You heard right, I want to limit or reduce the output on my 1980 Camaro RS. The stock 305 was repaced with a crate 350 with the addition of a edelbrock intake / headers and a Holly 4bbl. Why? To give the car to my son. When I was his age I did some pretty reckless things in this car with a smaller stock motor! I'm not gonna go rip the exaust out to cut back a few HP, I'm thinking bolt on and tuneing. Maybe go back to stock or non performance intake and a 2 bbl carb or restrictor plate! Just how far can I turn it down and still run right?

Even if you drop everything back down to standard issue, it will still be around 200hp. That'* plenty for a light end Camaro to go swideways around a corner.


IMO, maybe now'* not the time.

you can physically lock the dist advance and set it at 20 or so that will limit some and take the 4bbl linkage off. still going to be alot. you should see what i did with the 100 hp escort i had as my first car. my firebird i got when i was 17 and i know for sure it will go 125 with 4 high schoolers in it and it had the 125 hp 2.8. there are two things that can help, one go with him and drive like a nut somewhere safe and see what it takes to get it back into shape. second thing for me was i had to pay for it and the insurance completely by myself i worked at a grocery store pretty much my whole paycheck went to paying for it so couldnt afford to drive like dumbass at least from a takeoff.

Not sure of your plans for him. For me back when I started driving I was forced to pay my way Insurance , repairs, and etc. That alone was enough to limit my stupidity. I agree on Jw idea converting the 4 bbl carb to a 2bbl..

wasent really my idea, my wife had a 80 monte with all that stuff when we were young and her dad did that to her ( without telling her ) until a year or two later, after she got used to it. i know it will run fine that way just doesnt have the mid and high rpm power like when its hooked up

Put one of these on his car:

Live Trac EZ

Simplest thing would be to install a rev limiter, MSD makes one that they market for commercial vehicles that tops the rpm out at 3600. And if you want him to keep the rear tires on it, swap the ring and pinion out to a lower numerical ratio (don't forget the speedo gear change too). But I wouldn't do that without the rev limiter as finding the top speed might be too tempting for the invincible (weren't we all at that age).

2004 Bonne SLE
1971 Chevelle SS

Don't know why I didn't think of converting the 4bbl to a 2bbl by removing the linkage (and would guess plugging the secondary vacuum line, yes?) as the 2 additional bbls only come in when you romp on it or is under a heavy load. Simple, had a brain fart and was looking at buying a new 2 bbl and swapping it. What about a rev limiter, is it pretty much plug and play? just swap it out and is preset or does it require programing? The only rev limiter I've messed with was factory installed, you could bypass it with a jumper but not remove it as it was part of the harness. Changing the gearing isn't the way i'd like to go, just trading low end power for top end speed.... I take that back, even the wifes mini van will do 100+ mph. Hot ******* it (do people even say thay anymore?) was mostly for me at lower speeds, burning tires and spinning out. Changing the speedo gear involve opening the tranny? If I recall correctly that is where it connects?

if its a vacuum secondary holley yes you can just take the line off or remove its linkage. if you get a msd controller like a 6al they have pills you pop in and out which is good a and bad might be pain trying to find the right rpm limit over one with a **** but at least he wont be able to simply turn the **** up if you dont tell him what its for. that still be be fast off the line till you hit the rev limit. i would agree with the gears just being a trade for top speed.