Well, I finished my project tonight setting the lash a few hours ago. Everything is running good and it is idling real solid with a slight lope all on the tune I made when I had just the Holley intake, 670 and headers on. It's idling almost perfect!

Here's the rundown on what it has:

305 block ~70k original miles
081 TPI cylinder heads
ZZ4 cam
Larger diameter valve springs (from Fastburn 385)
New rockers and retainers (Off same Fastburn 385)
Holley 300-66 TBI Intake
Holley 670 modified for a GM injector pod
Hooker headers
Full new exhaust back to a Flowmaster 80 Series
3.42 Gears with Posi
5-speed trans

Had a few issues with grounds and wiring but worked them all out and it's running real good so far (knock on wood).

I'll keep you guys updated on the tuning process, and what happens when I put my BBC injectors in.

 

Awesome. You are the man Bron. Did you have the guides cut down on the 081's for that kind of the lift? I can't wait to see some track times. How come everyones projects are going faster than mine

 

Congrats Bron Your combo has really come together, and is really solid. Can't wait to see what you run!

 

Thanks guys. Yeah, I can't wait to get to the track. I got the guides cut, new valve seals, and the retainers I got were smaller giving more clearance. I also got the heads cleaned, resurfaced and a valve job.

I've got to get this thing tuned up now. It runs great part throttle, almost perfect. But it dies up top because it's running out of fuel and I'm only running about 26-27* of timing at WOT, so we'll see how it finishes up.

 

Because they didnt start by running into a guard rail. Oooooooh.

Wait, my **** doesnt run either. We suck.

 

mines about to come together, since i have to take off my intake manifold and clean that out for my cooling anyway... while i have it off ill just swap out my swirlies and peanut cam and put in my 083's and LT1 cam... but back to Bron... did you get the valve guides machined or did you do it yourself? cuz i need to take about .020" off of mine to accept the LT1 w/ 1.6RR

 

The machine shop took care of the guides and actually assembled the valves, springs and retainers. I just took everything apart and bagged it all for them and they assembled it no charge.

Put the big block injectors in today and started to tune but my power inverter crapped out on me and my laptop doesn't hold a charge. So, this is putting off the tuning process.

Got it running halfway decent with a value of 80 for the base pulse width. It's idling a little bit rougher with these injectors but seems like I can work it out.

 

Well, car won't start, turns out it wasn't the inverter that crapped out, it was the alternator. When I was setting valve lash the other day I sparked a valve cover against the hot terminal on the back of the alternator and fried it. New alternator goes on tonight, this is an expensive hobby

 

Congrats on the completion of your build!! Just a question...everybody on this board is always telling people to rebuild 350s instead of 305's. Just wondering why you went the 305 route? Combo looks sweet though

 

Well, I had a perfect running low mileage 305 that I put a lot of the miles on myself. I didn't have the money to do a full rebuilt 350 and didn't want to just use another block without boring and rebuilding it.

Plus I got these heads for free plus 300 bucks in machine work then I got the cam, rockers, springs and retainers for 100, all good deals.

Although looking back at it, there are a TON of hidden charges you don't think of being so expensive, I probably spent around 900 bucks total easy. Example: I busted the fan switch and oil pressure sending unit when pulling the motor. Delco parts from the dealer, the switch was $26 and the sending unit was $53 (for a little piece of plastic) that kind of stuff drives you nuts and runs the costs way up.

But, if your going to actually rebuild a block, i.e. bore it out, new pistons and everything then a 350 or larger is the only way to go. After pulling apart a 350 and now pulling apart this 305 the bores look tiny on this thing.

 

yeah, those hidden charges add up in a heart beat. Going to a larger displacement is always good for more power, but then you will run into even more things to nickle and dime you to death. Bron, I would imagine you would have to worry about smog as well.
I think in your situation, sticking with the 305 was a good choice.

 

Actually, I just registered my car in Michigan. Which means I don't have to pass a smog test and don't need a front license plate. Which is good because I removed A.I.R. already and don't have an EGR valve.

 

Yeah same with me man. I am in Cali but my car is registered in FL so it makes it really easy for me. Are you in the military also?

Bill

 

Nope, I actually go to school down at University of Illinois in Champaign. You a military man?

Jim

 

Yeah man I am in the Navy. Love it and would not trade it for the world.

Bill