more horsepower for 5.0L

[87Regalboy]

I am a new owner of an 87 regal limited with the 5.0. It has 22s on it and ive noticed that the speedometer is about 10mph less than what its actually going ( tracked it with my gps).... Ive had it a month now have drove the hell out of it. Ive also noticed the time it takes to shift out of first gear into second seems alot longer than it should, it then shifts, catches second n coasts there on out. I know a lil bit about alot but this forum i figure someone might have some advice or quick fix tip., some of the t-type and gn lingo baffles me esp. engine components. still love the car its sexy and for that im shelling every buck i make into it....my questions are is this transmission related? is it worth swaping out or swaping that and another engine? I want to add more horsepower and umph when you punch it, whats the best way i can accomplish that and yet still the cheapest way of going about doing so. When i punch it, it seems to flood it or something, but if i press the gas slightly it seems to handle better. it does that alot after deceleration when im stopped at a light or coming off a ramp...

Is there any aftermarket performance parts i can add to my engine? what would you recommend?
also rear ends...i dont know alot about gears and ratios, racing things, i do know 8.5 and 9 inch rear ends are better for hp and can push big rims.
should i try to swap rear ends? or is there a kit i can by for gears or differential?
some of you guys have years on me and know so much, please share some of that wisdom id like to keep this car this time and fix it up to show or almost show quality but still be a daily driver with some horsepower to it.

 

[olds307 and 403]

I would start by servicing the trans. If anything your TV cable might be too tight, much better than too loose. An Olds 350 or 403 is a DIRECT swap. It also sounds like the secondaries are set too loose. Every Qjet carb I have touched have been too loose.

 

[pencero]

sounds just like my 307 falls dead on its *ss if you go over half throttle. Sounds like you have the crappy 9a heads I think they're called, which I have. The earlier heads ( which I believe are called 5a or 7a I forget) is really all you can do to get a big hp gain. It is hardly worth the cost when said and done bc unless you can do it yourself it can cost you more than half of what it would to get started on a new engine. The problem you noticed w the trans happens to a lot of cars with big rims. There is not much you can do about it except run slightly thicker oil than usual when you top the oil off and plan on eventually rebuilding the trans or building one on the side right now. It should still last a while like that if you take it easy, but who is to say?

 

[87Regalboy]

i watched a few carb teardown rebuild videos on youtube, i might try to adjust the tv cable as you mentioned, im not familiar with the secondaries? what do they look like and what function do they serve?
i plan on having a service done on the transmission, oneday maybe get gutsy enough to buy a rebuild kit.
im probally not going to mess with the heads, i feel like i should build a block from scratch also as a learning tool.
also is it posiible to buy a msd igniton and eliminte the distributor n rotor all togther ? or is that only for turbos and gn's?

 

[CamaroAdam73]

Hey welcome to the forum. I'll be honest it doesn't sound like you have enough experience to do any internal work to your carb, without help you might end up making things worse. I'd find somebody who has experience and will help.

As for "adjusting the TV cable" there is no adjustment, you set them and thats it. I can't remember it off the top of my head but there is a process to setting the TV cable, look it up.

 

[vonclod]

what gears are in the rear end?..my limited came with 2.41 gears..good for hwy driving but not great off the line and abit worse when i put bigger wheels on it, it also shifted a bit later ..those 22,s will definatly add to the bog , the larger diameter make the rear end ratio lower and with a 307 or like in my case a 305/thm350 theres not alot of scoot there to begin with..i have a new rear end with an auburn 3.73 posi that will definatly wake up the car..i,m guessing that may be your problem..also why your speedo reads wrong

 

[Dragonist]

If you have,a 307 and want to add some power to it with out purchasing a,new,motor at the moment get bolt ons that will work with sbc(small block olds). I recommend headers or get your exhaust done(manifold back) reason being if you never gey headers you will be able to bolt everything up to another sbo. Get a carb built to you performance goals, a intake would be a good choice also.

I would consider getting a 8.5 rear and get it built with a 3.xx ratio, this will aid in moving your rims. I would also look into getting a cs144 alternator to up your amps for a upgrade audio system if done in the future ; imo upgraded alternator is always a good preventative upgrade. Have that transmission checked out you most likely have a 200r4 transmission but might have a th350 with is what my cutlass came with. I did a filter and pan gasket with fluid in my transmission. Good thing about doing to fluid you know its done and something to mark off the list when having a old car, this is at least how i see it.

 

[CamaroAdam73]

If you have,a 307 and want to add some power to it with out purchasing a,new,motor at the moment get bolt ons that will work with sbc(small block olds). I recommend headers or get your exhaust done(manifold back) reason being if you never gey headers you will be able to bolt everything up to another sbo. Get a carb built to you performance goals, a intake would be a good choice also.

I would consider getting a 8.5 rear and get it built with a 3.xx ratio, this will aid in moving your rims. I would also look into getting a cs144 alternator to up your amps for a upgrade audio system if done in the future ; imo upgraded alternator is always a good preventative upgrade. Have that transmission checked out you most likely have a 200r4 transmission but might have a th350 with is what my cutlass came with. I did a filter and pan gasket with fluid in my transmission. Good thing about doing to fluid you know its done and something to mark off the list when having a old car, this is at least how i see it.

This is good advice, but not easily done by any means. I guarantee those original exhaust manifolds would fight him tooth and nail to get off, broken bolts and helicoils. Swapping the rear to an 8.5 would also be a major expensive either way you cut it. He'd be better off to find a set of 3.73 gears for the rear thats in it and have somebody with some knowhow help him install.

Seroiusly though, a crate engines the way to go kid. Hunt down either an oldsmobile 403, or a Small block olds 350. I think either would bolt right in. I'm building a 403 right now, they came fatory with 320 FTLB. With a set of 3.73 gears you'll be spinning even those 22"s all day.

Good luck with your project man

 

[Badpontic]

To adjust the TV cable on the housing at the end of the cable where the cable bracket is there should be a protruding flat spot push that down and pull the cable till it clicks let go of the button and press your throttle pedal to the floor the TV cable will set itself then teat drive and see if it shifts Better

 

[CamaroAdam73]

To adjust the TV cable on the housing at the end of the cable where the cable bracket is there should be a protruding flat spot push that down and pull the cable till it clicks let go of the button and press your throttle pedal to the floor the TV cable will set itself then teat drive and see if it shifts Better

After you set it, to check that it's been set correctly shouldn't you have somebody slowly press the gas pedal until you hit WOT(WIDE OPEN THROTTLE) to make sure its right? I THINK if its wrong, you'll either not be opening the TV valve the whole way, or the TV valve will be open all the way before you hit WOT which would stretch the cable, or brake something.

If your confused dude, TV = Throttle valve, it's a valve inside the transmission that's operated by the TV cable (throttle valve cable)

Earlier transmissions had something called a KICK DOWN cable, so that if you where cruising along and had to either pass somebody, or just wanted to rocket down the road, you could floor it and the transmission would shift down a gear.

In the 200R4 and 700R4 the TV CABLE controls this, because the transmissions are completely hydraulically controlled.

Somebody correct me if i'm wrong about any of this, it's been awhile since I've worked with one of these transmissions. I know i went through some hell with mine, because my cable was stretched from being incorrectly set by either me, or the previous owner.