I've decided to swap my 305tbi for a 350, but wasn't sure if I should stay with tbi or go carb. I was just curious about the power and the smog laws. Help me please.

 

Federal emissions laws make it illegal.

Local enforcement may or may not exist. Since we don't have a clue where you have the car registered. . .

 

If your car has to pass emission then you cant do carb...its impossible to pass a carbed engine or so they told me. They also told me they're were other ways to get a sticker and the papers =P, but you gotta know a guy who knows a guy.

 

You can definitely get more power going carb'ed. And if you set it up right, it's possible to pass emissions. Only concern is the legality of the actual FI to carb swap.

 

why don't you go with a 350 TBI. thats what im going to do. it will avoid all of grief. a 350 tbi can produce quite a bit of power. they are also better on gas. if you stick with tbi, use a holley unit or a tbi off of a 454 and a better flowing manifold. if you went that route you can avoid all of the emissions issues by stick with tbi. 100% legit. you wont have to worry about trying to get things done illegally. not to metion, most shops cant even tell the difference between a 350 and a 305, the blocks look the same from the outside. install everything they way it was when it was stock. use edlebrock TES header with emssions tubes, 3" cat, evap system and everything else hooked up the way it was intended. a safety/emissions inspector wont be able to say anything. 1. its legal. 2. they wont even know the difference. carbs are over rated.

 

The car is registered in Texas. I'm not so sure of the laws about smog here.

 

ad356 definitely has some good points. And most places in TX will have to pass emissions. Any of the neighboring counties of San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, Austin, and I think El Paso require smog testing. There may be more counties. If this is going to be a daily driver, keeping the tbi would be easier and less hassle come inspection time. And for power, if you set it up with the right parts, tbi will rock. One of my brothers has a 91 RS with a 355 TBI setup, and he's tearing up modded TPI and LT1s all day.