What engine for 80 Camaro?
December 15th, 2010, 12:13 PM
#1
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What engine for 80 Camaro?
Hey guys I got a 80 Camaro I am redoing an I am looking for a good balance here for MPG & HP.I am wanting to get as much MPG as I can since it will be a daily driver but I don't want to kill the HP either. I want to go with a V8 an probably a 5 speed manual trans. the trans will be a manual reguardless. I am looking to put headers & flowmasters on it. What would be a good combo to go with?
December 19th, 2010, 1:42 AM
#2
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my fuel economy combo (in plan only) would consist of a 350 or a 305 with 350 crank (same stroke just stronger) 1.94 vortch heads and the biggest stage RV cam from comp, edelbrok intake and 600cfm edelbrok carb, or holley if u like to always tune your carb every week
December 19th, 2010, 10:56 AM
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ok so what would be a good manual trans to go with? I am thinking of a 305 engine with 350 heads 273 or 308 rear gear & 5 speed manual trans with a RV cam or something similiar an go with & a Holley or Edelbrock 500-650 4 barrel carb with hooker headers an dual 3" flowmasters. Would this be a good setup to go with for MPG or what? I am going to use ti for a daily driver only nothing fancy just something easier on gas than my truck.
December 19th, 2010, 1:12 PM
#4
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those gears are too high for a 5 spd, try asuin 3.23, or 3.43 this was u wont have to downshift at every slight grade, 3" is over kill you will actually lose power at low rpm because of low backpressure, i have seen 500 horse bigblocks breathe fine with 2.5", if going with a 305 use 2 1/4" duals (cheaper to build too, when u look at 3" exh expect to spend 60% more on tubing and mufflers) a mild RV cam, would be fine, the cams are built for 350's so a mild rv cam from a 350 put into a 305 would be magnified because of the smaller displacement (lumpier idle and much bigger in comparison to a stock 305 cam) 500 cfm- 600 cfm would be the range, edelbrock makes a fuel economy line of carbs so u r covered there
this combo may get you touching 300 hp, and u will surpass 300 hp with vortech heads (if cash is available, they are 500 bucks) in an 80 camaro with a 5 spd (out of a 3rd gen camaro with a 2nd gen bellhousing) should get u around 22mpg when tuned right (this is a low guess it could get u up to 25 if u really have her dialed) just stay away from 305 heads they are higher compression and small ports, so it will be a dog and it will ping (bad combo)
good luck
this combo may get you touching 300 hp, and u will surpass 300 hp with vortech heads (if cash is available, they are 500 bucks) in an 80 camaro with a 5 spd (out of a 3rd gen camaro with a 2nd gen bellhousing) should get u around 22mpg when tuned right (this is a low guess it could get u up to 25 if u really have her dialed) just stay away from 305 heads they are higher compression and small ports, so it will be a dog and it will ping (bad combo)
good luck
December 20th, 2010, 2:54 AM
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ok but can you answer me one thing on the 305 is it a 350 block with 283 crank rod & pistons making it a 305 or does a 305 have its own block? Can you go to Camaro forums an look under 305 high output vs 350 4 bolt main for me? They are telling me there the 305 is junk go 350 an people here I talk to say go 305. I don't know nothing about these engines just want a good combo for MPG on a old 80 Camaro with a manual trans an dual exhaust. or should I find a 350 block an use the parts off the 305 I am getting an do one like that? The 305 I am getting has some stuff done to it an its out of a 76 Chevy truck. An in the 80 Z28 the 308 gears were used for the 4 speed manual so why would this not work on a 5 speed manual?
December 22nd, 2010, 5:07 PM
#6
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305 or 350 would be the best thing to put in. If you really want to get good mileage, a 305 with a 450 CFM carb would be a good combination for a lean combustion road setup.
As for the rear-end gear, 3.73 is a good road gear when combined with a 5-speed. 3.42 or 3.23 would be a good low-to-mid RPM highway gear for a 4-speed.
As for the rear-end gear, 3.73 is a good road gear when combined with a 5-speed. 3.42 or 3.23 would be a good low-to-mid RPM highway gear for a 4-speed.
December 22nd, 2010, 11:19 PM
#7
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a 305 is a smaller bore than the 350, but has the same stroke., the crank is weaker in a 305, but a 350 crank will bolt right in, the reason why people are telling you a 305 is junk is because you cant put the big 2.02 heads on it because of the small bore, now for your trans, a 4 gears has different ratios (and 1 less gear) so when u are on the highway with the 5 gear you will be hunting for gears on the slightest hill, this is why im recomending different gears. as for the choice between 350 and 305,l it is all in what you want, you said you wanted furl economy, and smaller is better in that area, but if you really want to haul ***, 350 is the way to go, so that is your choice, 305's arent really a bad motor, they just get a lot of flack because of the crappy stock heads, and they really suck when compared to the ford 302 (because of the heads) hope this helps in your decision
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December 28th, 2010, 3:37 AM
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Yea but I want to computer or sensors or anything like that in this car. I am looking to go 76 Chevy truck 305V8 for now an then later build a 350 4 bolt main that has not been bored an use it. I am planning to go S10 5 speed manual with 342 or 373 rear gears & headers & flow master exhaust.