tbi 305 to tbi 350
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 18
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From: hou texas
Car: 91 camaro rs blue with black stripe
Engine: 5.0 in car 5.7 in garage
Transmission: 700r4
tbi 305 to tbi 350
i have a 305 in my car and i have a 350 lo5 in the garage i was planning on searching the salvage yards to find some vortec 062 heads to go one the lo5 if i find the 062 can i use the manifold as well if i find it with the heads. i am going to use the lo3 to turn the lo5 into hydr. roller setup. also should i get rid of the dished pistons in d lo5 and go with flat top ones. r will the heads and manifold b enough. I am not going to the track or anything i just want a lil more muscle looking for around 265 hp.
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 43,187
Likes: 45
From: Littleton, CO USA
Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: L92/LQ4 (both w/4" stroke)
Transmission: 4L80E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
Welcome aboard thirdgen.org.
The LO5 will get to that power level with a proper combination of cam, exhaust, and computer tuning. You'll want better valve springs to handle an upgrade (like LT1) or aftermarket cam. Having the valve guides cut for positive-type valve stem seals at the same time provides not only better guide seals, but more valve travel potential. Exhaust upgrades (headers, 3" cat on back) are a must. The dished pistons are fine (not that much of a dish).
You don't have to go through the expense of Vortecs for 265 HP. More than that, you'll need better heads.
The LO5 will get to that power level with a proper combination of cam, exhaust, and computer tuning. You'll want better valve springs to handle an upgrade (like LT1) or aftermarket cam. Having the valve guides cut for positive-type valve stem seals at the same time provides not only better guide seals, but more valve travel potential. Exhaust upgrades (headers, 3" cat on back) are a must. The dished pistons are fine (not that much of a dish).
You don't have to go through the expense of Vortecs for 265 HP. More than that, you'll need better heads.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 18
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From: hou texas
Car: 91 camaro rs blue with black stripe
Engine: 5.0 in car 5.7 in garage
Transmission: 700r4
Re: tbi 305 to tbi 350
tanks 4 the info i really appreciate it. should i take the roller assembly from the 305 and put on the 350 or should i just go flat tappett cam and b done with it.
Senior Member

Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 726
Likes: 1
From: League City, TX
Car: 90 Formula -- tot resto in progress
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700R4 w/ 2500 stall, by Owen @ ARD
Axle/Gears: 3.23 posi disc
Re: tbi 305 to tbi 350
Ditto the welcome.
Vortec heads have a unique intake bolt pattern. You didn't
specify what you're intended intake combination is, so be
aware of that as you start rounding up parts.
Roller lifters are generally more desirable, because of less
parasitic drag, but must be a) used on a roller cam, and
b) have the accompanying hardware to keep them properly
aligned. The possibilities are the GM keepers/spider bracket,
or aftermarket units that generally link 2 rollers together.
Putting a 305 roller cam into a 350 is a formula for making
a 350 run like a 305. I'm not well versed on l05 specifics,
but if it's not a GM roller model, you can't transplant the
GM rollers into, so you're probably better off with a complete
aftermarket kit. One final caveat -- roller cams need a compatible
drive gear on the dist.
Good luck, and welcome aboard.
PS:
Check out the big Houston meet in July. Great place to meet other gearheads,
and gas-bags.
Vortec heads have a unique intake bolt pattern. You didn't
specify what you're intended intake combination is, so be
aware of that as you start rounding up parts.
Roller lifters are generally more desirable, because of less
parasitic drag, but must be a) used on a roller cam, and
b) have the accompanying hardware to keep them properly
aligned. The possibilities are the GM keepers/spider bracket,
or aftermarket units that generally link 2 rollers together.
Putting a 305 roller cam into a 350 is a formula for making
a 350 run like a 305. I'm not well versed on l05 specifics,
but if it's not a GM roller model, you can't transplant the
GM rollers into, so you're probably better off with a complete
aftermarket kit. One final caveat -- roller cams need a compatible
drive gear on the dist.
Good luck, and welcome aboard.

PS:
Check out the big Houston meet in July. Great place to meet other gearheads,
and gas-bags.
Last edited by l_dis_travlr; Jun 18, 2009 at 03:26 PM.
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 43,187
Likes: 45
From: Littleton, CO USA
Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: L92/LQ4 (both w/4" stroke)
Transmission: 4L80E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
Almost all LO5 blocks have the provisions for the roller set-up. Some don't have the casting features machined, so you need to look for that.
A 305 cam won't make a 350 run like a 305. Many 305's and 350's used the same cam. There likely isn't much difference between your LO3 and LO5 cams performance-wise, but the roller set-up makes it worth considering putting the LO3 cam in the LO5, anyway.
If you do locate a cheap LT1 take-out cam (eBay, craigslist, racingjunk, etc.), it will work great with the rest of your LO3 roller set-up.
A 305 cam won't make a 350 run like a 305. Many 305's and 350's used the same cam. There likely isn't much difference between your LO3 and LO5 cams performance-wise, but the roller set-up makes it worth considering putting the LO3 cam in the LO5, anyway.
If you do locate a cheap LT1 take-out cam (eBay, craigslist, racingjunk, etc.), it will work great with the rest of your LO3 roller set-up.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 18
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From: hou texas
Car: 91 camaro rs blue with black stripe
Engine: 5.0 in car 5.7 in garage
Transmission: 700r4
Re: tbi 305 to tbi 350
I was just going 2 use the roller setup from the 305 and transfer it 2 the 350. I took it apart today and found out that it has the roller setup. as far as what combination i am going to use i am at a total loss, i belive i will use a carb intake and a adapter for the tbi. i am going 2 do the heads like five 7 kid suggested and i will probably get an aftermarket cam kit with everything matching cause i really dont know what im doing(but havin fun doin it) like i said im only looking for around 250-265 hp enough to sound good and smoke the tires. i was also going to get a computer from a truck or something similar for the 350 would i still need tunning or should i be able drive as is.
Last edited by pgilla1; Jun 18, 2009 at 07:37 PM.
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: hou texas
Car: 91 camaro rs blue with black stripe
Engine: 5.0 in car 5.7 in garage
Transmission: 700r4
Re: tbi 305 to tbi 350
i was miss understood im not going to use the 305 cam im going to use the roller setup from the 305 and put in the 350 minus the cam and get an lt1 cam for the 350. i amalso getting headers and full catback system, i am going to get the heads redone the way five 7 kid advised me earleir. im not trying to race anyone at the track just want more power than i had with the 305
Senior Member

Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 726
Likes: 1
From: League City, TX
Car: 90 Formula -- tot resto in progress
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700R4 w/ 2500 stall, by Owen @ ARD
Axle/Gears: 3.23 posi disc
Re: tbi 305 to tbi 350
Sounds like you have a decent plan, and are headed in the
right direction. And five7 is a knowledgable advisor here on
the boards.
Consider this.
Assuming you're 305 is TBI equipped, you can reach your objectives
with most of that control system. Switching up to 350 is
gonna mean re-tuning. But there's lots of options that you
can do to upgrade the actual throttle body, put it on a
carb manifold w/ adaptor, and not get bogged down in
wiring harness, connector pinouts etc. And the really marvelous
part, is that you can find out how to do it all, right here on TGO.
(And get a T-shirt... they're really cool.)
right direction. And five7 is a knowledgable advisor here on
the boards.
Consider this.
Assuming you're 305 is TBI equipped, you can reach your objectives
with most of that control system. Switching up to 350 is
gonna mean re-tuning. But there's lots of options that you
can do to upgrade the actual throttle body, put it on a
carb manifold w/ adaptor, and not get bogged down in
wiring harness, connector pinouts etc. And the really marvelous
part, is that you can find out how to do it all, right here on TGO.
(And get a T-shirt... they're really cool.)
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: hou texas
Car: 91 camaro rs blue with black stripe
Engine: 5.0 in car 5.7 in garage
Transmission: 700r4
Re: tbi 305 to tbi 350
should i go with flat top pistons r keep the dished pistons.what would be a good aftermarket rebuild kit to get not one with a crank but pistons and ringset im going to get the block bored 30 over and the 350 crank cleande up is there anything else i should know
Senior Member

Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 726
Likes: 1
From: League City, TX
Car: 90 Formula -- tot resto in progress
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700R4 w/ 2500 stall, by Owen @ ARD
Axle/Gears: 3.23 posi disc
Re: tbi 305 to tbi 350
Since you're in Houston, I highly recommend going by ARD
& discuss w/ them what you want to get to, and what is the
best to get there, with what you have. Both Jay & Owen are
F-Body enthusiasts, and stand-up guys. And their prices are
the best I've found.
www.advancedracingdynamics.com
good luck
& discuss w/ them what you want to get to, and what is the
best to get there, with what you have. Both Jay & Owen are
F-Body enthusiasts, and stand-up guys. And their prices are
the best I've found.
www.advancedracingdynamics.com
good luck
Senior Member

Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 726
Likes: 1
From: League City, TX
Car: 90 Formula -- tot resto in progress
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700R4 w/ 2500 stall, by Owen @ ARD
Axle/Gears: 3.23 posi disc
Re: tbi 305 to tbi 350
Buy 'em books, & buy 'em books, & all they do is eat the covers...
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: hou texas
Car: 91 camaro rs blue with black stripe
Engine: 5.0 in car 5.7 in garage
Transmission: 700r4
Re: tbi 305 to tbi 350
i
Last edited by pgilla1; Jun 23, 2009 at 06:17 PM. Reason: messed up
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: hou texas
Car: 91 camaro rs blue with black stripe
Engine: 5.0 in car 5.7 in garage
Transmission: 700r4
Re: tbi 305 to tbi 350
the 305 and the 350 are tbi equiped i bought a complete 350 minus the starter and again thanks 4 all advice i really appreciate it. i was having tremendous fun with the 305 i let a mechanic put a flywheel on 4 me and when he was finised he didnot adjust the tranny and it went out. i bought a tranny from an 92 chevy pickup 2 put n d camaro and came across a deal on d 350. since d 305 needs a rebuild anyway 170k oil leaks everywhere i decided 2 go with d 350 Thread
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