Possible new Class build - need opinions

[JoeCool108]

I have the chance to buy a 1989 Camaro 5.0L TBI with an auto. Looks like Its a natural O/SA car. Its a street car with no title and missing some interior parts, but I can buy it cheap.. Can this combo be competitive?

[Glenn Briglio]

Originally Posted by JoeCool108

I have the chance to buy a 1989 Camaro 5.0L TBI with an auto. Looks like Its a natural O/SA car. Its a street car with no title and missing some interior parts, but I can buy it cheap.. Can this combo be competitive?

The cam and heads aren't the best. Better combo is the 1990 5.0 TPI rated at 241.Better heads and camshaft and intake manifold.

[Billy Nees]

I almost built one of these. It's so bad on paper that it's the kind of thing that I would do. Small cam (which doesn't seem to matter, lots of small cam 305s going fast),weird intake runner and not-so-good intake manifold. It makes tons of torque in a street car. I think that Tom Reese ran this combo for a while but switched to PFI combo.

[JoeCool108]

I wonder if the 6 cylinder would be better, or maybe even an earlier year with a carb instead of the TBI? PFI might be better, but harder to find this cheap..Guy only wants 600 bucks for a complete car.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by JoeCool108

I wonder if the 6 cylinder would be better, or maybe even an earlier year with a carb instead of the TBI? PFI might be better, but harder to find this cheap..Guy only wants 600 bucks for a complete car.

I guess that this would all depend on what you're comfortable dealing with. There's plenty of info available on any of the V8s so are you more comfortable with a carb or FI? With the 4 or 6 cyl., you're going to be pretty much on your own.
For $600, I'd be buying the car anyway. Check the lower cowl and the rear frame and wheelwells for rust.

[JakeB23]

I’m attempting to complete a 6 cylinder project, but I’m concerned that I can’t get enough HP out of the cubic inches available. Basically I don’t know that I can get to 1.3 hp/cubic inch to mathematically get to the index. I would think it would be much easier to run a 302 V8 which is factored the same as my V6. They already have 30% more cubic inches, no mind the additional torque.. Either way I guess I’ll still be able to bracket race it on Saturday night..

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

. It makes tons of torque in a street car..

That thing will move a full sized Caprice with no problem.

I'm sure it will run under in P/SA.

You have to maximize torque and then set the car up for it. (Small tri-y headers, etc.)
You might want to invest in a dyno test so you can figure out the converter and gearing...unless you're really good at this ;-)
Go for it...

[JoeCool108]

So question, if its a natural O/SA car and you say it should run under in P.. is it safe to assume it will also run under in its natural class and its "Light" class?

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by JoeCool108

So question, if its a natural O/SA car and you say it should run under in P.. is it safe to assume it will also run under in its natural class and its "Light" class?

Just do the math... 13.15 vs 13.45

O to P , a full pound break, thus 210 pounds for three tenths.

[Pistol Pete]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

I almost built one of these. It's so bad on paper that it's the kind of thing that I would do. Small cam (which doesn't seem to matter, lots of small cam 305s going fast),weird intake runner and not-so-good intake manifold. It makes tons of torque in a street car. I think that Tom Reese ran this combo for a while but switched to PFI combo.

Yes I would reach out to Tom Reese, because he is Very Familiar with the TBI.
If you need his phone number just let me know.