Slow87

I have a 87 camaro lt.
-305 lg4
-a4 tranny
-stock gears
- Only mod is some no name muffler added by previous owner

I see guys on here talking about how lg4 cars are high 16 second cars. I've been stomped on by countless STOCK civics. My buddy ran a 18.3 and he even beats me. This is with me manually shifting and power brake launching(lol open diff).

I know this is the most under powered camaro out there, but still shouldnt I be faster?

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

Well....

Main reason, right there.

Worst kind of the main reason among all the versions of that handicap that were installed in these cars.

Doesn't really count as a "mod", any more than changing the oil; it's routine maintenance. Doesn't address the strongest weakness of that engine which is the Y-pipe size.

The icing on the cake... not only is the ENGINE slow, but that makes the CAR slow, too.


Basically if you want a fast car, you gotta start from scratch, with a better gear, motor that has a prayer, and so on; you're starting out now with NONE of the necessary ingredients. For all practical purposes, it is pointless to "mod" what you've got. Complete replacement of major components is the only "mod" that will pay off. "Bolt-ons" are a waste of money that will keep the car slow by emptying your bank account while accomplishing nothing, thereby preventing you from saving up enough money to accomplish .... SOMETHING.

Or, get a faster car to begin with.

Slow87

Lol I know why the car is slow. Don't worry I'm not bothering with the 305. I have a 350/t5 tranny and a 4th gen rear end that is going in it.

I'm asking is it slower than it should be. Some guys on here claim that their stock lg4 car runs high 16's, when realistically it's a high 18 second car.

ibmtech

iTrader: (1)

Doubtfully a 18 second.. 16 is more reasonable..

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

OK, so which one is it?

A typical LG4 is (was) a mid-high 16 sec car. After a few years of wear and tear, and some misguided "mods" like emissions hacking and the like, who knows; 18 sec actually doesn't sound too bad.

Also keep in mind, the NEWEST LG4 cars (yours) are now ANTIQUES in most states (25 yrs old). Lots of opportunities for deterioration and wear-out and whatnot over the course of that much time.

J91

Because it's an LG4 305, you answered your own question, pull it out and get a 350 or larger.....

Slow87

I wish It was! Remeber though, it's only rated at 155 hp! My brothers 07 v6 accord runs a 16.7 and it can't even be called a race I get left behind so bad. My girlfriend drives a nissan cube and just for laughs we tracked it and ran an 17.8. She beats me every time we race. This thing is slowwwwww.

I don't think it should run this slow though, according to everyone else. My car has 0 problems though. Great compression, steady idle, always runs great. What should I be looking for if something is wrong? This is my first v8 and carb'd motor at that so I'm still learning.

8t2 z-chev

some things that could be wrong with a good running 305 to make it
slower than usuall include:
-partly plugged catalytic converer(if one is in place)
-ignition timing out of adjustment
-carb out of adjustment or faulty
-worn cam('87 should be roller cam,unlikely to be worn)
-intake valves coked up from leaking guide seals
-worn timing set
Though not a real favorite engine around here,305s readily respond to all
the usuall "hot rod"tricks that apply to other small block chevys;very easy
to increase power well over stock.

SuperHawk996xx

iTrader: (1)

My 305 in my 86' T/A was slow as molasses in the winter time. AFter I pulled it and replaced it with decomputerized 350 bored .040 over, 4" Edlebrock high-rise intake, edlebrock carb and MSD ignition I had plenty of power! 305's suck unless its a early 90's car. those engine were pretty strong.

spicyskater

i put holly 600 cfm ,accel hei distributor,3 inch exhaust /no headers yet/,5 speed manual ,3.23 gears...rip all smog and comp cables no cat convertor...i have got to tell u the car woke up pretty well...oh no a/c too...i dont know what will be quart mile but is pretty quick...350 is the thing to du if u want quick but if u drive the car every day ,make sure u have gas station next to ur house ,fuel tank is already too small whit the 305...for me bigest gain of hp u will feel after mounting 3 inch exhaust couse the stock pipe is rediqulasly small

Damon

C'mon guys- getting stomped by an 18 second car is slow, even for an LG4. Most common problems are plugged cat, EFE valve stuck in full-closed position (located on the outlet of the pass. side exhaust manifold), improperly adjusted ignition timing (usually some dingleberry set it to the 0* spec with the timing wire connected instead of disconnected like it should have been done) and lastly, the secondaries on the cc-QJet not opening (usually becasue the choke isn't getting fully open and the secondary lockout stays engaged, preventing them from opening).

If it isn't one of those or a combination of those, you got REAL engine issues, like a timing chain that slipped a tooth or soemthign like that.

Too bad you live way out in Vegas or I'd help you out. These problems are so common, typical and easy to fix I've helped plenty of people go from no-power to "wow, that's way better!" in just a couple hours rightt in my driveway. All those vacuum hoses and emissions devices can play havoc with the idle and part throttle drivability, but WOT power is much simpler to address because there are only a relative handfull of things that can affect it in a big way.

Street Lethal

iTrader: (16)

The stock engine can't breath, and if it can't breath you can't burn additional fuel, your running the stock stall speed and stock gears. The car simply isn't going anywhere leaving everything like that, especially against newer technology...

yaj15

iTrader: (3)

How many miles do you have on the motor? Age, miles and maintenance, and the engine being in proper tune have a lot to due with overall engine performance from the factory. A 100% stock LG4 car should be a tick slower than a 100% stock L03 car with simular options. High 16-sec or low 17-sec sounds about right for a LG4/700r4/2.73 geared car.

Also keep in mind that the last LG4 powered thirdgen rolled of the assembly line in 1987. Thats 25 years ago so other mechanical components on the car may need to be looked over as well.

The LG4 can be made to perform better and GM already has proven this - the L69. The 5.0. H.O. L69 motor is a GM-factory-hotrodded LG4 motor. The L69 has a cam profile that is simular to the L82 Corvette 350, better breathing aluminum intake manifold, dual snorkle intake and larger exhaust system from the manifolds on back.

Also the air intake snorkle on the L69 is significantly larger than the single snorkle that was used on the LG4 and L03 TBI cars.

The L69 exhaust is basically the same as the TPI 3'' single cat exhaust. The L69 also got higher a higher compression ratio of 9.5:1 thanks to the help of flat top pistons compaired to the LG4 cars that got 8.6:1 compression with dished pistons. The L69 and LG4 motors also have the same cylinder heads. The L69 also got a different tune from the factory with more ignition timing as well.

Check out these articles below:

http://thirdgenfbody.wordpress.com/

http://thirdgenfbody.wordpress.com/2011/03/

yaj15

iTrader: (3)

yaj15

iTrader: (3)

ringo234

When first got my IROC is was a stock 305 TPI and it was slow.
Couldn't afford to put in 350. So i decided to get the car ready for the swap a little at at time.
Started off with Headers (dyno don) 3" cat-back with high flow cat and Magnaflow muffler (good for 20+HP).
Next Installed a 3.42 posi with LS1 brakes (helped to get it off the line) and make it feel faster.
And after quite a long time was able to swap in a 350 with a 3600 stall Yank converter.
It now has 350 RWHP and is a high 12/low 13 sec. car.

yaj15

iTrader: (3)

A couple of the biggest changes that really help out the LB9/700r4 cars is changing the rear end gears and at least swapping a cam with simular specs to the L98 cam. Those things and the exhaust really to wake up the LB9 cars.

An LB9 or L98 car with 3.42 gears and the L98 style cam is a good starting point and is no slouch in the performance department.. Especially when you continue to make the mods that you have done, you can really have a nice performing vehicle too.