Hi, I wanted some of your opinions on my current situation. I'm not %100 sure but I might have a head gasket problem in my 305 V8. I wanted to know if I should fix the 305 or try and find a decent 350 for a good price. Also is a 350 that much better than a 305? Also what are the goods and bads of the two motors? I'm kind of tight on money but my car has to run right so I have to do something. Any feedback is greatly appriciated.

Well what year is the car? What type of fuel system do you have? Do you need to pass emissions or inspection? Im gonna say if its a 305 TBI, depending on the money you want to spend you can do some decent budget things when your back is to the wall regarding cylinder head health.

1. If your going to do a head gasket job, why not replace those LO3 heads with L31 Vortech style heads from GMPP. You can get a set for around $550. Add a carb style performance intake and get an adapter/spacer plate for your TBI to sit on it from Holley. Intake and spacer depending on brand will run you $200-$500. Cam selection helpline=$200. Moral of the story is, think heads,cam,intake all at once = around $1200. About the same price to have someone do your head gasket job on shitty heads.

2. 350 has a larger bore which means the possibility for more power. A 350 short block can be had with a warranty for around $1000. Add this and the above and you have a nice crate motor--lots of options, but they depend on having some money.GL

My car is a 1986 camaro 305 with a edelbrock carb. The car runs fine but I can smell antifreeze sometimes and my overflow tank boils after a long drive. My budget is only $800 and im not to handy under the hood. My mechanic has a built 350 which he will sell and install for $750 out the door. Also a friend of mine said that If I buy the parts then his mechanic (who owes him a big favor) could fix my 305 thats in it for free. What do you think?

I think you shouldn't jump to the conclusion that your head gasket is blown.

I pretty sure now it isnt blown but from all of my syptoms (smell of antifreeze from exhaust, white smoke on start up on a hot day, overflow tank boiling) I think the could be leaking. I hope it isnt leaking but if it isnt the head gaskets then what could it be? Thanks

are you sure the head gasket is blown? are you getting wtr in your oil or is the car smoking white steam?
if not i would look at getting a new radiator and or water pump!
if your car is running hot every time you drive it, then i would buy yhe 350 because you may already have a warped head.
and yes, you'll notice a major difference between a base 305 and 350! the 350 is probably rated at 260 or 290 horsepower. your stock 305 in an 86 roc is probably rated at 155 or 160!

305s almost never kill head gaskets, but even if yours did, better to just replace the head gasket and drive it. a 350 is well worth it, but don't do the swap just because you have a weak excuse. Wait on the 350 until money isn't tight, and wait until you have already done all the bolt-ons such as headers and exhaust.

There is no water in the oil and the car only smokes white for like 3 seconds and thats only on start up, after that no smoke or anything and it runs fine. Thats why im so confused on what could be wrong with my car.

I haven't overheated(knock on wood yet) but on hot days I will occasionally catch a smell of coolant. I have kept an eye on the coolant levels and they are good so I don't know. Our cars make some strange smells and even stranger sounds haha. I would say to ask some of the experts in the cooling forum and figure out the problem to fix it. Then from there I would keep saving up and get a 350.

Yeah our cars are confsung sometimes but I still love them I will keep an eye on evertyhing and post when I think something is wrong. Im getting my car looked at sometime this week