Yes it could be done. I just wish I had the skills and the funds to tackle this project myself.

This would be a very intresting and educational project for all of us to see. I know it would also suprise the hell out of a lot of people ha ha!

 

Later I['ll post all the math I used to design one...Drawback is going to be the tpi, there isn't a good enough made for those rpm ranges.

 

Wow, that's dirt cheap! Is that because they're in the Silverados compared to getting an LS from a corvette?

 

yeah, the 5.3 truck blocks are a dime a dozen, and are, in my opinion, totally under rated as a potential street performance block... I feel they are overlooked because they arent labeled as an LS block, but they are purely LS tech.

In stock form with a cam swap, the appropriate valvetrain for said cam, and the carbed setup for the LS motors, you can easily pull 430+ horsepower and 400+ torque from the 5.3 and still be less money into it than buying an LS1 (unless you find a killer deal on one).

 

I would personally get the LQ4/LQ9 (6.0 truck block) version if I couldn't get an inexpensive LS1,LS6, or LS2 engine. I would need the lighter weight of the aluminum block for racing.

 

Woopty freaking do an aluminum block is a whole 50-70 lbs lighter than the iron block. Put some 1.8:1 quick lift roller rockers on it and it will make more difference than that.

However back to the original posters post, a 305 can relatively easily make over 425 HP at the crankshaft. I have done it and did it under 6,500 rpm with a very mild hydraulic roller camshaft and a single 2 bbl TBI unit. I have a 1980 Corvette that runs a .040" over 305 with vortec heads, a mild hydraulic roller cam, a single plane victor jr intake, a 680 holley factory ramshorn manifolds, single 3" exhaust and pushes the 3.07 geared vette 9.20s @ 78-80 mph in the 1/8 with a 3,000 stalled powerglide. I am in the process of building a TH350 with a 3,000 stall to put in it and we will end up with a nitrous setup on it. At the same time we are thinking of adding a set of Tri-Y headers and reworking the exhaust. 150 HP shot will easily put this car in the low 8s/high7s with some sticky tires. Currently runs 9.20s on a 2.30s 60'.

 

In autocrossing, 50-100 lbs extra weight can be the difference between 1st and 6th place in a large class, and that's not even getting started with the whole field.

 

hey guys i came across this thread, thought i would put my own input. people thinking 305's cant make power are wrong, they also can use 2.02 heads as well with some work. i was at a local machine shop and they guy invited me to watch a dyno run of a 305, with 2.02 heads, big cam, and that good stuff didnt get much details other than he built it for a guy who was dead set on bulding it. it was once a 90 305tbi from an rs, stock bottom end. heads and cam intake 305 made 421hp at 7k rpm he and i were both suprised, note that they had to make mods to the block for the 2.02 heads to fit but it can be done, although he had his doubts the engine will livelong revving to 7k all the time, but a little bottom end work it could easily, and maybe make more, this build didnt cost much either labor was only a little over 1300, the guy had his own parts tho, and it was a carb'd 305 no longer tbi. just thought i would post, my heads and cam 305 is under way as well, im needing insight on my lt1 swap i will be starting on.

 

Right; we all know that.

Problem with what you just posted, is all the stuff that ISN'T in the post. Namely, if the shop had done THE EXACT SAME THINGS to a 350 (same heads, same cam, same exhaust, same carb, same same same same same), it would have (a) cost less, (b) not required any block modification, and (c) made 60 - 75 more HP.

Or, if they had done THE EXACT SAME THINGS to a 400 (same heads, same cam, same exhaust, same carb, same same same same same), it would have (a) cost about the same, (b) not required any block modification, and (c) made 125 - 150 more HP.

It's all about the excessively simple fact, that some people just can't seem to get a grasp on, that what matters is, what you end up with at the end, and what it takes to get there; NOT what you start out with. Results per dollar. On that scale, anything you can do to a 305, is a MASSIVE FAIL. As those of us who have been down most of these roads keep saying but people who haven't been there yet keep refusing to listen to, just because "it can be done", doesn't automatically make it "A Good Idea"; let alone "The Way To Go".

 

You are wasting your breath sofa. People with experience can say it 100 times, but there will always be some that think they can reinvent the wheel until they waste the time and money to prove themself they are wrong. And there are even some people that will still think they are right.

Its simple, if you have everything to build a 305, and you need the car on the road, then put it together. If not, you should wait and start with a 350 or larger.

 

That sounds like a very cool and intresting project! Do you have pics of the motor or a dyno sheet. That 305 would surprise a lot of people. I know I would be intrested in seeing it.

That would be a great road-race motor or high strung street engine for folks that wanted to keep a Gen 1 small block under their hood and wanted to keep the 305 motor.

 

big block guys say the same thing about wasting time an money on a small block . why **** in sumbody elses cheerios ? it's there money time an car .the truth be known a budget turbo build on a 305 will produce enough power to bust the bottom end . (500+hp ) it's not always about getting the most the cheapest tho sumtimes like in my case it's about working my way up just to see where it goes . if you can't afford to play stay the **** at work ...ya know !

 

So what you're saying, is that after all of that work :

vortec heads
oversize pistons
camshaft
vic jr intake
680 holley
powerglide conversion
upgraded convertor
3" exhaust

That thing is nearly a full second than my stock import with just a full exhaust and intercooler upgrade ? (8.33 @ 84.39 MPH)

Yeah, blazing fast 305, gotta watch out for those things.

 

please point out where this was supposed to be a budget turbo build.

 

How so? Are you the guy selling the sucker all the parts and work? That's THE ONLY person for whom it's either "cool" or "interesting" to spend enough money to get 100 or more HP MORE THAN that, but still get 100 HP LESS.

Not a matter of peeing in anybody's Cheerios; just simple unbiased comparison. Since you can spend $xxxxx and have yyyyHP at the end, why spend $xxxxx and only get 2/3 of yyyyHP? How is this "A Good Idea"? EVER? In ANY universe? In the car hobby, the grocery store, or buying ANYTHING?