okay, so i know there is a box "performance" forum, but i thought i'd start here w/ my wagon brethren, as i'm in very early planning stages.
reminder: i'm new here and new to the car ('85 colony park LS). this site is fantastic, and i've spent a fair bit of time just reading dozens and dozens of threads... still, sometimes that can lead to more questions than answers, but i'll take whatever advice i can get, as there are obviously really knowledgeable folks here.
long story short: i'm looking to get some more "pep" (wink) from this motor... not planning any drag races or 100mph runs down the highway (this is, after all, a station wagon), but rather just being able to surprise the guy next to me in his late-model foreign coupe when i step on the gas to make a lane change.
my 302 only has 84K miles and seems to run well for what it is... but alas, it has CFI, EGR, and other obligatory smog components which i know are holding it back from its true potential.
so a few questions for the wise:
1) should i go old-skool carb setup or modern EFI upgrade? (i'm leaning towards the former, just because i get reminiscent about my first car-- '65 'stang w/ 289 hipo; but, on the other hand i live in CO and this car will definitely see some mountain driving at altitude where fuel injection comes in handy).
2) how does either of the above effect emissions testing... when i go to renew (every 2 years in CO), what happens when there is a non-stock motor?
as i mentioned, i've done some reading here, but i see a lot of different stuff thrown around: explorer motors, mustang parts, GT40 heads, turbo, P heads, etc, etc.
i'm thinking my low(ish) mileage 302 would be a good starting point (not looking to swap in a big block)-- maybe bore it out and throw in a cam. manifold/carb on top. headers/exhaust. i'm enough of a newb that i'm not sure what that would mean for ECM/wiring in this car (or what it would cost).
...which brings us to one last (important) detail: i guess i'd like to keep this under $1000 (is that realistic?). i paid less than that for the entire car, so if i can end up w/ a wagon that will chirp the tires and get people's attention when i stomp the go pedal for about $2000 total (not counting some other minor fixes that will be necessary), i'll be happy.
discuss.
reminder: i'm new here and new to the car ('85 colony park LS). this site is fantastic, and i've spent a fair bit of time just reading dozens and dozens of threads... still, sometimes that can lead to more questions than answers, but i'll take whatever advice i can get, as there are obviously really knowledgeable folks here.
long story short: i'm looking to get some more "pep" (wink) from this motor... not planning any drag races or 100mph runs down the highway (this is, after all, a station wagon), but rather just being able to surprise the guy next to me in his late-model foreign coupe when i step on the gas to make a lane change.
my 302 only has 84K miles and seems to run well for what it is... but alas, it has CFI, EGR, and other obligatory smog components which i know are holding it back from its true potential.
so a few questions for the wise:
1) should i go old-skool carb setup or modern EFI upgrade? (i'm leaning towards the former, just because i get reminiscent about my first car-- '65 'stang w/ 289 hipo; but, on the other hand i live in CO and this car will definitely see some mountain driving at altitude where fuel injection comes in handy).
2) how does either of the above effect emissions testing... when i go to renew (every 2 years in CO), what happens when there is a non-stock motor?
as i mentioned, i've done some reading here, but i see a lot of different stuff thrown around: explorer motors, mustang parts, GT40 heads, turbo, P heads, etc, etc.
i'm thinking my low(ish) mileage 302 would be a good starting point (not looking to swap in a big block)-- maybe bore it out and throw in a cam. manifold/carb on top. headers/exhaust. i'm enough of a newb that i'm not sure what that would mean for ECM/wiring in this car (or what it would cost).
...which brings us to one last (important) detail: i guess i'd like to keep this under $1000 (is that realistic?). i paid less than that for the entire car, so if i can end up w/ a wagon that will chirp the tires and get people's attention when i stomp the go pedal for about $2000 total (not counting some other minor fixes that will be necessary), i'll be happy.
discuss.
Comment