When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I have a 89 Camaro IROC with a L98 TPI engine that is pretty much the same power plant as the C4. I have a very modded trans am for my go fast fix, but want to get a bit more out of my Camaro.
I want to bump the power to 300 - 325 hp from the 240 it has as economicaly as possible. I have a friend with a mandrel bender that will build me a cat back exhaust and would rather not use headers as the stock look is important to me.
I am thinking a tune,cat back and a camshaft may accomplish my goal, but have no clue as to what camshaft to use. Would any of you have any suggestions on a cam?
Or am I not on the right track and need to go with headers and or different heads to hit 300 - 325 hp?
Thanks in advance for your advice.
Pic of car.
Last edited by Gran Torino; 01-09-2016 at 01:04 AM.
It is a 350 TPI but what I did was after passing smog just advance the timing about a quarter inch(counterclockwise) and then more low end power.
I had a 305 TPI 1987 great car.
Nice car. Heads and headers are mandatory for your goal. "Pretty much the same power plant..." really isn't. Those iron heads are pretty much maxed out, and the log style exhaust manifold are awful. Headers aren't that hard to install on a 3rd gen and are a huge improvement. There is always a 125 shot of nitrous.
would rather not use headers as the stock look is important to me.
I am thinking a tune,cat back and a camshaft may accomplish my goal, but have no clue as to what camshaft to use. Would any of you have any suggestions on a cam?
Or am I not on the right track and need to go with headers and or different heads to hit 300 - 325 hp?
You're not on the right track. The manifolds are probably THE most restrictive part in the whole power train. They are terrible. I don't think you're going to get 300 hp w/stock manifolds unless you build a 375 hp motor. I would abandon that idea. I would use LT headers, a good Y pipe, a GOOD 3" cat back, add a mild to medium cam, then get a tune and see where you're at.
Nice car. Heads and headers are mandatory for your goal. "Pretty much the same power plant..." really isn't. Those iron heads are pretty much maxed out, and the log style exhaust manifold are awful. Headers aren't that hard to install on a 3rd gen and are a huge improvement. There is always a 125 shot of nitrous.
Thank you, after reading your reply I did some reading and learned the L98 in my IROC is waaaayyyy different than the L98 in the Vettes.
Since I am not willing to get away from the stock look the route I'm going is a magnsflow dual cat set up from the manifolds back, a custom tune by Westers, a different carrier and a gear swap to something around a 3:43 to replace the 2:77s it now has.
The magnsflow exhaust will give me the rumble I want - the tune and gear change will have to do for the thrust.
Thanks for your advice gents.
GT
Last edited by Gran Torino; 01-09-2016 at 09:13 PM.
01-09-2016, 01:03 AM
L98 looking for a bit more power
