Alright guys i need some guidance here. I just picked up a 305 out of a 91 Trans Am. It is minus the TPI and i want to put it in my 84 TA with an Edelbrock Performer intake and 600 cfm carb. My questions are..

1. Is this thing going to be a dog?? I am worried that the cam was designed to work with the TPI intake and won't work so well with intake and carb

2. It has the roller cam in it. Can i swap this out for a regular cam and lifter set?

3. If i can swap it out what cam do you guys recommend? My car has the 700r4 and 3.73 open rear.

I have limited funds to do this and got the motor for free. My friend and i plan on pocket porting the heads a little to try and help it out. I have my L69 still in my car but it has a rod knock. I thought about pulling the cam and lifters out of it too. If the car could be a decent runner(mid-high 14's) I would be inclined to put the effort in. But if this thing can't break out of the 16's i'd rather just wait and put money into a 350. Please give me some help you third gen gurus out there:hail:

 

you do not want to swap a roller cam for a hydraulic flat tappet!!

I would say leave it in, however, I dont know the specs of the cam.
So, if you want to change the cam, replace it with a roller!!! they make more power, regardless of the size/grind.

A 305 with pocket ported heads, intake, cam,carb,and headers should be good for about 275hp, with those gears, it would be good for low 14s.

 

There won't be any problem using the '91 TPI-type cam with a carb.

You'll have a couple of minor bolt-up issues, like the intake bolt angles (elongate the manifold bolt holes, it'll fit onto the heads - two on each side need it).

Rather than just pocket porting the heads, go the whole Standard Abrasives guidelines route, which port matches and polishes everything.

 

That cam with a TPI on top is good enough for high 14's or better. I cant see any reason why you shouldnt be able to obtain that with a properly tuned carb.

 

Whats Pocket Porting?

 

Porting that's limited to the "pockets" located just above the valve seats. Most castings have too much material in this area, and normal machining doesn't go deep enough to remove it, restricting flow.

This area is also called the valve "bowl", so is sometimes called "bowl work".