hi, im new to this forum now recently me and my two cousins came across a monte carlo for cheap almost nothing. Now its a 1985 SS, before i get into this thread we have profesional help if needed for no cost on labor and service procedures. Now my question is what should i do with the car, from what i understand this car has a 305 with about 180hp we want to make this car as fast as possible with out swaping an engine but if this engine can't be made much better without spending big bucks we will swap, now to finish my question any suggestions on how to make this engine better faster anything about this car you can tell me will be appreciated greatly, and if you guys can throw out some ideas on what we could do to this car or what you guys have done to your cars i'm all ears thanks!!!!!!!

 

possible things are after market intake new carb headers maybe a higher lift cam upgrade the ignition system that just a few things

 

cam, heads,intake,carb, ing. go with the new HEI from someone like MSD to get rid of the older version of hei they were un reliabel.

As far as the heads go get a set off of a 307 and port and polish them and gasket match everythign to the motor.
You would not belive the diffrent that will make on the motor to have things run smooth threw them.

Also i would recomend new rings at least after this long they have to be getting worn some. no need to do work to a motor that wont hold up.

if ya go that far punch the block out to a 00.30 over stock
change the crank for a steel crank to make it stronger and then change the berrings out and rings out for better ones

I would go gear drive for the timming gears and get rid of the chain all togeather.

being that those cars are not as easy to find as some of the other models in good shape. I would try to restor it as much as i could with the exception of the suspetion i would upgrade all i could on to it to make it stronger.

Also those cars were prone to twist if you built them to much due to the T-Tops so i would recomend that you dont get to crazy with the tork so you dont run it to this but you can get away with like 4-500 hp on it and should not have to many issues with it.
But keep it in mind when your doing the rear end to strengthen it up so it can handel the power you want to put in to it.

intereior for starters DONT CUT THE DASH!!! you cant find them that are in good shape they are tuff to find in bad shape due to sun damage.

If you want to make the stereo sound good put a center channel speaker in the vents in the center of the dash facing out makes a good sound and hides it to.
Vents will still work if you dont use real big speakers.

other then that lots of cleanning and soap and water go along way for doing that.
I have seen some that were done really nice others that wernt so let your mind wonder some. but that should be enough to get ya going .

 

thanks for the ideas so far it will help me get going

 

for what you can spend on that 305 you could easyly change the motor out to a 350 which will have more power for the same amount of money and you even start out with more hp and it will bolt right up to everything you have now so i would say swap the motor to a 350 you'll be happier with it in the end for the same price