I'm close to purchasing my second 3rd gen and have a few questions about my preliminary plan for mods. I'd like to keep the 305 tbi for daily driving purposes, but I'd also like a lot more performance than the stock L03 offers (I had a '90 RS, L03, 700r4, quite a terd with 170k miles). I like the idea of vortec heads b/c of the great power and price that comes along with them. I realize they require shaving to raise compression back up to stock and moderate to extensive chip tuning to get it running well in the least. I was set on the Edelbrock cam/intake combo since it seemed to go well together, but the specs on the cam were so low, seems like the heads would be hindered greatly due to the insufficient lift/duration the cam offers.

Any ideas on a great cam for this combo for daily driving/ some strip/ and "acceptable" mpg? I know the LT1 cam is common, but I'd like something bigger like a lot of people wish after they've completed the swap. Car will be a manual so no need for stall converter recommendations; usual basic bolt-ons are a given as well.

(Not going the 350 swap route, sticking with the 305 until the opportune time comes to swap in an LS1/T56. I don't have a job now because of school and can't work until next summer so that is close to the opportune time I hope)

Thanks in advance.

 

Well, I know your new, so Im not trippin, but these topics are covered all the time if you do a search.

As far as vortec heads, a lot of people swear by them, but they require vortec intake manifolds. I know GM makes a TBI vortec manifold, but they are pricey. Others do as well, but i havent looked into them so i dont much about that aspect.
The edelbrock cam is lame. Dont touch it. A lot of people like LT1 cams, although i think u can do better, especially if u can burn your own chips.

 

i ran this roller cam. if you have desk top dyno you can insert these numbers.462-.470 valve lift. 210int. 215exh @.50 106 INT 114 EXH LOBE CNTRS.
.050 TIMING: -1 BTC, 31 ABC, 41 BBC, -6 ATC.

ran this cam with world products heads. i put 2.02-1.6 valves 3angle job. pocket ported. stock intake but had to do a little grinding. "dont recommend". you can get another intake to seal proporly". under drive pully's, stock manifolds, with 3inch cat back 40 series flows. gutted cat. k&n. blah blah. with hypertech thermo-master chip it ran a 14.6. this is with a full size ext. cab step-side truck thats pretty heavy. with out the chip the truck slowed down a wholeeeeeee lot. if i had a custom chip before i pulled the motor "gas milage sucked" than i know it could have had more potential.
here i did it for you. if you use a 305 with my heads and cam you make est...296 hp at 5000 and 370 torque at 3000. you know how desktop dyno can be but thats just a guiess and it ran really good a reliable with out a chip on 83 octane also. so those numbers would have to be with the "PERFECT" TUNE.