Hey, l just got an 86 cutlass that has a chevy 350 in it and a 400 trans...i was wondering what are some cheap(as in price, not quality) ways l can upgrade it and get more power and performance out of it. l dont plan on racing it, just want some power on the takeoff and make it feel like a beast....Also, if you can please profide me with some specific brands and pricing!!...THANKS!!

P.S- I am open to all suggestions that cost less than a few hundred

Get headers, intake, carburetor. To get these in your price range you will need to buy them used on e-bay or something like that.

If the air filter is stock trash it and put on a K&N or a 13'' that is open all around. Hotter plugs and an upgrade on your ignition (ie hotter coil new wires etc.) Will boost performance with out breaking you. Also you can gain hp and fuel economy with a cold air intake system. A B&M Shift kit in your TH400 will help also on your take offs and acceleration.

Chevies r the easiest to get horsepower out of. They've got the compression but their flow sucks. You can get big horsepower (300-350) with a stock short block. The cheapest fix is a good carb & aluminum intake. You can pick up a good 650 cfm quadrajet from Advance or Auto Zone for around $100-150, the cheapest intake is gonna be an Edelbrock. Another $100-150. l am not much of an edelbdock fan, & l really hate their carbs. But they're ok. If u want some serious HP, go to a swap meet & get some better heads to go with ur carb/intake. For around $300/400 at a swap meet, u can pick up a used pair of complete ready to bolt on 041 or 186 heads with .202'' or .194'' valves. These r commonly called Fuelie heads or 300HP heads. With those heads & a Victor Jr. Intake, a good cam (another $100-150) & u will be smoking new camaro is & mustangs like cheap cigars in the comfort of ur Cutlass! Those r the most comfortable cars I've ever had the joy of driving. Great choice!

You can do it in stages on the cheap. l will offer some similar suggestions as to upgrades, but a little bit more towards recent-tech.

First - the one post is spot on - free up ur intake side. First off - cold air intake. I've been a proponent for Moroso intakes, but u can craft something cheap & easy with a K&N filter & some 3'' plastic duct from the hardware store & get the same result if you're crafty. Price- anywhere from about 70 bucks to 500.

Second, do not go for the old-tech cylinder heads - source yourself some Vortec-style heads (either eBay, or save up some extra pennies & get them new). They flow much better than the old junk, & will flow better with porting. Price - depending on auction, u can get them for about 100 bucks on auction to about 800 for a new set. They will require a vortec-style intake manifold - go Edelbrock for this. This is about 140 bucks, last time l checked with my local supplier.

l am a little different than others - l swear by Quadrajet carbs - when prepped correctly they will flow excellent on a warmed over 350. Their reputation as smog clunkers is undeserved. Look around, & u may score a prepped quadrajet for about 150 from somebody who has caught ''Holley-itis'' & is looking for a fat double-pumper to kill their stock 350 with.


Next thing - go for a cat-back exhaust, & upgrade ur cat to a high-flow type if u have the extra change. Price - depends. It will set u back about 400 for a decent sounding set up, but u can manage less if you're handy with a welder & have a supplier of cheap 3'' exhaust pipe. Add 250 or so for a new cat (do not cheap out here, or u will kill ur flow).

Finally, see if BBK makes a set of headers for ur car - cheap & good! l have them on my 95 Camaro & swear by them. About 250 bucks.

Finally, & l am surprised nobody is said it - upgrade ur granny-spec camshaft in that 86 with a suitable Crane cam. Do not ask me or anybody for the cam specs - go right to the Crane dealer is tech line & tell them exactly what u have & what u want to do with it. Do not go crazy & kill all the torque in ur big old car with a hairy cam shaft - stay toward the slightly conservative side & u will be happier, especially with a big heavy beast like ur car.
Price - about 200 bucks.

Do it in about that order & when u can afford them, & u will have a fairly hot car. Put a shift kit in ur 400 trans, & u will improve ur e.t.'s, & get a good kick in ur pants on every shift.

Good luck, & l will see ya at the next stop-light...

Well 1st off, ur not gonna do much with a couple hundred bucks, but if u want to make it fast, save u up about $1,000-1500 & u will beable to make alot of good mods.

Now that one guy that told u to put a vic JR intake on it must be smoking some good stuff. LOL The vic JR intake is a single plane race intake made for 4500 rpm & above rpm. l dont even run a single plane on my 500 HP 355.

1st things to do on a cheaper scale is power tuning, & exhaust system.

Hedman or hooker headers (1-5/8'' tubes, 3'' coll) dual 2.25'' pipes, or single 3'' pipe, good muffler(s) like dynomax super turbos, summit turbo (same as the dynomax), dynomax ultra flo, etc.

Now get u a $6 HE l dizzy advance curve kit & install the light & med tension springs in place of ur stock dizzy mech. advance springs.

Now u have to stop & think what u really want to do. Intake would be next on the list, but heads r where most of ur power comes from & what heads u have determans what intake u need ..

Myself l agree with the vortecs. Look for used 1996-2002 chevy/gmc 350 truck/van heads. Those r the vortec heads. You can norm find them used for $250-450 a pair. Also those vortec heads r 62cc heads (most places say 64cc but all the ones l have cc'ed came in at 62).

That will bring ur compression up cause most likley u have smogger type (882, 993) heads which is 72-78 cc chambers

Now with those heads u will want a better cam, & intake.

A cam from crane, elgin, howards, summit brand, comp, etc with around 214* intake / 224* exhaust duration .050'' lift on a 112 LSA ( l would go with elgin cam kit from compitition products) good cam, great price

For intake u will need one that will bolt up to the vortec heads & work with a 4bl carb. l would look at the pro products crosswinds intake. It is a dual plane intake made like the edelbrock performer RPM intake.

Put u a K&N air filter on it, good plug wires, etc & u will end up with a nice engine making an honest 300 HP 350.

A few other things thats gonna help u is.
Rear end gears. Most cars came with 2.73 to 3.08 gears. Those r highway gears & suck for fast launchs. You will want a 3.42 or 3.73 gear

Once u do the cam, head swap on engine u will also need a high stall speed torque converter. Something in the 2600 rpm stall range will do u good. Look for house brands as they r just as good for ur need & alot cheaper.. Summit brand, jegs brand, etc.

hooker or eldebrock long tube headers, eldebrock carb,eldebrock high pro fuel pump,four prong spark plugs, and if you really want some power go with a super charger.

hope this helps