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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Moncton New Brunswick
Posts: 56
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Please help me out guys:
My truck is an 85 GMC Sierra Classic all original and has a LE9 305 engine with 50,000 miles. My question what part should I add to truck first to gain some power and low end torque a intake, cam(which cam is best suited) or headers(which brand)? Thanks Rob The trucks only current mods are dual exhaust and x-pipe. |
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#2 |
Professional Grade
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Fort McMurray, Alberta
Posts: 7,915
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I personally am planning on buying hooker headers. A performer intake and carburator will do lots for you as far as power is concerned. Probally your best bet is to drop a 350 in though...
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1995 Chevrolet 2 Door Tahoe (6.6L LBZ Duramax / ZF6 / NP241 with 1 ton solid axle swap) |
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#3 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Elkhart, IN
Posts: 6,400
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350 is by far the best mod you can make to your truck. the 350s 4" bore will unshroud the valves considerably and create more air flow. installing a 350 will make future upgrades have more of an effect on performance as well.
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Moncton New Brunswick
Posts: 56
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how to gain power?
I plan to replace the 305 with a 350 in a couple of years once it gets a few more miles on it but I'am just looking for a little more grunt for now. Any suggestions?
Thanks Rob |
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#5 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Elkhart, IN
Posts: 6,400
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do stuff you can transfer to the 350. intake and carb would be a good choice, and ignition. it sounds like you've already got a good exhaust system. you may even notice some improvements from cooling system upgrades like a good water pump, 4 core radiator, electric fans, etc. dont waste your money on anything below the heads in a 305.
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#6 |
BANNED
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 105
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First thing I'd do is do some reading. You might find specifics on your particualr setup.
I did read an artical a while back.....let me get it.........ahhh..here it is.......in Chevy High Performace Mag. about a '79 Malibu wagon that had a 305 in it with 110,000 miles. It ran a 20.2 at 69 MPH in the quarter at stock and with 2.41 gears out the back. After a few bolt-ons (RPM Performer intake, Demon Carb 525-cfm, Ram-Air Box, Heddman Torque Step Headers, Dual Exhaust with Hedmans free flowing cat converters, X-Pipe and Turbo Mufflers) they dropped time to 17.5 at 77MPH. They even added a 175 pound shot which got them to 16.1 at 83 MPH. Just an FYI... |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: st. louis area
Posts: 1,551
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MY85, Edelbrock Performer cam & lifter set is a great improvement. The performer or performer EPS would be a big improvement to. as far as carb, keep the Qjet if it works good.
just about any Brand header is decent depending on how much you plan to spen, stay small tube & pay extra for the ceramic coat. 350s of course make more power per $ than a 305, but 305s can perform well with the right combo. My 76 C10 shortstep ran mid 14s with a mild 305.
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75 GMC C-15 short/step factory 454, lowered |
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#8 | |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,686
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Quote:
Man beat me to it i was about to tell him about that "Project Three Oh Why" I read that same article they tryed to make the point that all of them upgrades would transfer over to a 350 but they used a tiny carb I dont think it would transfer over to a 350 that good. But other than that all worthwhile transferable upgrades. |
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada eh
Posts: 95
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what about a rearend swap? Intake and carb are good but being an 85 you might still have to go for emission testing. Headers and duels go together like beer and a Leafs game, you can't go wrong with those!! Maybe a hotter coil if you still have money left.
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80 Chevy K10 350/350turbo 86 Chevy 1/2 ton shorty project truck 79 Chevy 1/2ton 350/350turbo not much to look at... ***Retired*** 97 Chevy C1500 4.3/5 speed.....daily driver |
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#10 |
BeWarE tHe eViL CrAnkTOe!
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Yukon, OK
Posts: 3,605
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You need to take the route of the 305 killa Gerardo!!
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~Dave~ You can call me Mike, Mike Oxlong - 1986 Chevy SWB - Stock for now - 1986 Chevy Custom SWB *Stolen 6/26/05* - 1985 Chevy SWB SOLD - 1999 T/A Some mods ![]() www.cardomain.com/id/ramairdave AIM Screenname - Jester84 |
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#11 |
Mudslides 'r my specialty
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: STL
Posts: 1,106
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16.1 sec @ 83 mph...and that's with nitrous on a 4 bbl V8....how sad.
A turbo would make the largest difference. Find a decent Mitsubishi turbo in a scrapyard and order some mandrel tubing from Jegs, build your own exhaust, and your good to go. If an OEM 2.5L turbo four (completely stock with 2 cats) can run 13.2 sec in the 1/4, imagine what a 305 could do.... If you're not that adventurous, I would simply get stuff that can be used on a 350 in the future...
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Always on the lookout for old cars and parts...(20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, etc.) http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/500339 |
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Moncton New Brunswick
Posts: 56
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Thanks for the suggestions guys keep them coming, also I have one of them Ram Air boxes that Chevy High-performance used in the article but have not tried it yet.
Will headers make any difference or are they just going to give it a better sound? Rob ![]() ![]() |
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada eh
Posts: 95
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they'll make a difference in performance and sound
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80 Chevy K10 350/350turbo 86 Chevy 1/2 ton shorty project truck 79 Chevy 1/2ton 350/350turbo not much to look at... ***Retired*** 97 Chevy C1500 4.3/5 speed.....daily driver |
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#14 | |
BANNED
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 105
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Quote:
Even though it maybe sad, the block still handled it. Pretty good don't ya think? |
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#15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Moncton New Brunswick
Posts: 56
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How to gain power?
Thanks for the suggestions guys since I can't actually drive the truck until spring thanks to these damn long Canadian winters, I might as well work on improving the truck.
Rob ![]() ![]() |
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