Hopefully everything turns out ok with that engine from autozone T.L.

------------------
Big 454 72 Chevy Nova
383 86 Camaro Z28

 

Well, thanks...me too. I think 383s and 400s are WAY cool but I just don't have the budget for that righ tnow & I really wanna start driving my car....

 

I know going from my 305 to a 350 is what I want to do, but will a 350 TPI from a 1990 T/A work in my application? I have an 86 T/A, 700R4. will the computer and electronics be a problem?....I can get a great deal on the engine for $500....

 

Well that settles it. I think I (we) got our point across ,350's will blow away 305's that are equally(same funds applied)modded.With this comment I can just see this topic hit 100.

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Big 454 72 Chevy Nova
383 86 Camaro Z28

 

Everyone thought their import cars could outdo my "wipmy" as you put it 305, I felt sorry for the owner of that BMW that day.
I like my HO 305 itz fast enough, I've outdone quite a few 350 third and fourth gens
not to mention a few Ford Crown Vic patrol cars.

 

REPEAT



------------------
Big 454 72 Chevy Nova
383 86 Camaro Z28

 

Oh boy this is gonna be fun.
First off I'd like to say that I have the 350ho ready to be swapped in WITHIN THE WEEK. My 305 crapped out over the summer so that is the real reason for me getting a 350. I don't understand why people defend the 305 like it was that great of a motor. It wasn't, plain and simple. The 302 from GM back in the day, now that was a cool motor with little displacement (kind of like the ford 5.0 sorry...4.9L).
One point all of you have missed is the streat manners. A 350 with 350hp is going to be mild. A 305 with 325hp is not going to be as nice. Glenn said how "What is'radical' on a smaller engine is 'milder' on a larger engine." That is so true.
The bore to stroke ratio is so important to an engine's output. The 350 has a larger bore same stroke as 305, all that means is more hp up to a point. I don't see how people can argue the point of gas milage, yes my 305 currently is getting 19mpg BUT I didn't buy a camaro to get good gas milage. If I was that worried about it I would be driving either a v6 or heaven forbid...an import. I got into the camaro because it was BANG FOR THE BUCK. The 350 screams value from every angle. Let's just say I'm keeping my intake system and for $3000 how many of you are going to have 330hp and 385 ft-lbs? Not only that BUT I also have the advantage to go even further with a simple cam swap to make even more hp. A 305 doesn't have as many options. How many people can honestly say they would turn down a 400 SB if it was the same price as a 305? It's the same way with the 350 except in most cases the 350 is cheaper because of the abundance. There is a good reason GM made so many (cough ~ bore to stroke ~ cough).
I love the 305 just because it's got character for an engine. It's got a small bore but long stroke which makes plenty of torque and low end power. It drives different because of it and that is why I like them. NOT because they are for performance.
I see how a lot of you are saying that you already have a 305. That is cool but there is going to be a time when the 305 takes a crap. Especially if you've been having fun with bolt ons. I think I know what bigblock was trying to say about the 350. He was saying that it is a good idea to save your money for a 350 in the future and to not spend so much on a 305. It makes plenty of sence if you ask me. The exception is that most chevy SB parts are interchangable. You can use headers, intakes, motor mounts and pulley systems. My advice is to not invest into 305 heads or 305 specific parts like forged parts or a small carb and small headers/exhaust. Money would be better spent on stuff like suspension work, tranny, REAR END SETUP!!! Those things can be interchanged when the 305 gets tired and you need to swap in something new. If given the choice of either a 350 or a 305 and the 350 cost a grand more I'd STILL take the 350.
Does that clear up some stuff?
Let me finish by saying there is NO replacement for displacement.

------------------
, Jon (91 RS too many mods to list)

 

Amen Brother!!!!

 

How is it you're getting 19mpg on a 305? I never got that when I had a six cylinder! And my 305 is recently rebuilt too. I get barely 10mpg!

 

83Fire, you've got something seriously wrong if you can't get 15 MPG out of a 305. I average 17-18 MPG commuting; road trip last fall averaged 26 with non-functioning TCC. That's with a CC carb.

To all the rest of you, and especially 454Big (accepting your previous invitation to express myself), your blanket statements are downright silly. With the mild 350/TH350 (w/stock converter) in my heavy (3800 lb w/o driver) '57, I was in the high 15's/low 16's at this altitude. A fellow racer has an early El Camino (~3000 lbs) that runs mid-16's. Imagine my surprise when I found out this winter that he's been running a SBC 400 w/TH350 all this time! Rebuilt w/good stuff! With headers, duals, etc.! Not only is his car lighter, I out-weigh him by 70 lbs!

As for "any 350 outrunning a 305 for the same money" imagine this scenario: I go out and buy and rebuild a 350 and put it into my Camaro in place of the 305 with no other changes: How much would that cost - $1500? $1800? $2000? $3500? No matter which, my current 2" cat would choke off any engine I put in there. Now, let's take that money and apply it to the 305 I talked about earlier: Headers, cat, cat-back, heads (already have a cam and intake) ~$1400. I have no doubt that I'll run faster than any of the above mentioned 350s given the exhaust constraint! Same thing for you guys that think you can get a 350 for $700 ready to run...

As for 305's not being "real" SBC's, my '57 started out with a 220 HP (gross) 283. I can tell you without reservation that my 305 will run circles around that engine. Period. And '57s were supposed to be "hot" in their time.

Would I like to have a 350 in my Camaro? Sure. Had that in mind when I got the car. Can I afford it right now? No. Should I do nothing until I can afford the 350? Why not wait for a 383? Hey, 434's are obtainable, wait for one of those, why don't you?

I hereby vow to never read this thread again. I'm convinced you people can't read and comprehend because of your public school education...

 

Did exactly what Jon stated: bought only parts that would transfer to 350 and had fun with the 305 for a couple of seasons. As you can see in the signature I had a lot of fun! In the past year I searched patiently for the next motor which I found on Ebay. Brand new 350, balanced, blueprinted, 366 dyno hp from
some unfortunate person whose project went
wrong. Let the fun start again ringing out
the new combo this year !!!!

------------------
Tom K.
84 Z-28 M5 305 L69 HO
pulleys,coil,3:73(stock)
Jet chip, fan switch,
Al dshaft,1.6 rockers,
LCAs and brackets,BFG DRs
14.20 @ 96.74 2.02 60ft

[This message has been edited by 84305HO (edited March 13, 2001).]

 

Five7kid sorry your upset but most don't agree with your viewpoint on this topic. As far as you not reading this thread again, that is entirely up to you my friend. I think u are the one having trouble comprehending the point that is being made. REality is reality, doesn't matter if u went to a private school or not.(oops I mispelled "u")

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Big 454 72 Chevy Nova
383 86 Camaro Z28

[This message has been edited by Big454blockchevy (edited March 13, 2001).]

 

I think we have about beat this subject to death.

Right now I have an 86 TA, it came with the 305. The engine finally gave up last year, and I was about ready to just push the car off a cliff and be done with it. Sure, I wanna go fast but to a point... I only wanted low 14's out of this car, and with a 305 thats easily obtainable. I was in a slight dilemma after the original motor died, I wasnt working and had little money, and didnt know if I wanted to ditch the car, sell it, fix it, put the 4-bolt 350 I have in it (it doesnt deserve it) or what. A little while later I came across a running 305 in decent shape, and surprise surprise, cheap. Thats the key here, cheap. He didnt want it, it was "Only a 305." His loss, my gain. Its all stock right now, I figure its gonna run high 14-low 15 when I take it to the track. Im gonna do a few bolt ons and some porting and aim for 13.9, I think I can do it. So happens thats all I want or need from this car and engine, and its not costing me an arm and a leg either.

Each of us has different wants/needs/cash flow and as such we make decisions based on that. I have no problem with sticking with the 305, I got a replacement for peanuts, it runs great, and keeps the late model mustangs away. I dont need any more than that with this car.

 

It's all about money... how much you have AND how much you are willing to spend...If my 305 was running, I'd be using it right now...but since it's completely blown, I have to replace the motor anyway...Since I don't have money for good heads, high-comp. pistons, big valves etc., I am gonna rely on the larger bore of a 350 and a good cam for a performance edge over the stock L-69...I need to keep all the emission stuff on it too...Ultimately, it's all good as far as I am concerned...it's about having the inginuity to get the most out of a given engine, regardless of its displacment....That's hot-rodding guys.