i really dont know if this is the right board for this question. but i have the wonderful lo3. i would like to change the induction system. i dont know if i want to run with tpi or carb. i already have the tpi system sitting up in the attic. i havent had the time to put it in yet. but today i was talking to my dad and he gave me the idea of installing a carb on it. he said its cheaper and easier to net my horsepower goals. i want to push at least 300hp at the wheels. and i want to stay with the 305, just to be different. i hear everyone swapping to a 350 or a 383. i want to run the 305.

 

300 to the wheels is a heavy task for a NA 305. TPI would probably never cut it.

What are you planning for heads? LO3 heads also won't cut it.

How did you pick that 300 number? Out the air? Or somewhere lower? It would be more reasonable to pick an operational goal, and unless you establish the practical parameters, such as street driven, drag raced, autocross raced, etc., there is no way you're going to get meaningful advice here or anywhere.

Why do you want to run the 305? To be different? Guess what, you wouldn't be. Do you think people will be impressed that you're running a 305? Guess what, they won't be.

300 HP at the wheels will require about 400 HP at the flywheel. Yes, magazines have done it with a stock shortblock 305, but what you don't see unless you read completely through the article is they blew the thing up on the dyno shortly after getting that magic 400 print-out.

If you're made out of money, go ahead and pursue this dream. If you are results-oriented, and effeciency of effort means anything to you, you'll establish a real-world performance goal and go about achieving it in the least expensive manner practible - which will probably mean a larger displacement engine.

Your dad is right - carb will get you more power for the money.

300 gross flywheel horsepower 305 is not unreasonable to shoot for. Nothing wrong with increasing performance with bolt-ons to a 305.

"305 only" is not a reasonable mindset.

 

yes im gonna use different heads. i dont believe that 300 is that crazy to get. and yes some people would be impressed if i stayed with the 305. alot of people that i have raced and showed the car to have been impressed with how healthy the 305 is. would be easier to attain my goals with a carb or tpi.

 

easier, carb. TPI would be a tuning nightmare IMHO.

Look up sitting bull, mwnova66, tunedport335, and a few others that don't really post much anymore....
mwnova is one of the few that have gotten a lot from his 305.... (oops, and so has five7, but now that he's gone to the dark side with his 350, he has no credibility, so don't listen to him )


300WHP would be very unstreetable, and so not very practical, if you plan on driving it on the street. get say, 330HP, and tell people it's 400HP, most people will trust you.
Or take the easy/cheap route and get the 350.

look up some beefy aftermarket heads, that'll be a pricey motor setup though. ( well, more cash, less HP compared to going to a 350 block)

 

In the 4 years that I drove & raced my souped-up 305, I was asked exactly twice if I had a 350. And, of those times, only one was mildly impressed that it was "just" a 305. However, there have been a bunch of people impressed by the gains acheived by going from 305 to 350.

Of course, I didn't do anything close to what those guys you mentioned did to their 305's. However, I've spent a lot less.

Hopping up the 305 should only be considered a stepping stone, not a final destination.

 

Agreed, the destination is 383 or 406...at least for me.

 

my budget right now doesnt let me put a 350 in. im gonna wait till i go on cruise again to do that. but in the mean time i want to make this 305 scream.

 

its going to cost you more to make a 300 rear wheel hp 305 out of what you have than to drop in a 350 making the same output.

 

nothing wrong with building a 305 for the experience. I did, plus I got it for free and all the work done extra cheap. So what if he wont make make what a 350 makes. It's going to be fun either way.

 

fine defend a 305 build up as much as you like.

i don't see the point when no one is going to be impressed with it because it won't be as impressive or cost effective as a 350.

 

i'm going to have to agree with the 350 guys here, i was seriously thinking of building my lo3 up, and i have a similar hp goal, but as i researched the parts and all the other junk, the hp to dollar value is just not there, i would go with simple bolt ons to the 305 until you can afford something with some more displacement, unless you really really want to build that 305, but hey thats just my opinion
p.s. if the stuff under your heads is worn out also, you will be paying lots and lots of dollars to the point where you may as well have gone with the 350

 

sigh, make it stop.

 

i suppose, but hey, nothin like beating a dead horse