David Fite

Assuming the deal goes through, I am hoping to trade my motorcycle for a 92 RS next week. Here's a pic of the engine. I was wanting to get some comments/opinions on what you guys think about it, and what (if any) things you can identify just from the pic.

It's a 305 car, but the owner says he put IROC 350 heads on it and new headers. Haven't had a chance to talk to him in depth to make sure he did all the other stuff needed to make those heads work. (I'm not an engine guru but I think you have to change pistons or something so you don't lose compression/hp ?)

Any help/comments are appreciated.

EDIT: He also said he had the original heads for it.

88gta3508

so It's a 305 with now larger chamber 350 heads. decreasing your compression. to give you Slightly bigger valves. The upgrades appear to be fairly new. You cannot not see the Carb. it appears to be a edlebrock intake. unknown model. body condition? how does the car drive?? fair price? need more info. Mileage. Ect. What bike? if you think it's a good trade. And you like the car. Go for it

David Fite

OK So here's a dumb question. Like I said I'm not an engine guru so I'm still learning the difference in tbi/tpi/carb/etc. You said "you cannot see the carb"... is this not a tbi 305 anymore? Do tbi's have some sort of carb too?

My bike is a 2008 sportster. Asking price for each of us is pretty close. I haven't driven the car yet, still arranging a meet as we don't live close to each other. 162k miles on the car, body looks good, has ttops, aftermarket cowl hood, body seems to be in good shape.

88gta3508

it's very hard to tell from that pic. Have this person. pull the air cleaner. And send you a pic. you have not listened to the engine or test drove. you could run into a huge let DOWN. Or drive away smiling from ear to ear.

88gta3508

tbi Looks like a carb. But has 2 injectors in the bore or Barrel.

David Fite

Just texted him, he said it has been converted to carb. I know that's a long-standing debate, but is it good or bad that it's not tbi any more? Assuming the conversion was done correctly.

David Fite

This is going to be a daily driver type car, not sure that I want carb for that?

88gta3508

this is exactly what I thought.. There is nothing wrong with a aftermarket Intake & carb. minus MPG... you just need to know the part numbers. To make sure they actually used a proper combo. Let's say dual plane intake. 600 - 750cfm carb VS single & 800cfm up. killing the power. What other components have been changed.

David Fite

From what I've gathered, he swapped heads for iroc 350 heads, new headers, new exhaust, and obviously the carb. No idea about the intake or any other details. He said he had a mechanic help him do it. He doesn't seem to be mechanically inclined, the other guy had the know-how. Is it pretty much set in stone that the carb will be less MPG than the tbi? If so then that's probably a show-stopper for me. Not that we're talking 40mpg here, but I drive 25 miles each way.

88gta3508

that is a short distance. A properly tuned carb could pull in a few more MPG. Actually some parts & more power to a certain. Point. Will give you better MPG. Driving conservatively!! due to less effort is needed to move the car. Unless this is a perfect car. I would recommend. Waiting for a TPI or better yet.. 4th Gen LT1 or LS engine.

David Fite

The more I think about it and the fact that I've had to pry all this information from this guy, I think I'm gonna pass. I set out on a quest to trade for an IROC and I think I should just stick with that.

Night rider327

iTrader: (13)

Heads on that car are 1985 or older... Center bolt valve covers started in '86

A carb can get just as good of mileage as a TBI. No probs there, but it must be the correct intake, carb, and tuning done to said carb

David Fite

Thanks - that's a good catch. Exactly why I posted to TGO. I appreciate the info.

OrangeBird

iTrader: (1)

David , If your sporty is in reasonably good shape , Hell yea , I'd hold out for a decent condition IROC also !

Remember , to the general public , most folks would put a higher value to a good condition Harley than a good condition third gen . In my opinion , you've got the "upper hand" in desirability (i'll wager far more would want the Harley than the Camaro , all things being equal condition wise)

David Fite

UPDATE:

I talked to the owner last night on the phone. First time I'd gotten him on the phone, all other communication has been via email/text. Sounded like a really good guy, didn't seem like anything shady going on at all. So here's the updated information. Let me know what you guys think.

I attached pics. Body is in good shape, he said there is little to no rust anywhere on the car. Has had a couple of people look at it and both commented how clean it was underneath. (I know, take that for what it's worth...). He's had the car for 5 years, bought it for 3500, put 3000 in motor work (heads/carb) and exhaust. He put the cowl hood on it and had it painted to match the rest. Paint is decent, not the greatest, he said you can tell the hood is a little shinier than the rest. I can see the engine bay is still blue or teal, and some teal on the ttops, so it was obviously just an exterior job.

He has it in the shop right now, getting oil change, lube, 2 new rear tires, timing adjustment, and a "once over" by the mechanic. The mechanic is a reputable place.

He said when he had the motor work done, he remembered they put new roller rockers in, and a bunch of other stuff to get those heads to work. He's not a mechanic in anyway so he doesn't remember exactly what all was done, but he said the mechanic shop he goes to now said it was done right, and he said you can tell it's got a lot more power than stock. Said it gets at least 20mpg but he's not positive because he's only put 1000 miles on it in the last 2 years.

My goal was to get an iroc, but the main reasons were the wheels and the hood. Both are things I can obviously put on this car if I wanted. It's already not an "original" car, so I would have no regrets doing some mods like that and making it a custom car to my liking.

What do you guys think?

EDIT: Forgot he also mentioned it always takes 2 cranks of the key for it to start but works every time.

David Fite

Also, assuming everything is installed correctly, what do you think the HP gain is for this setup? I think the stock setup is 170hp?

David Fite

Not sure anyone is still interested in the post but got another update.

I got the number of the guy who helped him with the motor and talked to him. Sounds like they did everything correctly. The owner is going to auto zone to look up the receipts, said everything was bought there. He said it has a holley carb, the intake and heads from the iroc, new roller rockers and valves.

At this point I think I will do the deal.

Night rider327

iTrader: (13)

If it's a good running car, at a good price/trade, and it's what you want then go for. Forget all what you are being told though. It's just a blind person leeding another blind person, telling you what this person done.

I say that due to the heads.

No such thing as perimeter bolt Iroc 350 heads.
No Iroc with 350 in 1985. Only V8 in '85 was a 305. Option of LG4, L69, and LB9, All 305s.
Center bolt heads started in '86

So if they have that info wrong, no telling what else is wrong or what info that have wrong.