advice needed on 86 chevy c10

[bigman]

hi i have an 86 Chevy c10 with a 305 but anyways i was wondering what some good ways to boost power would be without spending a lot of money. i also wanted to know what some common problems with the gas tanks are because only the driver side tank works. My final question is what are some common problems with the gas gauges when i fill the tank my gauge only goes up to a quarter of a tank and that bugs me so id like to fix it. Thanks for reading this and i will consider all advice. 

[blazing816]

Need more info....what kind of power looking for - low end??? horsepower??? Also what rear axle ratio you running??? which transmission do you have???

Also keep in mind it is a stock (I am assuming) 305, these trucks were not made to be power houses...that is the smallest v8 they offered in the trucks.

[frotosride]

. i also wanted to know what some common problems with the gas tanks are because only the driver side tank works. My final question is what are some common problems with the gas gauges when i fill the tank my gauge only goes up to a quarter of a tank and that bugs me so id like to fix it. 

use the search function for the gas tank issue. There are a lot of things that it could be and it would be easier for you to just read what everyone else has already been through than having to wait on replies. As for the gage issue it could be the gauge or the sending unit. On the tech section of the home page there is a thread dedicated to testing the gauge and possibly ruling it out.

[bigman]

ok ill take a look and yeah i know its not a power house but i was just wondering if it would be worth puting headers on or what

[Boone83K10]

the fuel gauge could be a number of things. The most common reason only one tank works is the selector valve. It is under the truck, inside the frame rail on passenger side. It could also be causing the bad reading on the fuel gauge. My selector valve got stuck between both tanks when reading the fuel, so it was always at 3/4 full and wouldn't move. Another reason for bad reading could be a grounding issue. Check the ground for the sending unit. it will be a black, purple or light blue wire running from the top of the tank to a bolt in the frame. Clean that and check it then.

There are a lot of other reasons to check too but try those first.

[frotosride]

.....yeah i know its not a power house but i was just wondering if it would be worth puting headers on or what

Definitely worth headers and any exhaust upgrades. I'd recommend full length for best torque but these engines respond rather well o exhaust upgrades.

[Dirty Offio]

After headers, if your truck already has a stock 4 barrel, go for a cam upgrade.  A cam and lifters will run a bit over $100, and will be the biggest bang for the buck.  Oh, don't go hog wild on lift, or you will have to upgrade to screw in rocker studs.  (more $$ and machine work.)

If your truck has a 2 barrel on it, I would upgrade the carb and intake before the cam.

Oh, open element air cleaner is a must, unless you are running a cold air kit already. 

We have run a bunch of 305's...they really have plenty of pep with fairly small upgrades.  (run them on the street and in the mud.)

Nice thing about it is you do not have to have all the cash up front.  Spend a couple hundred on the headers and exhaust.  A while later, spend a hundred on the cam, or a few hundred on an intake and carb. 

Have fun!

[bigman]

OK thanks guys i will check into the stuff you posted about and let you know if it worked thanks again

[frotosride]

If you do decide to go cam and or intake them do the cam at the same time as the intake because with a new cam comes new lifters (don't use the old ones.. not worth it) and since you will be taking the intake off to replace it go ahead and replace the lifters and cam.