alright guys i thought i would ask yall many people have told me put this in my car or dont put this ill come to people who know my car lol

i got a 82 z28 with a 305 carburated engine im wantin to build my car for street performance at highest right now i want 600 hp but mainly 450 to 500

so to the ? would it be better to drop the 305 and but a 383 or 454 or if anyone wanna helps somethin else that would fit and give me the power i want.

or
does anyone think i could keep the 305 and just build it up to what im wanting ...... and also which would probally be a cheaper thing to do.
(also keeping in mind the 305 has 185k miles on it and needs some tuing and such)just to run decent stock hp


ive been pondering over this for a few days and im new to the performance deal so i would love some help from fellow car guys

 

It's a whole lot easier to make more power with more cubic inches.

 

It may come down to the choice of how fast can you afford to go.A 383 crate engine is $5200 at 420hp.That doesn't include an intake,carb or distributor.If you got that kinda cash laying around I say go for the crate engine.From what I read it takes more money than it's really worth to get any hp numbers from a 305.

 

yea ive heard with 305 to get 500+ horse is really hard and to do it cost alot of money cuz of how hard it is ive just had friends i work with and know that own drag race shops and the say best thing would be either a 383 or a 454, which my friend has a 454 block for sale and im thinking of buying it and just building it up and then dropping it in but i was wantin opions from everyone cuz my frend also sayed that f bodys are the worse to not only race but also u cant do much with them which i dont believe.

 

Just look around this site to prove them wrong.I have seen everything from 1/4 mile killers to road race demons.This day and time technology will make just about anything raceable.

 

I've tried the 450 hp 305 deal, and while it is possible, it isn't worthwhile. Neither is buying a crate engine. Crates cost more than to have a local machine shop do it for any given build.
The 454 gives you more output once you spend over $2000 for a pair of decent heads, and get the compression ratio up by either domed pistons or a 496 stroker kit, plus balancing either way,..
But it is much heavier, and it'll make the car less of a canyon carver amd more of a straight-line-only machine, and if that's what you want, then trade your camaro for a Vega and save 500 pounds.
600 HP with pump gas and good mileage is gonna require EFI and either a stroker LS or a power adder such as boost or nitrous.
Building a 600 HP LS is about the same cost as a big block, but with less weight, and the potential to pass an emissions test.