I have a 305 LO3/TBI setup now. I gotta find a new motor or do something with this motor, Im not used to anything this slow (yes its stock). Sometimes I think I spent all day trying to figure out which way to go with it. I've spent hours reading this board and I think im not closer to a decision.

Goals: street car with good torque, wont embarass itself at the track for occasion trips (13-14 1/4 mile would be the target)

I want to keep it simple and ina reasonable budget -- I went a little nuts with my last project and my wife is still a little pissed.

So here is what I have considered, any insight or thoughts appreciated:
1. swap to a 350 TBI motor, get a chip burned, stick with TBI setup
2. build up a 335 TBI stroker motor, a friend is doing this and offered to swap blocks with me once his is setup.
3. Swap to an LT1 -- a pain to work on, dont like the optispark, but reasonably affordable and will give me good torque and pretty good peak power with light modification
4. LS1 -- probably not, since it will be expensive, and I already have a built-up LS1. Also stock ls1 doesnt have a great low end torque, which I want.
5. Carb Motor -- ditch existing motor/TBI and get a sbc 350 or even 383. Seems fairly simple copmpared to some of the other options.

input?

 

If gas mileage and keeping it tbi or fuel injected isn't a primary concern, then I would go with option three, a carbed 383. Great torque potential and easiest, quickest to get running.

Steve

 

Don't even wast eyour time with otpin #2. You would be spending more and getting less than if you went with a 350. Rebuilding a 350 is cheaper than making a 334 stroker. I would look into options 1 or 3 if you want the car to have good street manors. Not a 383 carb wouldn't, you just wouldn;t get the same mileage. There are alternatives to the opti and you can nail down an easy 28mpg with an LT1 and the right gearing. I hit 29mpg all the time in my old 95 T56 Z.

The ceapest route for the fastest hp gains woul dbe to go with a 350 TBI. You can get a 350 from anywhere and adapt your current TBI stuff on top of it. Even though you have to buy larger injectors and a few other goodies, the swap is straight forward and you can be on your way to 300hp and 24mpg if done right. You will need to burn your own chips should you decide to go this route. If you want your TBI vehile to have good street manors and knock down great mileage you will have to do the chip work yourself. Mail order chips won't cut it and leave way too much on the table for it to be considerd a viable option.

 

I guess I would like to keep the car's gas mileage good enough for me to drive to work, so low to mid 20s would be great if I can manage it.

The TBi chip thing seems particularly painful from what i have read, Im not sure I have the patience for it, but if thats going to end up being the best option to get me my goals then I guess I will do it.

 

They've become very affordable, and offer excellent power with light modification. This third choice here, to me, is a no brainer... you can't beat 12 second 1/4's (after modding), and over 20mpg.

Not too difficult to work on, and only the earlier optispark's were a problem...

 

Take a roller 350 TBI, port the swirl ports or change to some ported 083 TPI heads, stick a LT1 roller cam in it, get an exhaust system from the exhaust ports back, ultimate TBI mods, some tuning and you will be looking at 260+ RWHP and 25 mpg if you can keep your foot out of it.