Makeing My 91 FireBird Faster?

[Kennys91TransAm]

Im 16 and I have a 91 Firebird.Its a 5.0L 305. Im gonna have over a thousand dollars soon and I was wondering what I should add to it to make it run faster. I defintley plan on putting ona exhaust I was thinking flowmasters any ideas there?

[karlseus]

There are tons of stuff you can do. Get a performance chip. K&N intake setup. new larger exhaust from the headers back. I think they make a supercharger for that year. Nitrous. Larger intake components. MSD components for your electrical system.

An engine is nothing more then a large air pump, The quicker you can get air in and out the faster it will go. So considering the exhaust first is a good idea. from factory the exhaust is the most restrictive factor. so i would first get a new chip. then the exhaust.Then K&N intake setup.

[reefer]

$1000 seems like alot when your 16 dosent it? intake and exhaust is a good place to start. im assuming it's TPI because is its a firebird. get a Cold Air induction kit...SLP and many other companys offer one, and exhaust is a terrible on the 3rd gen cars...get headers and a cat back system, stay AWAY from flowmaster...they sound like ass and they'll rust out on you within 2 years. oh yea...stay away form the aftermarket chips...they really dont do much except advance the timing...

[Kennys91TransAm]

What would you suggest I go with instead of Flowmaster?

[Kennys91TransAm]

Ok I went to a local muffler shop and he sugested flowmaster so I think I will go with that.He said its only gonna be about 110 dollars but if there is a more expensive better thing I will go with that.If anyone else thinks I shouldn't go with Flowmaster speak now or forever hold you peace?

[Toplessbird2]

Do you have a 305 TPI? If so, buy a pair of headers, 3 inch y-pipe, 3 inch cat back to a flowmaster muffler. CAI, TB bypass, upgrade ignition, plugs, wires, 3:73 gears. That should come up close to a grand.

[Kennys91TransAm]

How much did the cat- back Flowmaster cost you topless and how good dose it sound?

[Toplessbird2]

I was stupid and could've got it 3 incch pipe at one muffler shopfor $200, but I went t another on and got 2 1/4 for the same price, but now since I have the 350, it isgoig 3-3.5 inch. Here is a link for CAI you ca do yourself. http://87tagta.tripod.com/coldair.htm All the stuff you do to your 305 now you can keep and put on your 350.

[Corey]

For plain ass fun driving (and going fast too) I would recommend 3.73 gears, a hooker aerochamber exaust, and hooker 2055 headers. That and a new 3 inch cat should get you easily to about a grand by the time everything is done. The 2055 for some reason don't show up in most catalogs if you search by car but if you look up the part number you will see that they are for 86-90 camaros and firebirds. I think the only reason they don't go to 92 is because of the dual cat system. They also come with a y-pipe.

If you buy the whole exaust system at once, single or dual cat won't matter, as long as you buy it all for one or the other. I would actually go with a single cat just because that way you will only have to buy one cat and I believe the larger exaust will flow enough that dual cat won't really matter.

If you buy a universal cat it will be a lot cheaper than buying the one with the car specific flange on it. Any decent exuast shop should not have a problem hooking all that up for you. Except for the headers. You could probably do better doing that yourself.

Hope all this stuff isn't too late for you.

[Kennys91TransAm]

Thinks for every thing but im gonna have to invest about 600-700 in my car. 350 for fixing the rear bumper that I messed up when I recked the other night.I spun out cause the rear end kicked out on a curve I cept it out of the ditch for a while but I lost it. Anyway the damage isnt that bad and im gonna use some more to buy new tires....the old ones I think is what caused me to spin out. I probally want have a whole lot left after that, but Im hopeing to get a flowmaster and a cold air intake. :P

[Jeremy]

Originally posted by Kennys91TransAm
He said its only gonna be about 110 dollars but if there is a more expensive better thing I will go with that.

Keep in mind that more expensive does not neccesarily mean better. Sound quality is subjective. Some like the Flowmaster, some like Hooker, Dynomax, Borla, etc. For the money, I like the Dynomax Ultraflow line. "Flowmaster" is an oxymoron, their mufflers actually do not flow quite as well as others, as they are not a straight-through design. Exhaust is a good upgrade.

Getting air in and out and burning fuel as efficiently as possible are the keys to making power. Bolt ons like a cold air intake and pullies are a decent start. Unfortunately the TBI 305 engine doesn't have a TON of potential and to get serious gains you're going to have to go beyond the basic bolt ons to cam, heads, etc.

Nitrous and forced induction in general would probably be out of your price range, not to mention getting the rest of the car up to par to actually put any real power to use would be very cost prohibitive. Transmission, rear end, suspension, fuel system... hope you have some money saved. :)

[Kennys91TransAm]

Hey, I have another question. I was wondering if you either knew yourself how much or were I could find out how much horse power my car has. Its a stock 91 Firebird with a 5.OL V-8 305. I havent done any modifications yet I was just wondering how much horse power it already has if you know yourself how much it has or a website that I can find out on please post it.

[metal]

thirdgen.org go to tech articles, its in there somewhere

[Kennys91TransAm]

I still haven't figured out how to find out how much horsepower my car has if anyone could help please do.

[Corey]

Actually it's on the tech data link on thirdgen.org.

http://www.thirdgen.org/newdesign/tech/techdb.shtml

Estimates vary widely depending on who you ask but more or less...

305 TBI = 170 hp.
305 TPI 5000 redline = 190
305 TPI 5500 redline = 210
350 TPI = 240

[Kennys91TransAm]

Hmm well I found out the horse power thing.Like I said though I screwed up the bumper.Does anyone know know where I can find a bumper cover for my 91 Firebird?

[metal]

you can find it EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEbay! and 3.73 gears are of the hizzle, for viener shnitzle.

[Kennys91TransAm]

quote "viener shnitzle." does anyone know what that translates into?and i couldnt find one on ebay.

[Corey]

I think he means "badass" yo doggin. I would have to agree. It puts a smile on my face every time I take off from a light... unless it's raining. But it doesn't rain often here.

You're going to have hell finding any body parts for a '91. It took me a year, literally, to find a front end for my mom's 91 firebird.

[Kennys91TransAm]

How hard or I guess how would I go about putting in 3.73 gears Im takeing that I would have to have mechanic do it?and how much do you think all of this would cost.One last thing is it that much better than the stock gears?

[Corey]

Yes it is that much better than stock gears.

It will probably cost anywhere form $200-$500 to have them installed by a shop but you can do it if you are not afraid of a hard day's work. You will need a couple of special tools like a torque wrench and a dial guage but those can also be used on other car projects. You will also need an impact wrench to install the pinion gear but I rented an electric one from a local construction equipment place for $15 a day. You will also need some clothes you don't mind throwing away because gear oil stinks and you will be covered in it by the time you are done. Oh yeah, almost forgot, an install kit that has all kinds of bearings and shims and seals and stuff. I think I paid like $100 for it.

Now that I think about it, I probably spent almost as much as if I had someone else do it, but I'm just not the kind of guy to trust someone else with my car. :shrug:

Also, you can get an instuction video from Richmond Gears that is very helpfull. I think it's about $20. You may just want to watch that and see if it looks like something you can handle.

[Kennys91TransAm]

I don't really have that much experince with working with cars so if I could find it for a reasonable price I would probally have someone else do it.Um how hard are cold air intakes to put on and do you know were I could find one?.and if so what price.

[Corey]

Now that is a different story. Cold air intakes are super easy to install. The only ones I know of though that are made specifically for 3rd gens are from SLP. Look at www.slponline.com . SLP is a little pricey though. You may be better off concocting one yourself or just modifying the stock airbox.

Oh wait, do you have a TBI or TPI? That will make a difference in your options. For a 91 though you can get a K&N open element filter either way. That would be even easier to install and arguably just as good.

[Kennys91TransAm]

Um not sure what kind of engie it is this is what it says when i type in my vin on the decoder at thirdgen.org. 305 ci V8 L03 (1988-1992)

[Kennys91TransAm]

how do i find out if it is a TBI or TPI?

[jag7819]

It is very easy to tell if its tbi or tpi. Tpi uses a long runner system (8 tubes) running from your plenum to your intake....Tbi is just a tb ontop of an intake.

[Corey]

If it's an LO3 that would be a TBI engine. The 8th digit of your vin is an "E" right? Just get an open element air cleaner with a K&N like you would for any carb and save the rest of the money for better things.

[Kennys91TransAm]

Will that increase hp at all and will it help give me a better sound?

[Corey]

Yes and yes but the differences will be so small that you may or may not notice. Especially with a stock exaust (and everything else). Which is why I say not to blow a lot of money on it, but you have to start somewhere.

[metal]

I'm just making fun of the fo' shizzle stuff. check what gears it has right now before doing anything.

[Kennys91TransAm]

Hmm how would I find out what kind of gears it has?

[Kennys91TransAm]

Hmm how would I find out what kind of gears it has?

[Kennys91TransAm]

How can I find out what gears it has in it now?

[Corey]

If you take the cover off the differential, the number of gear teeth is stamped on the outer edge of the ring gear. At least if it's still the factory set. It will look like 41/11 or 38/13 or something like that. I can't remember the exact numbers off hand but if you just divide them it will give you the gear ratio. Like 41/11 = 3.73.

Most people say to count the gear teeth but that is rather difficult with them mounted in the car.

[Kennys91TransAm]

Thanks Corey your awesome. Im gonna by tires either today or tomorrow and then probally get flowmasters put on this week sometime. About that open element kit from KandN how much does that cost and were could I find it.

[Corey]

I think most auto parts stores sell K&N filters now. If you can't find one go to www.summitracing.com or www.jegs.com .

I would guess about $30 but I can't use an open element on my TPI car so I don't really know.

Glad I could help! :cool:

[Kennys91TransAm]

So.... it is just a regular air filter from K and N? They have those here at the auto zone.I looked at jegs.com and I was wondering if one of these would work on my car http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=522&prmenbr=361 and would it be better for my car.

[Kennys91TransAm]

hey cory you said my car was a TBI? well I was reading some post in the V-6 place and they were talking about 305TBIs like they were complete peices of shit.Whats the deal with that and if it being a TBI makes that much diffrence could I convert it to a TPI easily?

[karlseus]

You could convert to a TPI. It would be relatively easy there are tons of info on the web to help you . just do a search for tpi conversion. My website will soon give a complete look at tpi conversions when i gather all of the pictures i need. I think it will cost around 800 dollars if you get most of the stuff used.

[Corey]

Converting to TPI can get expensive real quick unless you have a junkyard car to pull all of the parts off of.

The problem is not just with the TBI/TPI stuff. The reason tbi cars are slower is also because they have lower compression ratios and heads that aren't as good. I think they also have different cams that aren't as good.

The tbi itself isn't really that bad. A conversion to a carb would also be a lot cheaper and easier. I would just live with it for now, continue to upgrade other things as time and money permits, and when the tbi really becomes a restiction, then start looking at replacing it.

[Kennys91TransAm]

So would you suggest getting a better carb or trying to convert to a TPI. And lets say I found a 305 TPI at a junkyard how hard would it be to convert and how much extra would it cost (prices for the parts at the junkyard excluded) Do you think I could get it relatively cheap at a junkyard as well?

[karlseus]

I converted from Carb to TPI. And yes it was expensive. But it was well worth it. The total cost was in the ballpark of $1100 buying most of the parts off e-bay.going junkyard might make it cheaper. There are some really good carburators out there that will perform just as good. You will have to decide what you want out of it. I think a TPI system looks really good. TPI systems utilize the fuel much more effieciently which translates to more torque and better gas milage. Emmissions are also lower with a tpi system.

http://www.pryzm.net/chris/tpinstall.htm