I just got my 91 RS with a 305 and I am deciding whether to drive it for a while and throw in a 350 down the road. Or to keep the 305. I am leaning toward the 305 cuz I wanna make a beast out of something lots of people neglect. How much potential does it have?

HPS

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My Msg Board, with special sections...- http://www.idlechat.net
HPS
91 Teal Camaro RS
305/350 Heads
With a little luck, skill, and help,
she should be a fast *** 305...
Any ideas, e-mail me, or post to me...

"United We Stand, Divided We Fall"

 

how much are you going to spend? the 305 can do a lot but, on the other hand the 350 has the cubes to help out no one belives it is a 305 when beats the snot out of there 350 I know I used to have a 305

 

But do they have the potential to be 12 - 13 second cars?

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My Msg Board, with special sections...- http://www.idlechat.net
HPS
91 Teal Camaro RS
305/350 Heads
With a little luck, skill, and help,
she should be a fast *** 305...
Any ideas, e-mail me, or post to me...

"United We Stand, Divided We Fall"

 

Well, i am in the same boat as yourself, im debating on weather or not to get rid of the 305. right now i am guessing that i run a HIGH 14, all stock. Now i really like the fact, that stock for stock i can keep up with ( i didn't say beat, but keep up with) my friends 88 IROC-Z and its a 350. I would really like to mod up the 305, but then when i look at all the money its going to cost, i might as well just get a L98 block and build that. As much as i like my 305, dollar for dollar the 350 will be better in everyway. So, what i am doing is taking my TES headers and putting them on the 305, and in my free time slowly build up a 350 block. (i'm hoping u can pick up a 350 anywhere from 300-400$)So, that in a few months or, mabe in 1 year, i'll have a killer 350 for the same amount of money that it would cost to make my 305 run fast Although i know how you feel about the 305, its jut not worth it in the long run. Ok, enough rambling, i hope i was some kind of insite. (prolly not though, i babble alot and make no sense about 90% of the time)
-Abe

[This message has been edited by Abe91Z28 (edited November 29, 2000).]

 

I did a mild rebuild on mine, and got OK yimes for a small, s*ity motor.

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1987 .030 over lg4
too much wasted money
best slip: 14.000@98.7
and it's quicker now.

 

The 305 has plenty of potential the key is to add parts that will transfer to a bigger motor down the road so as not to waste money. If you plan on making big power you will have to do numerous modifications to the drivetrain and suspension to handle the extra power.

To answer the question if the 305 is capable of 12 to 13 second ets just check out my signature.

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1991 305 TBI Paxton SN2000,Edelbrock intake and TES, Turbo city TBI,
MSD6a,Eibach drag lauch kit, Hotchkis RTAs and panhard rod, Richmond 3:73 gears and Auburn limited slip, best ET 12.90 @ 108 mph

 

I'd like to say keep the 305, but I'm not -=)

Dollar for dollar I can build a much faster and stronger 350 than I can 305. If you want to build up the 305 just to be different, expect to spend more money and go slower.

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Luke
94 Saturn SL (1.9L)
86 Camaro Berlinetta (5.0L) *TPI 350 In Progress*
Berlinetta Board Mod @3rdgen.org
Non-Tech Mod @LG4 Performance Team

 

I've done a lot of modifications and swaps over the years, and probably the most common theme through them all is that when I try to justify in my mind getting the "bigger" thing because it would do more for the same or less money, the result is additional costs that blow the budget anyway. Perhaps I'm just not all that smart, and keep making the same mistakes, but I do think I've learned to avoid some of them along the way.

The key to performance is "the package". The key to "the package" is what you are trying to accomplish. The 305 suffered from never being packaged as a true performance engine. It will win 90% of stoplight battles, while on the track it will look wimpy. But, you won't get the best of both worlds by putting an 850 CFM carb on an RPM manifold with a 194 degree duration cam and 1-3/4" primary tube headers. It just doesn't work that way.

305's are limited by the induction, heads, cam & exhaust. They have a unique chamber size, so require unique heads. You can get a better cam, but if the induction, heads & exhaust aren't improved, you don't gain much. It is a small bore/long stroke engine, and most performance SBC parts are oriented towards large bore/stroke.

Two things to consider: 1) The "original" performance SBC was a 265 (GM management wondered why Chevy wanted an engine "so large"), what really caught on was the 283. So, don't tell me cubes are the only way to make power (ever heard of a 5.0?). 2) The LS6 is a long stroke/small bore engine that is making power from the factory in what used to be the domain of the big blocks. Sure, it's still more cubes than a 305, but it makes its power because of "the package". Moral of the story: Do the homework and put together a package that will accomplish what you want. If that homework results in a 434 stroker, so be it.


P.S.: Back to your original premise: A beast isn't always the most pleasant thing with which to spend a lot of time.
P.P.S.: I, too, like being different (grew up in a family of 9 kids in a small town - strong incentive for being different). Yet, here I am driving the most commonly hot rodded engine family out there. Go figure...

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82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R. 2.73 unlimited slip. Cat-back from '91 GTA, Accel HEI SuperCoil. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily driver, work-in-progress (LB9 w/ZZ3 cam, TBD heads, exhaust, paint, etc.).
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. 0.030 over 396, Weiand Action+, Edelbrock 1901 Q-Jet, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" headers, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & shift kit, 3.08 10-bolt, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Best 15.1 @ 5800' Bandimere. Daily driver while Camaro was being put together.