for new lifters, pushrods, and possibly springs, I dont know if the cam is a good idea. People are telling me a new cam wont make a diffference, and might just blow some bearigns or an oil seal with the added stress. I figured though that the cam is one of the biggest downsides to the engine, but I am still not sure if its worth the bother.

Do you figure that a new intake manifold and headers will do? I am taking auto body this fall semester in college, and im learning to weld. I figure I can probably make a whole new exhaust system for the car to fit the headers, and go with a shorty style header and full 2 1/2 inch and wake it up. So it will basically be a stock engine, except for edelbrock performer intake, some $100-$150 shorty headers, and a full 2 1/2 inch true dual exhaust set up without the cats, and if I can find a 3.42 posi, Ill probably have a pretty good car right?

CTSV05

Well then, you are on a tight budget.

Here is what I would do for you.

Install a set of 1.6 $100 rockers.

Install your intake.

Install headers, with a 2 1/2" dual exh.

Find a reaerend, but I would caution against a 3.73 gear, as the extra rpms will cause more problems than a new cam will. Besides, without the cam, your motor will run out of breath sooner with the steeper gear.

Put a shift kit in the trans, go for the street strip setting.

This will add noticable performance without breaking the bank.

Slayn

Ok thanks!!!

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...1&autoview=sku

These cheapies look adequate? This and a set of new pushrods eh?

CTSV05

I've used those in a pinch, its not like your stock cam will wear them out.

I wouldn't even spend the money on P/Rods. Not untill you buy lifters and a cam.

Slayn

Ok forget the cam, I will use the extra rocker arm ratio, that will be good enough. Ok so just a pair of shorty headers, a new intake, and the rockers then, nothing else? Thanks a lot!

CTSV05

Gears....

Slayn

Well yes that too, but I meant engine-wise.

Slayn

The answer is: no. No, you can not add anything to an engine with 162k original miles. My transmission just started to slip on the 2nd-3rd shift. At the point where it usually shifts to 3rd when you are light on the pedal, it will get a little rough and take an extra 3+ seconds to get into gear. Bleh, I hate being a poor college student...

CTSV05

Well, at least its a T-350, should be able to find a decent used one for $75-100.

sidewayz28

iTrader: (24)

i honestly cant think racing a motor with 160+k miles would be that healthy for it....i would just save up so when the time comes and the engine craps out u have money saved for a new engine....thats like this one stupid kid i know who bought a 71 cutlass with 200,000 mi all original for $9,000+ and he wants to build the engine.....KINDA STUPID

distortion_69

iTrader: (20)

I'd go ahead and get the tranny rebuild, a shift kit, and a 2400 stall and a set of 3.42's for now. That should take all your cash.. but will make a giant difference.

Peace,
Josh

sidewayz28

iTrader: (24)

yah that would be a better idea then touching the engine

Slayn

I am going to save my money and let the transmission go. I can only hope it lasts longer. Hey if it doesnt last, I can always buy a bike? If I ride a bike for awhile, I can save an extra $300 a month! That will buy me an ls1 to swap in pretty fast...

FIREHAWK #07

iTrader: (1)

i got some ROller Tip Rockers made by Comp cams.... they are the Magnums..... selling them for $75... they are 1.52's NSA..... I will also throw in 15 hardened 7.2" push rods... (lost one of the push rods) PM me if you want em

zman1969

iTrader: (91)

that would be like putting a new flagpole up on a condemned building! wait thats a Viagra joke , seroiusly leave it alone it will ONLY cause you more problems. dont ask for more problems rear gearing would be about it