racing advice
 

hey guys im new to this all and am looking for some help. recently i got a 1990 camaro rs as my first car. ive always loved camaros and always wanted to race never given the oppurtunity though. but with this camaro brings some hope, as of right now its a 305 tbi and nbeeds a good amount of bodywork. i was woindering what are somethings i should do to it to turn it into a worthy car to drag with?the one goal i have as of now is to beat this guy whos a cocky son of a ***** who drives a 2002 mustang cobra. any advice is helpful thanks guys

My advice would be to drop in a 350. The 305 really isn't a good starting point for performance. But if you really have to do it with the 305, start with the basics. CAI, and full exhaust.

yea i already planned on a 350 just gonna get what needs to be fixed up first then worry that but thanks for the advice =)

I would suggest tryin to get an LS1 with the tranny to drop in. That would defiantly take care of the cobra.

ok well i just found out were dropping my 305 into another 1990 camaro but this one has a better body and its a 5 speed would the linkage from a tranny that fits an ls1 fit my car

ps it was a v6 camaro will the stock tranny give me any problems with a v8 until i can buy a better one

yes, it won't bolt up. completely different bell housing bolt patterns from the 3.1 to the 305. you will need a new trans just to get the car back on the road.

To start out there was no 2002 cobra. Ford stop production to build the 03-04 Terminator.

Your talking about some major work. First off the engine is not the only issue. Your going to need a T56 or (TH350,TH400,4L80 or build a 700R or 4L60) just for starters. Also the factory rear will not hold the power from a LS1 or built SBC so your looking at a 9inch or a 12 bolt. Once again this is just for starters. The pre 2001 cobra is not like the GT it sports a 32 valve DOHC 4.6 making 305-315 crank HP making it more then a match for even LT1 cars. The 2003-2004 are factory Supercharged with a eaton M112 blower and T56 transmission they run high 12s stock and can pick up large power numbers from just bolt on's.

Long story short you could buy a LS1 car for the cost your going to put into to this car trying to get it to perform at the same level. I love built 3rd gens so i am not turning you off to the idea but do your research first. This would be a large expensive project.

so i take it this aint no high school project would it be better just to drop in a normal 350 and take it from there

ps thanks its a 2003 sorry bout the confusion, and i do plan on keeping this car for a very long time so a big and expensive project is fine with me

A 03 cobra runs a 32 valve DOHC supercharged 4.6 engine with a 6 speed T-56 transmission and gets the power to the ground by a IRS with 3.73 gears. It is a high 12 second car from the factory and can run 12.2-12.5 with just traction, smaller pully (blower spins faster for more boost) and a good tune. Your talking about a car that was built to run head to head with LS6 powed Z06 vettes.

If you built your car just to beat him in the 1/4 mile you would have to invest some wear around 12K in parts and thats if you can find good deals and do all the work your self. Keep in mind this is just to beat him in the 1/4 mile he would still be able to destroy you in the turns.

Just in the transmission, rear end, drive shaft, converter/clutch your looking at about 5-6 grand

It would be far cheaper to buy a LS1 car and start there.

The ONLY way you stand a chance is buy an LS1 powered car and start that way. The average LS1, even with higher mileage, will run low-mid 13s. Some 6 speed cars with lower miles will net 13.2-13.3 all day long completely stock. So that would be a good place to start and try to beat a Termi. Depending on his mileage and driving skills, I'm guessing he sitting at prolly 13.2.

And a sway bar kit can move than LS1 powered car around curves quite nicely. These cars have a great center of gravity.

ok sooooo my daddy dont got deep pockets and i dont got a job where i can make 12 grand so i dont care bout the cobra no more what can i do to get the most out of my little rs for a way cheaper price and ill probly be making this car out of junk yard and used parts just i know for a fact a 350 is in store for the future

See my sig...

The best thing to do is save your money up for a bit then start looking for good deals at swap meets and used parts of forums.

If you just want to hop up a stock 350 on the cheap I have a few suggestions, vortec heads off a late 90s 350 can be obtained for about $200 from a junkyard. I would get the valve covers, rocker arms, push rods and the head bolts. If you have later model 350 that is roller cam equiped that is a plus if not you will need new push rods. Ive used a coated steel shim head gasket on an undecked block with no problems it will give you a little more compression. You will need a vortec specific intake manifold. I run this cam
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-K1102/ its mild.. produces peak power around 5000 rpm. A HEI distributor(non computor) is fine for the rpm. The rear end in the car is a weak point you can try a gear change and a used posi it might hold up for awhile. It isnt the best way to go no doubt but its a starting point. Take it to the local dragstrip and play around with the tuning you will learn alot.

^^ good advice..

i would suggest, a complete vortec 350..from a junkyard, ive seen them go for about $500..and thats with the ecu, and wiring harness (thats what i now plan on doing) and basically do the full list of bold ons (intake, headers and exhaust, mild cam, and since there fuel injected motors get a tune..

and for rear end, my dad ticked up 2 12 bolts for $300 off of craigslist..and with a simple gear change and a clean up/ re greese..its gonna be able to hold his 500hp bbc..


theres alot of options out there..you just need to pick the right one for you

ok so say i put in a 350 vortec what kinds of intake and carbs should i look at my brother has a spare elderbrock carb and he says its a performance once just hasnt checked what kind yet. basically what could i do for the most hp.

ps i know i will need more support in the front and back end i have a friend who put a beefed up 350 in his 1989 and the front end started to warp he said. so what are some more ways to get that support i need so it dont do this

prolly a 650-700cfm carb..a nicely built sbc shouldnt need anything bigger..as for intake..if its gonna be a street motor get one that gets the best low-mid power (like 1200-4000) if its gonna be a more race less street motor get one that gets the best mid-high range power (maybe 2500-redline)..

unless your making a 700+hp motor you dont need a masive carb..you could actually be wasting fuel and trashing your mpg (from what my dad says)

you can can build that 305 up to have around 325 hp....if your tight on money i would do that and buy 4.10 gears if your wanting to do red light to red light kinda racing but if your wanting to do some other such as some high way i would go with 3.73 if your cool with staying under 150-160...but i would keep the 305 build it up put 4.10 in it you got 325 hp and then i would spay it put like a 75-125 shot on it then your pushing at least 400 hp...and by doing all this youll be spending a little over 1000 which isnt to bad but it saves you that few hundred when buying the 350...and if you dont like the 305 after you build it up i would just sell it and buy you a 350 now with some spending money...but if your looking around 400 hp i would do that...

this is what im doing to my camaro...

http://www.goingfaster.com/spo/325_h...chevrolet.html

Yeah like the others are saying get you an LS1 and some bolt-ons and pray that the Cobra misshifts, don't underestimate them they are mean. Oh and tires are very very important.

pull a Vortec 350 out of a junked Suburban or something and throw in a Muncie 4spd lol