i have an 82 camaro pace car, i want to keep the original block in it..numbers matching kinda thing, so im building up from its whimpy 145 hp. im doing 64 cc vortec heads 194/150 valves, 1.50 ratio rockers, dual plane aluminum intake, comp cam 0.462 int./0.469 exh lift,262 int./270 exh duration, shorty headers with 3in exhaust headers back(not sure if ill do dual exhaust or just split it at the tail pipe like the stock set up.) stock carb. ....so what do you think? good build? im trying to acheive 250-300 hp. from what im guessing my compression ratio should jump from 8.5/1 to about 9.2/1..

 

Well if you want to do anything to the bottom end, stroke it a 3.75 stroke and bore it .030 over. If your buying rocker arms, 1.6 full roller rockers are the same price as 1.5s. Are you doing hydraulic roller cam?

 

OP, are you trying to do this on a budget? Because I'm planning on a 334 (305) stroker and I can tell you the bottom end kit is about $1200 not including machine work. It will need a .030" overbore.

 

No I'm doing just a hydraulic flat tappet lifter. Rollers are expensive. As it stands I've spent over $2200 on parts and goodies. I'm going to leave the bottom end alone, I only have 43,000 miles on it.

 

Good choice. Are your HP goals fwhp or rwhp?

 

i dont know.. i guess engine hp. i just want to burn a little rubber,right now at her measley 145hp she wont even bust em loose unless im givin' her around a corner or if its raining out.

 

Pretty sure matching numbers with partial VINs on block and heads are a thing of the past. The spot where they used to stamp it are now blank. The only markings now are the casting number and (5.7 or 5.0) which are the same for all blocks from that mold.

 

I would honestly consider an aftermarket carb. A 600CFM should be a good choice when you get the extra cash. Personally for the tall port on the Vortec heads I don't think bumping the cam lift a bit with 1.6 rocker arms would be a bad choice either.

What exhaust headers have you chosen?

 

im using hooker comp shorties,with a 3"reducer,i was going to run 3" from headers back,not sure if i should go dual exhaust or stay with the factory configuration

 

TBH, I would stay single 3". It will support more than you think. I am planning a 320 - 350RWHP build on a 305 block through a single 3" exhaust. I am running a hooker 2055 header and Y-Pipe setup.

I can also recommend some better heads for a 305 that would yield you better compression and flow, however they are just shy of $1200 and if you are doing this on a budget they might not be worth the extra coin.

 

Double check your figures on compression. Your current heads are most likely 58cc. Going to the 64's will drop your CC quite a bit. You can use the 305 Vortec heads, they had the 58cc chamber, or mill down your 64's. I'm planning a similar build.

 

not sure about 82-86 blocks but on 87+ blocks the last 6 digs of the vin are stamped on the pas side front of the block.

 

QFT. Can't believe I read over this. 305s had 58cc.

IIRC the LG4 had dished pistons. If you want to actually add a bit of compression. One option would be a set of 601 heads that have had a bit of porting with a valve job (Around $700 IIRC). Some had 53cc chambers and with a bit of porting actually make for a very good set of heads.

 

But if you're set on the 64cc heads you can always turbo it.

 

This.

Always an option later down the road if you want to get faster.

 

ya im kind of stuck with them, i bought them already,they should be here on monday.i haven't seen a 58 cc head available, ive seen 64 and 72.

 

god i hope she turns out good. $2200 on parts... not including exhaust work.

 

Consider yourself lucky.

My 305 is going to cost $3500 from oil pan to heads. Not including exhaust or intake.

 

$1400 including gaskets for my 350 build. Bought a longblock for 400, pro comp heads for 490, ARP head bolts, double roller timing chain, timing cover, waterpump. The long block had 487X heads (75cc) and a weiand dual plane that I'm going to sell for 500(300 for the heads, 200 for the intake). Probably sell my 305's heads(55cc) for 100, keeping the shortblock for a future turbo 305 build.

 

I paid $70 for a 305 roller shortblock out of my buddy's 92 firebird. Virgin motor with 40k original miles. Scrapped all the internals as it's going to be a stroker motor with 175cc aluminum heads.

At one point I was all for a 350 swap. But during the time money wasn't right I heard the "Your car has a 305? That shiz is slow!" comment one too many times and figured F it. Why not.

 

I like the 305, it spins up suuuuuper high and has no problems doing so, but I couldn't justify a $600 headjob because of a blown headgasket on it, so I decided it was time to upgrade and all of these budget parts landed in my lap. I was just surprised that the OP spent over 2k on parts...

 

That's entirely up to you. Truth be told speaking in terms of raw power it makes perfect sense to upgrade from a 305. Mine is going to be all out. Stroker kit, valvetrain and $1200 heads which explains the cost.

However, if we are talking the engine as a whole from intake to exhaust, $2200 doesn't sound unreasonable for hopping up a 305.

 

If you want to keep numbers matching (not worth the effort on 3rd gen) take the stock heads, cut in some larger valves and have then shaved a little. Use a thinner head gasket (not shim) and you would be in the mid 9's no problem. That is good for street on 87 oct fuel. slap a good cam and exhaust in there, good hot coil, wires and plugs, set the timing and richen up the carb jets a little and poof. Tire rolling power.

 

 

your are gonna have to mill the heads down if you have 64cc chambers. plus a 82 lg4 that has dish pistons. your compression will be to low.
if you mill the heads .030 it should bring them close to the stock 58cc. and .030 is not enough to give you intake problems.
as for the exhaust i would go shorty headers a nice 2.5 crossover pipe in a 3 inch single exhaust all the way back.

 

Even a strong 350 would not be enough to warrant something more expensive than a good single 3".

 

I have a 82 with a 305. I did ignition, port and polish, headers, 1.6 rockers, a/c delete, electric fan converstion and i can bust''em loose. problem is the transmission. the th200 sucks. the trans shifts too soon and i dont reach a good powerband. So if your serious about keepin the build do somthing with your trans....

 

Several years ago I put an Edelbrock performer cam, manifold a 3/4 lenth Flowtech headers on a LG4 305. It surprised me, with the Q-jet it ran a 15.8 @ 86mph in a 3800 lb monte carlo. Before the drag strip testing I hd a performer RPM intake on it, the RPM was noticably better than the standard Performer. If I remember right, the HP weight calculator said it was making like 220 @ the wheels, 320 at the crank.

 

305 isn't worth souping up IMO.

 

I hate it when people think that just because it is a 305 that it is obligated to be worthless. Until you get on the 2.02 valve big power level the only difference between a 305 and a 350 is 45 less cubic inches on the bore.

Compare a 350 to a 400 and it's the same concept.

If you're going for most power at the cheapest cost a 350 makes sense but the 305 isn't junk because of it's number. It's about what you're happy with.

 

You know the 305 has the same stroke as a 350 and shittier heads, right?

 

Again 202 valves will not clear the cylinder wall with cams much over 400 lift with out mods to the block. 194's work and in a 305 you wont be able to tell much of a difference.

 

Just with basic bolt on's and a rear ratio of 3.42 and a Eaton posi. with only a Corvette servo and a timing bump and my 5.0 is quick off the line and perfectly suited for a stop light to stop light driving. It "barks" the tires from 1st to second and "chirps" them from 2nd to third. and that's good enough for me.
For those that don't know me here's my $500.00 wreak that I bought 7 years ago.Its now my 5.0 daily driver.....

 

Stroke and rotating mass are what primarily influence how high an engine can rev.

 

I've put about as much work into my current 305 as I am willing to.

It was a POS truck oriented longblock I bought out of the autozone catalog 5 years ago when I had no money and didn't know what I was doing. In the spring of 2012 while I was restoring my car before the paint and bodywork I modified my TPI from base the throttlebody. I installed a ported base, Did the radiused big siamese mod on my SLP runners, matched the plenum to the runners and did some cleanup to the internal casting and the throttlebody openings.

I did all free mods, installed 1.5 full roller rockers, hooker 2055 headers and y-pipe and some other basic goodies like an underdrive pulley set and aluminum waterpump. I was also running a custom tune. I'm running a holley AFPR set at 50PSI with bosch 22lb injectors and the fuel mappings adjusted accordingly. 34* WOT timing all in by 3200rpm.

This extremely poor 305 with stock 601 heads, 8.5:1 compression and a VERY conservative cam that starts falling off shortly after 4000RPM and goes into total cardiac arrest and stops revving at 4500rpm I actually got to run a 14.7 @ 88MPH in the quarter ripping consistent 2.0 sixty foots. This is not fast by any means but it is decent and will do for now. It makes great torque down low and has good midrange on the street plus only 20k miles on the rebuild and it's reliable as a daily for now until I get another car. For what the motor is, I think I did fairly well.

I did all the work myself with the exception of the ported base manifold. In hindsight I wish I would spent the extra $200 on something like an XFI252 cam. that would have woken it up a bit on the topend without having to change valvesprings, but there is another longblock in the plans. It too, will be a 305 (Well the block will be anyways ). This 305 will be able to put alot of 350s to shame with no power adders. The best part is everything I've done so far is going to swap right over and will support the engine VERY well. I knew this wasn't going to be the last motor so I planned mods more for the future instead of the present.

It's sad the way people rip on these motors like ricers who are made of nothing but big talk. Do the research and get your hands dirty and don't hate on someone for what they decide they want to do. That's what the sport is all about. You want to run a bigger motor and make bigger power, that's fine. But don't look down on other people because they are not as fast as you are. We all started somewhere.

 

nice looking car ronusmc

 

Love the red with the black stripes.

 

if your going to go bigger,it wont cost a penny more to go 0.040 over size and this acclompishes 2 things.little more cubes,plus also unshouds the valves a hair more.every little bit adds up.also the added size helps keep compression up.

 

well thing is everybody has different opinions you put a stroker crank and good heads on a 0.040 over 305 and you got a 1/8 mile killer

 

320 - 350rwhp would be a good 1/4 killer too

 

Before I got my 355 my IROC would get blown away by a Subaru Impreza WRX. It was like I was standing still. Dyno Don built a 355 for me and I went from 190 HP to 350 HP and now I could out run the Subaru. Don tells me a 305 is not a good motor to build power with, he also has several short blocks in his shop and none of them any VINs stamped on them.

 

That depends on what your definition of "power" is.

Think about Dyno Don's reputation here and the things he has done. Of course a 305 isn't going to seem worth the time of day to him. What all had you done to your 305? If we're talking stock cam with some bolt ons, of course you would get blown away. Anything that came in these cars with the exception of the TTA had NO topend. A bolt-on L98 would get walked by a WRX with a simple boost increase.

The POS 305 in my car RAPED STIs off the line and if it wasn't for my cam (Maybe need something better than junk 80s heads too) they wouldn't catch up.

A 305 is not the smartest or best choice if you are looking for serious power, but the OP has already stated a good reason for keeping his and you came in here trying to suggest otherwise.

Not everyone wants big power they want "Good enough". In my case I actually got pissed to the point of everyone talking crap about my car because I have a 305 that I am willing to lay down $3500 on a fully built longblock. Think about that. For that same price or maybe a little more on a 350 I could be at 400+whp (OK maybe that would be a stretch with TPI but you get my point). But I'm willing to do this because there is nothing wrong with running a 305 if you have set your goals and realistically understand what the end result will be. Honestly 320 - 350 is fine by me and I can always add some laughing gas later.

It's cool you have good power now but don't be a 305 ****.

 

i started this whole thread to get info on my build.... you guys have my head spinning lol. i know a 305 isnt the best choice but im not looking for monster big power,if it was any other camaro it would have a 350 in it in a blink of an eye, i want 250-300 h.p. i have the 062 vortec heads dual plane aluminum intake and the comp cams xe262h with .462/.469 lift.shorty headers and all the other little goodies i need. now do i really have to mill the heads? can i use the stock push rods? if i dont mill the heads will i still get around my hp range? i'm trying to get a decent daily driver with a bit of punch and still maintain some what of a decent fuel economy.

 

Yeah I apologize.

 

OK, not trying to be an 305 **** just saying there is only so much that can be done to it. After market is aimed at the 350. You can port the stock heads, runners and plenum. But even that will have limited returns.
I have a friend 1989GTATransAm with well over 400RWHP with a TPI.

My 305 was a good motor reliability wise and with a 273 rear it had good top end,and good freeway MPG. It just couldn't get out of it's own way from a standing start.

 

Just do this imo

http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles...d/viewall.html

 

My $.02 is if you are worried about a numbers matching block, why are you installing noticeable non original vortec heads. If numbers original is a concern, pull engine and set in corner so nothing happens. Then make it easy on yourself and build a 350, 383 or 400 to easily and possibly less expensive reach your goal.

 

http://www.superchevy.com/technical/...d/viewall.html
this is the build im following for my 305 although I did upgrade to the dual spring heads cause I went the the bigger 268xfi cam and 1.6 rockers im in with firedemon on 305z ive already dropped 1250 on heads 270 on intake and 250 on the cam kit (timing chain and lifters included) and have another grand at least to go, but with the 85 lg4 my pistons are the same (so ive read) as the l69 for 9.5 compression with those head from tfs I lose no compression, although I am thinking of milling them, I live in MN right next to TPiS and they will mill and dyno for me when im done, ill post mu RWHP numbers in a couple of months or sooner and 163 for full length hedmans =)

 

Exactly what you should do above IMO.

I have nothing against 305's at all...heck, I rebuilt mine with a hotter cam, Weiand Action Plus intake, and shorty headers with a 3" cat back exhaust.

I had a bunch more power, and could probably embarrass a few 350's when I was done with it. But...the 305 has limitations. With its small bore, you can't really get a set of decent breathing heads due to valve shrouding.

The best thing IMO to do if your looking for decent power out of a 305 is to boost it. But of course, that doesn't come cheap and will kill any originality your Pace Car has. But as said, yank that engine out and store it..drop in a 383, and you're golden....it's really true...there no replacement for displacement whether you get it from boosting or cubes. Overboring blocks should only be used to correct cylinder issues, not to gain a few cubes....

 

super 23 175 heads I just got claim intake 245 flow and exhaust 196 at .600 lift, just reading have no place to argue with any of the gurus on here as this is my first solo attempt on a SBC or v8 for that matter, Im super stoked to see what numbers it throws down, either gonna be impressive for a 305 or going to good enough till I get a 350 and build the lower end =) but they were built to be ported out a good amount so I can swap everything from my 305 to a 350 when im rdy..