Hello everyone.
I am trying to decide what to do with my engine. It is a 305TBI from a 88 RS. Basically I would like some more power as the 170 HP stocky (if that due to age) pales along side my 2004 HSV Clubsport that has a factory 380HP GenIII.

But not sure I am ready to tip a heap of cash into this car as it is not an IROC, and well just not sure yet.

What I would like is around 300 flywheel HP. Also if possible I would like to keep the 305 because over here in Australia, an engine swap to a larger size will require a police inspection, and then they can get picky about brake upgrades and everything else.

It also occurs to me that money spent on a bigger block, crank, pistons, etc might be better spent getting the engine to breathe better, cause I bet you need to do that on the 350 anyway. And 300 HP is not a huge number.

So my questions are:

1. Am I wasting my time in trying to get 300HP from a 305?

2. If not, then how best to do it?

I have been reading a lot of the info contained in the posts already present, but am struggling to find or understand a combo that will deliver what I want. Plus most posts say to dump the 305.

Can anyone help here please?

Thanks

Tim

 

in most opinions you would be better off forgetting about the 305, you could put 350 heads on it and put a tpi system on it, with some twin turbos, cold air, and a more open exhaust. there are other ways but personally i would just put up with the police inspection and throw in a 350 it is much easier and cheaper to get a number like 300 out of a 350.

 

Its not that hard to get 300 HP out of a roller cam 305 TBI engine.

ZZ4 Cam

ZZ4 Heads

Holley Projection TBI manifold

Full exhaust from the head ports back

454 TBI unit

Prom tuning

Thats about it

 

Don't put 350 heads on the 305 on a NA engine. It will drop the compression ratio too much, and the engine will be a real dog. With forced induction, it would work well.

 

Unless those heads are the latest ZZ4 castings with 58cc chambers.

 

as i'll get my hands on a L03 in the foreseeable future, i have a question about the setup posted by you, Fast355.. i have already read several threads or posts by you, i think you have the experience to answer my questions

approx. where will be the power peak of the setup posted and where in the rpm band/how much will be the tq put out by this? cause i would like to get some nice low end tq rather than a max hp hirpm engine..

thanks in advance,
greetz ownor

 

i dunno if you're reinforcing what i said or what but i had suggested the 350 heads with turbos, i was gonna do that on my lo3 with the tpi but the reality of cost is a problem.

 

everybody.

I appreciate your input. Now if I was to go and buy the list suggested, ie the ZZ4 Cam, ZZ4 Heads, Holley Projection TBI manifold, and the 454 TBI unit, where would you guys go to get it, and what do you think the parts are worth?

This may sound like a trivial exercise, but from Australia it is quite difficult. Is there a reputable wrecker who would have all of that in stock anyone could recommend?

Thanks again.

 

How would the police know its a 350 in there? I mean... they look exactly the same. Could a 350 pass the smog requirements for a 305? MUHAHAHAHAHAHA!

 

haha, yeah just swap in a 350 and nobody will ever be the wiser. just don't go and tell the police what you did. it's only illegal if you get caught

 

I have been visiting this site for 2 years. I hear people complain there 1986 Firebird isnt as fast a the new Jap ****. There is one thing, your driving a F^%$ing Firebird. 95% of the people want to be driving a car like us. The rest are F*&^ing morons. Enjoy your car, big deal if it isnt as fast as the current Rice Fart 2000. Peel the T Tops off and cruise! I remember I was on my Goldwing one day and a Harley pulled up beside me. Here I was with a 1200lbs bike, am/fm cassette, cruise control, full fairings, running boards, over 60 lights and heat. It wasnt as fast as the Harley or as sporty, but the look on there faces said it all. By the way, Goldwings are built and only sold in the USA.

 

Dude, not to be mean but the look on their face was probably pity.......hahahahahha, just kidding.........HD all the way for me.....Rode alot of hondas, but the feeling is not the same at least for me......Please dont shoot me for the post tho...

 

guys i dunno what you're talking about but his other car is a gm product.

 

throw some nitrous on that pig and be happy i did it and it was worth every penny. just make sure its tuned right not too lean not too rich and youre good i running a 130 shot as is right now no problems what so ever and when i need that extra power i just hit the button and im gone. BTW im running with LT1s(bolt on, 6 speed), 350z(6 speed), 3000gt vr4 (modded). other than that on my car i just have a small catback and an open element thats all. its cheap effective and you can still just cruise without worrying about gas mileage with turbos and superchargers and such.

 

Hey, for anyone who has not seen a HSV Clubsport, see attached pic. Yes it is a GM product.

Any advice on where to get the ZZ4 stuff, etc?

Thanks

 

just out of a matter of missunderstanding, do you want to buy the zz4 stuff in the us and have it shipped or buy it 'down under'? i can't imagine it will be easy to find all the parts at your place unless you have these huge yards with GM-related junk as well

 

Yes, I wish to find it all in the US first. I feel it will be difficult to locate in Oz!

Thanks

Tim

 

Gall, actually its that look you get after a 2 hour ride on a Harley. The grimace, oh my back I'm selling this. The same reason HD usually have 3,000 on the odometer and the Goldwings have 100,000.

 

Interestingly I had a Honda Valkyrie (Goldwing in a custom style) which I sold to buy my Camaro. Was a great bike, but the car suits the family better. And FYI, you can also buy Goldwings in Australia.

Tim

 

Funny, I sold my HD to buy my Firebird, easier on the back.

 

The ZZ4 is a 355 HP 350 crate engine offered by GM Performance Parts in the Us. The cams and heads turn up on Ebay all the time. You can also find them in the classified section here. Whether or not the individual would ship to Australia or not is an entirely different matter.

 

anyone who can share their knowledge to answer this one?

 

hey banger
why dont you fit a gen3 into the camaro alteast you'll be able to get all the parts easy and should just bolt in ,think all the mounts are the same. would be great if u could fid a wrecked cluby or something.

can anyone confirm if this engine will fit its the same as whats in the new pontiac GTO?

 

yeah it'll fit, it's still a chevy small block. its just a matter of having the wiring and transmission and everything to work along with it.
it'd be cheaper to modify the engine he already has or to buy the same gen block as the lo3, but to get a 350.

 

dumb question but isnt a banger a sausage in australia? (bangers and mash=sausage and mashed potatoes). interesting choice of a name

 

Yes it is kind of a dumb name. Previously I had on old FJ73 landcruiser we called the banger 'cause it did not have the smoothest ride around. And then I used that name on a landcruiser forum too.

So when I bought the Camaro, and needed a name for this group, rather than being too inventive, I just used the old name.

Coming up with names and passwords I always find difficult so if I find one I like, I tend to stick with it. Thus you will find banger on the aussie camaro site too.

But it is silly I agree. And yes bangers'n'mash is sausages and potatoes.
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Hey Aussie_Camaro,

you have the same engine as me. Do you have any plans for it? Nice XD by the way.

Tim

 

if your mind is in the gutter then banger is an absolutely terrible name for a sausage you are about to eat. when you're finished with it havent you technically just taken a banger to the mouth? "hows it fred" "oh great dave, i just ate a huge spicy banger, filled me right up"

 

Oddly enough, here in Oz we would never say we just ate a banger. The term is really only used as part of bangers'n'mash, rarely, if ever, on its own. Probably for the reasons you quote rockit.

 

yea i spose it would be bad if you choked on a banger.. well, take her easy.

 

hey banger no real plans for the camaro engine trying to keep this one a bit more economical. if i ever did i certanly look at putting a gen3 in it .

just orderd 3" exhaust ,1" lowerd springs and 17" wheels so that'll do for now , the wife drives it more than me anyway.

thanks the XD is a bit trirsty and doesnt like to be driven slow . thats why the camaro's staying stock.

 

Hey Aussie.
yes you may be onto something. Did the 3" exhaust come from the US? Does it include extractors?

Thanks

 

3" cat back custom exhaust is getting done from MCE Motorsport. Just have to lower the car first to know how much clearance there is.

 

Banger / Aussie Why is it so hard to get new sbc parts or boneyard engines downunder? I thought Holden had used them for a long time. Is there not much call for aftermarket parts there either?

As far as the cheapist /easiest thing to do would be to just put a 1st gen 350 in it. Johnnyboy said it first, the 305 and 350 blocks look the same, so unless someone is checking the numbers on the block knowone would ever know the differeance.

Steve

 

Hi Steve,

well Holden did once use the SBC in our early Monaros and the like but they were replaced with an all Aussie V8 in about 1970. So none of the good stuff with ZZ4 heads or whatever was sold here.

Until in 2000 when the GenIII was introduced to replace the Aussie V8 which had seen service for about 30 years.

Of course the SBC is very popular over here for aftermarket and you can buy all the same new stuff as you guys can get.

But the original point of the question was, what is a CHEAPish way to get 300 FWHP (or 230ish RWHP) out of my engine. The original 350's were only good for 240 FWHP so extra money is required to get them up to the 300 level. Given that, is changing the block the best place to start. If they both need better heads, bigger injectors, etc. say, then why change blocks at all?

Or put differently, is Fast355's combo more economical than a block change plus whatever else would still be required?

Thanks

 

If it's not to hard to get your hands on a cheap rebuildable 350 I think it would be much easier and may be even cheaper to reach your 300hp goal. You will definitely have more low and midrange tq. I know here in the states it's cheaper to build a 350 and 300hp is as easy as a good rv cam and the rest bolt ons ie... aluminum intake, 650 carb, headers, catback ect....

Jegs and Summit amoung others sell a stock replacement 350 that make 290hp with a stock cam and the above mentioned boltons.

Steve