TxTtopZ

I have researched every aspect of adding power to my 85 Z28, from 305 TPI to LTX/LSX swaps. So before ANY criticism is dealt, here's MY reasoning. LSX swap is out of my price range. All said and done is going to be over $5000.00 to do it right (engine, trans, ECU, little parts and a rear end to take the abuse)...
LTX I see no point of doing. I have had 4th gen Lt1's and they run good, there's no reason to do this besides ease of swap. If im changing out everything, its going to be for an LS1. That and I hate opti, I changed this out 3 times IN ONE YEAR on my 97 t/a. Sorry if I offend anyone.
350 swap. This IS the most tempting of the 3, its easy, its cheap, it can be done in stages while being driven and there really is no down side to this. With a decent cam, it can be drivable and reliable. I just want to hear the supercharger guys experiences first. I think a supercharged LB9 would be decent and a surprise for anyone wanting to play.
What I want is a car that: (IN ORDER of IMPORTANCE)
Is RELIABLE - it CANNOT leave me (and my family for that matter) stranded on a cruise. Being dead on a highway is dangerous!!
Has A/C - I am TIRED of having fast cars that are TOO HOT to enjoy. Texas heat is relentless!!
Has driveability!! MY DEFINITION is (idles at 800 or below, doesn BUCK in low gear, gets 18+MPG, will sit in 5PM traffic and wont get hot and last but not least, doesnt require A PILOT to operate.
Runs 12's - I dont care how we do it, just as long as the first 3 are met.
IS COST EFFECTIVE! - I realize this hobby isnt cheap, but lets talk about the prices. I dont want to spend $5000 and NOT to be LS powered. It would be just plain stupid. Im talking $3500.00 bucks, tops! Can it be done?
How is the driveability with a supercharged 305? How's the power? What HP is expected? Im guessing in the 330-360 range rear wheel, done right. Anything you dont like? Anything that surprised you? How's the reliability? How's the company warranty? Install? ANY input would be very helpful, as I am really considering this for my low mile 305 TPI. Thanks!!!

Tony89GTA

iTrader: (7)

Think your budget of $3500 is pushing it, you can't even get a new procharger kit for that much. If you go all used parts you might be able to pull it off just not sure if you will get LS1 power from that budget.

If your good a fabricating a turbo setup would be the best, seems like those guys have the best times for TPI setup.

86Z

iTrader: (4)

check out my signature, my procharger kit alone was 4k, the motor is far from stock. 380hp/420ft lbs to the wheels, meets all of your criteria's though

Street Lethal

iTrader: (16)

From my turbo 305's perspective in the order of your questioning; driveability is the same, my best time is in my sig, horsepower is over 400-RWHP, the only thing I didn't like was running alky but now I wouldn't remove it even if someone paid me to, how easy the stock ECM controls boost w/the right chip, its as reliable as she ever was, no warranty, install was a breeze....

Pulled the pan a few days ago and the cast rolling assembly seems to be fine, and I've been driving it everyday, and have quite a few passes under my belt. Its hard to tell when you bend a rod ever so slightly, which is why I would honestly recommend going with a forged setup, just for security, as although I don't see more than 15-psi of boost, I start to squirm in my seat when I glance over at the boost gauge when it hits, and it hits it immediately....

Good luck w/your build....

86Z

iTrader: (4)

Street Lethal, what else is done to your 305 and was it dyno'd over 400 hp to the wheels?

TxTtopZ

Yeah those turbo numbers look really tempting. I used to drive DSM's back in the day, and was in to turbo stuff. Thats when I found out there IS a replacement for displacement (so to speak) and I have always wanted another turbo car. If I was going to build more for the strip, I would go turbo. Right now I am talking to Kelly @ BHR here in Texas, and he LOVES the idea of a rockin 305 that drives, A/C, idles, sits in hot summer heat. He's the guy for the job, no doubt! Most anyone else would have either hung up or try to talk me out of the idea. He is also an Engine Quest dealer, so getting the vortec heads (either 64cc for FI or 58cc for NA) with the 1.94's is no problem. He has already ran tons of scenarios with the 305 on his program (not sure which one he uses) for ZERO dollars. I can't express the thankfulness, really. So this is going to become a reality. It will officially be the first 3rd gen I have dug into, the other 6 I had, I never touched them, just drove it and fixed it.
Supercharging looks like the way were going, its a lot easier than the turbo as far as install goes. After checking out ******* Supercharged 305 I have a good idea what to expect and it seems like a decent way to do something else and still be quick.
86Z I would like the pn# to your kit. Hows the fit? How was tuning done? Is there an intercooled version available? I can probably make my own, albeit a small one if there's any room. Have you run any meth?
I was expecting to do this for under $3500.00. lol KNOWING that it would be tight or just not feasible. I appreciate the feedback, it looks like a 350 is still the cheapest way to 350HP overall. But then again I can do this motor in stages. Still not sure which way to go.

86Z

iTrader: (4)

i dont remember the part # it's for the 88+ TPI cars, i got the 3 core intercooler, i did my own tpi conversion and tuning.

Street Lethal

iTrader: (16)

Ported stock throttle body, ported stock plenum, stock runners, ported and siamesed stock lower intake, worked 882 heads (1.94/1.50 76cc), comp cam reverse split camshaft, turbonetics T76 w/wastegate, custom headers, ebay intercooler, 28-lb LC2 injectors w/90% duty cycle @ 15-psi, Razor Alky setup, stock/rescaled 7730....

Street Lethal

iTrader: (16)

You can run meth w/your supercharger, but if you plan on an intercooler it really isn't needed, as your air temps will be nowhere near a turbo charged engine. Some guys adapt a wastegate w/their superchargers on the intake to allow for the smallest pulley possible, this way you can build a lot more boost earlier in the RPM band, while exhausting boost above a predetermined psi setting. That, in conjunction with the right stall speed if you have an auto, and you will have a similiar boost curve to that of a turbo....

3rd gen Will

iTrader: (8)

Your best bet to come in at that budget is a 350 swap and put nitrous on it. Build a solid N/A motor with good pistons and some vortecs, a nice roller cam then add a a 100-150 shot you will run in the 12's easy (traction will be your only problem). I had a vortec headed 350 and a peanut cam w/ a 150 shot, it ran 12.0's @115. You will want to do some tranny upgrades also to handle the extra power, to prevent that stranded criteria. If you can fabricate you could probably do a turbo kit, lots of guys seem to do that on here on the "cost-effective" side. I have never really looked into that, so I'm not the guy to ask on the turbo route.

Just a supercharger kit will eat that $3500 budget and then you have to put in supporting mods. Fuel system, drive train etc.