I have been thinking about getting a 1986 Camaro RS with a manual transmission but I don't know if it's going to be quick enough for me can anyone give me 0 to 60 time

 

Is it a V8 or V6?
Neither was very fast back then,even the Z28 wasn't real quick.

 

Think the V8 non-Z was High 9's and the V6 was mid 12s. So it is like lightning but different. Almost as fast as a 1996 mini van.

 

It is a 305 TBI


Do you know about how much horsepower it would make if I put a big cam ported heads, long tube header side pipes, and a high-rise intake?



This is going to be my first car and I want to know if it's a somewhat okay idea

 

Zero, the 305 was designed are a light weight small block for emission, the heads ports suck and the bottom end is weak. When I say the bottom end is weak I don't just mean the crank, I mean the block. If you really drive the car and get any where near 300Hp it is scrap metal. The L98 is a great motor good up to 400ish HP you just want to be sure everything is tight and in good condition.

The 3rd gen is a great car but both the V6 and the 305 are like glass in my opinion. I was doing crank kits in the 2.8 and the 305's 100% stock under warranty. The only time i saw a L98 350 was because something else failed and caused the motor to overheat. It is very uncommon to see a stock motor with 40,000 miles on it with a stretched rod, spun bearing and nothing else wrong with the motor. I know you did not ask but there is a reason the that t5 5/speed was not offered in the 350. It is was fine for even the TPI 305 but it could not handle the torque of the TPI350.

Any old school small block will be stronger than a 305. Even the base model 307 would be an upgrade.

Now if you just want to add a cam to make it sound good, that fine and it will hold together as long as you do not push it hard.

When you look at high speed or one mile races even today there is a class 1981 and earlier. Next was the 82 and up. The reason that class existed was the 3rd gen camaro. Turn out at most car events ended up just being Corvette vs Camaro. 3rd gen camaros and 4th gen vetts owned all in aerodynamics. At least in the domestic class. All the Ford and Chryslers fans had to run 81 back.

This was not just a GM thing most of late 70's and 80's car manufacture where trying anything to reduce weight. I test drove the new 84 ford escort I really did not think it was safe to drive on the road. You got on a hill and new camaros were flying by.

Now if you want to go fast for cheap look at a 2000-2004 5.3 out of a Chevy or GMC truck. Its 300hp stock and can handle 500hp or more. You could get started for less money and maybe less work then trying to get a 305 upto 225 HP. You would need a engine transmission and PCM/wiring from a 2WD 1500. Check out Youtube for LS swaps.

 

Man I want a Camaro and have power but everything I see tells me I cant on the original engine if I get it I will 383 swap it. I knew that the 70s and 80s sucked for V8s I never realized just how bad it was.

 

383 stroker is a good motor. High in torque. I used to run one is a circle track car. A crate motor will cost you about 4K. To track down a 4 bolt main block and build it with some help from a machine shop can be more or a little less than a crate motor. You will need a get a strong transmission. The 383 is a torque monster and will break most stock transmission. You rear will not last long either plus you will need an entire cooling system and fuel system.

You can find a complete 5.3 with the transmission and a factory-ish fuel system for right around $1,000, There are people out there that have turbo charged stock 4.8-5.3's to 800 hp. The key is the Y block with 6 bolt mains I like the 5.3 or the 6.0 because you can just add a CAM stick on the right junk yard heads and hit 500hp and still be able to drive it every day.

If you interested in a budget build check out the sloppy mechanic on Youtube. He has one series call 8 for 8. He builds an 8 second car for $8000. Not saying you should do that but it shows that you can push 1000hp with stock GM junk yard parts and a China turbo. He also has a support website where you can get tunes and advise. He even has his own Cam he markets and has tunes for it with and without turbos.

 

If I were you I'd be looking at 4th gen cars,even a first year LT1 1993 will blow away that 3rd gen car and they are pretty affordable to buy yet.
If you can scrape together the money for a late 4th gen with LS power it will have more than enough to make you smile bone stock.

 

There is no such thing as a 1986 Camaro RS.

 

I will bet the title says Coupe/RS. A lot of states seem to put that on all Camaro that is not a Z28 regardless of the options. They do it on the 4th gens also.