So I bought an LT1 planning to swap it in place of my existing '89 305 TBI. Money and time restraints are forcing me to consider holding off rebuilding the LT1. In the meantime, while that project is on hold, what LT1 parts can I put on the 305? I heard that I can use the cam, are the heads, intake, fuel injection system, or anything else compatible? If so, is there enough performance gained to make it worth the time?
Thanks in advance,
-Monty

 

cam only right now.. you have to modify the bolt patter of the intake to make that work, the heads wont work, reverse cooling.

waste of time really if you are eventually planning the swap. just drive the TBI and save your time, energy and patients for the swap. im doing the LT1 swap right now, lots of little things come up, especially if you are going to rebuild the LT1.

 

Cam, lifters, pushrods, valve covers, valve springs, exhaust valves, flexplate.

I wouldn't say it's worth the time to swap the cam if you're going to build & install the LT1 eventually.

 

Fair enough. The primary impediment to doing the swap is the lack of availability of t56 transmissions in my budget. Is there another manual transmission that will stand up to the torque that will match as far as bellhousing and input splines? Maybe off of a truck or something? The car has a t5 now, and as I understand it, it will not survive the torque of an LT1.

 

An LT1 T56 is probably your least expensive option.

 

I am going to ask around, but would a T56 transmission bolt up to a 1991 305 TPI? I am planning on having the combo if it works. Believe it or not I like my old 305 and it runs great. I get 28mpg highway and I just drove it across the United States. Washington State to Pennsylvania. The only thing I hated was having that T5 transmission in it and not being able to cruise at 75 mph through Montana unless I wanted to sacrifice efficiency. I was cruising at 60-65 mph most of the way (fuel efficiency reasons). Thoughts or opinions? Also, I understand I will have to move the hole in the floor pan, but in Indiana I had my sound system stolen so I will be ripping out the console anyways and fabricating a new center console... out of steel. It will look like the stock plastic one, but with rigidity and locking capabilities.