Hi all.

I have a 78 elky with the original 305. I had it rebuilt to stock specifications not long ago. It should have around 150 HP. I would like to pep it up a bit. Can you suggest some possiblilities for me? I do not mind going into the engine if I have to since I have someone who will do the work for me if I can't do it myself.

I was considering a new cam, intake, and carb, but I do not know what kind I should get to maximize my performance without breaking the bank. I don't want to spend much more than $1000 (just parts cost), and I don't want to do anything to the engine that might cause excessive wear. This is the original engine and it had over 180k miles on it when I had it rebuilt, so I don't want to blow it up after all the money I spent rebuilding it. I also need it all to fit under the hood without modification, and I would prefer it all to "bolt on" so to speak without alot of mods or adapter kits.

Thanks for your help very much. I would like to get as much HP out of this engine as I can. It is rather sluggish when passing and merging.

Don

Hi Don,
Welcome to ECC! Your question is asked quite often by new members and the most given response is to change the position of the 5 and the 0 from 305 to 350. It's hard to envision after doing a rebuild on our 305, but when you get done spending more $$ on a new intake, cam, lifters, rockers, carb, and headers to increase HP a bit, you could bolt in a 350 and beat the dickens out of the 305. Just my nickels worth, but I've got one with the 305 and two with the 350 and there's no comparison. Check out the forums and do a search at the top of the page for 305 as well as 350. Best wishes and again, WELCOME! :D

Welcome to a great site. Search is your friend. There is alot of good info to partake of here.

Hey thanks for the welcome! I appreciate it!

I completely agree with you that the best thing to do would be to drop in a 350. I considered it, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I wanted to keep the car as original as possible, so I rebuilt the original motor instead.

I'm not going to try and build a hot rod, but I would like a bit more get up and go. Most likely a new cam and lifters and an intake and carb will give me the performance boost I am looking for.

Thanks again guys for the warm reception, and I look forward to being part of the community.

Don

Since the motor has already been rebuilt, I assume you don't want to replace the pistons, to increase compression ratio. Adding the items you mention in your previous post will help but upgrading to dual exhaust with headers, and tweaking or replacing your distributor with aftermarket parts will also help. If you can afford a better set of heads (2.02/1.60valves with 64cc chambers) this too will help, but put you over your $1000 limit. A set of roller rockers or at least roller tip rockers (cheap) will help avoid premature wear on your valve train but not add much performance wise, a negligable amount is all. Converting to an electric fan cooling system from an F-body (boneyard) is cheap and good for 10-15hp. You didn't mention if you plan on retaining the emissions equipment or not, this will factor in when it comes to picking an intake, carb, and type of exhaust system. The 305 in your Elky is low compression and has non-performance heads...this is the biggest drawback to the engine, the fact that it is only 305 cubic inches is not a reason to count it out.

I would suggest going with edlebrock's performer cam, intake and carb. They sell it as a whole package throught Jeg's I think it is. Then put on a set of headers and a budget dual exhaust and you should be at your price limit. The cam will give it a noticeable idle and the combination of the headers and cam will help the exhaust get out easier and you will immediatley notice the reduced backpressure the first time you drive it because when you let off of the gas you'll coast alot further (less engine braking). You'll also get improved gas mileage, if you can keep your foot out of it.

I agree with 78 Elky. If you could afford it, a set of Edelbrock heads would complete the package & really wake it up.

What sort of heads should I look for? I have heard of people using vortec heads with pretty good results, and it is nice that they bolt right up. Any recomendations along these lines?

I think I am going to look into that cam, intake, and carb package. I am not out to get a huge amount of HP out of this engine, but I think it could run alot stronger than it does. Another 50-100HP should be reasonable for this engine, since it is putting out about 150 now.

I don't care about the emissions. I have dual exhaust already, but I could use some headers. What is a good choice for headers that will fit properly?

I have been searching the site everyday for information, and I have found alot of good stuff. I need to get a few books though and read up on engines. I know enough to be dangerous, but thats about it. I am new to this sort of thing but I am having a good time putting my el camino back in order!

Thanks again for the input guys! Hopefully in a few months I will have the engine performing about where I want it to.

Don

Vortechs would be a good choice but you'll have to get an intake that is designed for them as the intake bolts are a different pattern than the standard head. As for headers, I have Hedman and they have lasted several years without any problems.

I think I will look into the edelbrock heads that work for my particular engine. They are model number 60759. They should work with my stock manifold.

This way, I can boost my peformance a bit without having to drop a crapton of money all at one time since I would have to buy a new manifold, rocker arms, and carb if I got vortec heads.

Would these heads be similar in performance (at least bolted on my 305) as vortec heads, or are the vortec heads so much better that I should save up for a few months and get them instead?

I eventually plan to replace the cam, manifold, carb, and heads as well as get headers, so would I be better served to wait and get it all at once?

Don

I don't know about the comarability of the edelbrocks and vortechs but I do know that either one would be a good choice. I would do the cam, intake, carb and headers before the heads, or save up and get everything at once. Reason being that if you put the heads on with stock components, they'll limit the performance gains you get out of the heads and you won't be impressed IMO. But if you plan on changing everything eventually I guess it wouldn't matter what order you do it in.

Thats a good point though. I should probably do everything and leave the heads for last.

I think that is what I will do.

Thanks much!

Don

350350350 everyone has a 350. Why not 454. Is there a reason?

Yeah...$$$$$$$$!!!!!

$$$$ to build, $$$$$ to keep gas in your tank!.

I looked at some Hedman Headers, but I think they are a bit more expensive than I need for this car.

Are Dynomax Headers any good? I am sure you get what you pay for, and Dynomax headers are half the price of Hedmon (at least the ones I looked at). I am just not sure if it is worth spending twice as much. Will I see twice as much performance from the Hedmans compared to the Dynomax?

Any advice on this would help. I was hoping to get by with a pair of ~$100-150 headers if I could.

Don

I love Big Blocks and have built several; if you want a maximum effort performance engine it is a better choice than a smallblock. The big block is not only bigger outside, if you ever compared smallblock and bigblock cranks, rods and bearing caps you will realize how much more heavyduty the bigblock components are. Even a modest bigblock head will have much larger ports and runners which mean more airflow and more power. However the advances in smallblock technology (engines to 450ci +, super highflow heads) has considerably narrowed the horsepower potentials between rat and mouse engines. For most street engines a smallblock can provide all the power you need but a big inch bigblock can be very impressive.

I have heard that the dynomax headers are real good. I know their other exhaust components are great. I have run super turbo mufflers on all my cars for many years & never had a problem.

I tried to put a set of hedman headers on my elky but the driver side wouldn't clear my shift linkage for some reason. so i took them back and bought a set of dyno max ceramic headers they fit perfect i even installed them with the engine in the car and they are real good quality. and i also love the ceramic finish.

Have you ever had any problems with the extra heat from headers messing up your starter or wiring? I was talking to someone today and they said not to put headers on because they cause too many problems.

Don

I never had any problems with my starter, but if i do have any problems ill just buy a starter heat shield from jeggs, there a pretty cheap fix for any starter heat sink problems.

Headers do not create any more heat but the extra surface area of the tubes radiate more heat. The problem with sparkplug wires and the heat soak problems with the starter is that headers by design brings the hot header tubes in closer proximity to the wires and starter. The designers try to make the curves smoother to promote a better exhaust flow and trying to get each tube the same lenght from exhaust flange to collector makes them bulkier than an cast iron exhaust manifold. The problems with the sparkplug wires can be solved by carefully routing a preminum quality wire set less suseptible to heat. The heat soak starter problem can be solved with a remote solenoid (like, dare I say it---Ford), a good heat shield or a mini hi-torque starter.
In any case the "problems" are more than outweighed by the performance benefit.

Thats a good point though. I should probably do everything and leave the heads for last.

I think that is what I will do.

Thanks much!

Don

You have to select the Cam, Heads and Carb all at the same time. Its the combination that produces the power not any one by its self.

The stock 305 heads flow rats are horrible. The Vortec Heads are probably the best "Factory" add on that you could do. You could possibly raise the compression by selection heads with small combustion chambers like a 64cc chamber and then have them milled. The Vortec heads are good to 400 Horses unmolested. The 305 is good to about 300 Horses. So anything more is just overkill, don't bother spending the cash. Vortec Head will run just under 500 a set, complete. A good RPM Intake from Edelbrock, not the Air Gap (Its over kill) will run about $90.00./ Add the MSD Ignition its called the Super HEI Conversion (6A not the 6AL) and a good set of plugs wires and a 1406 Carb, yeah I don't care for them but in your case its probably the best for your combination. Comp Cams XE 268 Cam Kit (about 299.00) and you should see about 240 to 280 Hp at the rear wheels. That Cam should be set at 1 degree retarded with that setup for best economy and performance.

Just my Nickels worth.

The Vortec heads are great. There are some additional expenses that you have to consider. You need a manifold made especially for the Vortec bolt patterm, you will also need special self alighning rocker arms, and late model (1986-) valve covers. PACE AUTO (http://paceparts.com) has a kit that includes the assembled heads, Edelbrock manifold, rocker arms, bolts and gaskets. Everything you need but the valve covers. It sells for $795.00 and is a super deal.

Wow that is a super deal.

Throw in a 1406 carb, valve covers, and a cam, and I am just over 1000 bucks. Not bad.

I will start saving then. Maybe in a couple of months I will have enough to get this stuff ordered and installed :)

Thanks very much for the suggestions!