Looking to hit around 350 BHP..best option?

[teamgs]

Greetings,
My 94 vert just hit 200K miles, and is starting to use a little oil. I figured that it was time to go through the motor, and freshen it up, and then I wanted to add some more power. This is a daily driver, and will most likely never hit the track. I am looking just to get around 320 - 350 BHP., and seriously don't ever anticipate needing to get 400+ BHP from the car. I just don't like getting my a$$ handed to my by WRX's and Evo's, etc. I really don't want to go with nitrous, so my options are, I guess:

1. Get a crate motor.
2. Rebuild the current unit and the H/C/I (Though I am not sure if this will get me to my HP goal.)
3. Rebuild the motor and add a supercharger. (I was looking at the Powerdyne, as I didn't need a racer, and they appear to have solved some off the quality problems, but I am open to all options)

Any thoughts as to the most cost effective method to oreach my goal?

Regards,

Gary

 

[Rootus]

350 is doable with the right H/C/I and a 302.

Dave

 

[Grn92LX]

350hp at the fly (290-300 to the wheels) is as simple as ordering a tfs combo and the rest of the add ons. Since you wanna rebuild it but dont wanna go crazy, i'd take the block to a local trysty machine shop and have it checked out. Then if its all good, have it align honed, bore/honed with a tq plate, decked, cleaned, new cam bearings and freeze plugs. Then buy a good rebuild kit for a 306 with good bearings and rings. You can reuse your stock rods/crank. get good forged pistons that will give you about 10:1+ with whatever cc your head is.

For your car and goals, i'd just buy a trickflow combo along with 24lb injectors, 75mm TB, a pro m 80mm mass air, longtube headers and a 190 fuel pump. If you wanna go more radical, contact ed c, jay allen or buddy rawls for a custom cam.

 

[teamgs]

DOH! I forgot, that since I live in CA, it also has to be Smog Legal.

Dave, any place I could research the "right" HCI? (Besides here)

Grn92LX, is the TFS combo smog legal?

It is interesting that you both suggested NA, versus SC. Is that because it is more reliable, or cheaper, or both?

I appreciate your replies!

Regards,

Gary

 

[Grn92LX]

n/a is just a personal preference but i love n/a and spray The right h/c/i combo will walk your typical; 8lbs of boost charger car. Dunno if the TFS combo is legal. Will it pass smog, yes, will it pass cali's gay laws, not sure.

 

[teamgs]

Hey Grn92LX,
After looking at TrickFlow's site, the street heat heads are legal, but it doesn't say anything about the intake manifold.

Hmmm..I'll keep looking for info.

Thanks,

Gary

 

[revhead347]

They Holley Systemax kit guarantees 350 hp, and is a good deal. It includes a lot of the nickel and dime stuff that you don't anticipate. I would do a basic short block rebuild with forget pistons. Stock crank and rods are fine. Then spend the money for the Systemax kit.

Kurt

 

[FEESER 94 COBRA]

I just had a 347 built for under 2k.

 

[teamgs]

Under 2K? Wowee! The 2K didn't include the h/c/i, did it?

As for the Systemax II, Kurt, I had looked at that system, but it stated it was for 86-93, and I have a 94. It also doesn't say anything about CARB certification.

Thanks for the input!

Regards,

Gary

 

[Grn92LX]

The systemax kit wouldnt do as good for you as a tfs street kit. You have a heavy sn95 vert, low end tq is very important. The holley kit wouldnt make as much sub 3500rpm power as the trickflow kit. I had the trickflow kit. All you need to make it work on a 94/95 is that elbow adapter thingy. Get the tfs elbow as its 75mm.

 

[teamgs]

You have a heavy sn95 vert, low end tq is very important.

My car isn't heavy, it just big boned!

Regards,

Gary

 

[revhead347]

Yeah, all you need is the elbow. That goes for any intake though. The elbow was like $86 when I bought it. You can use the trickflow kit, but the Holley intake is a lot better. You can also run whatever heads you want with that intake. I'm running a Systemax 2 with a set of Canfield heads.

Kurt

 

[mystang94gt]

If you decide to go with the trick flow H/C/I kit contact them ahead of time and talk to them. I am sure they can swap a cam that will pass CA emissions. I talked to a place once before that was willing to do that for me. Cant remeber where though sorry.

 

[Jason@AFR]

To get 350+ HP, and to do it legally, is pretty easy on your 302. You can go several routes in Ca. legally, I know that the Performer and Performer RPM Manifold's are legal, I am pretty sure that the Trick Flow's are not. I am also 95% sure that the GT-40 intake is legal on a 94-95. Any of those intakes will support 350-400 HP.

The heads are going to be an obvious suggestion from me, c'mon, buy some AFR 165's
But to be honest, the Trick flow heads are a pretty good choice if you prefer them, Trick flow makes a great out-of-the box cast head.

The choice is really up to you, the Twisted wedge heads are comparable to our 165, but don't ask a salesman who is better. Take a look at the flow numbers per cc, along with independent testing, then make your decision.

If you want more info, don't hesitate to ask.

 

[mystang94gt]

Trick Flow Street heat is CA Smog legal with the right Cam.

 

[Jason@AFR]

the cam has nothing to do with the legality of a head here in California, it is all about the C.A.R.B. number, and the twisted wedge has one.
If a head doesn't have a C.A.R.B. number, it is illegal in Ca., it sucks, but its true

 

[wytstang]

Edelbrock performers are smog legal and their new design is said to flow just as good as the afr 165s and cheaper.

 

[mystang94gt]

the cam has nothing to do with the legality of a head here in California, it is all about the C.A.R.B. number, and the twisted wedge has one.
If a head doesn't have a C.A.R.B. number, it is illegal in Ca., it sucks, but its true

I was only speaking as far as passing the smog test itself and with the right cam you can pass smog with that H/I set up. if you pass the sniffer most places dont care what you've done to the car and wont worry about the C.A.R.B. number anyway. In my area at least.....

 

[Jason@AFR]

I was only speaking as far as passing the smog test itself and with the right cam you can pass smog with that H/I set up. if you pass the sniffer most places dont care what you've done to the car and wont worry about the C.A.R.B. number anyway. In my area at least.....

Definitely agree with you, it is a fairly conservative head, and even with a relatively healthy cam, he should pass out the pipe. But just in case they do check under the hood, believe me it is a bad day .

 

[VibrantRedGT]

he should pass out the pipe. .

We use to do that in my dorm room at college.