Hi, I have been reading a lot on this board and I am looking to make my 305 faster this summer. I already have headers, catback, open air element, ignition box, and a nitrous kit. I am looking to upgrade the heads, cam, and intake manifold. Here is the setup I am thinking of:
vortec head machined for .525 lift
LT4 cam or Hot cam (not sure on the cam)
eldelbrock performer or performer rpm manifold.
Holley TBI
I will also be doing a t56 swap (my uncle has one) and I am unsure what gear to use.
This setup is fairly similar to DM91RS.
I want to keep the 305 because I am in college and this is the engine that I am learning on. I am willing to sacrifice some drivability for performance. I will need help burning my own chips so any tips on that would be greatly appreciated, I already have WinALDL and have been using it.
vortec head machined for .525 lift
LT4 cam or Hot cam (not sure on the cam)
eldelbrock performer or performer rpm manifold.
Holley TBI
I will also be doing a t56 swap (my uncle has one) and I am unsure what gear to use.
This setup is fairly similar to DM91RS.
I want to keep the 305 because I am in college and this is the engine that I am learning on. I am willing to sacrifice some drivability for performance. I will need help burning my own chips so any tips on that would be greatly appreciated, I already have WinALDL and have been using it.
Moderator
I hate to sound like the people who always say "just stick in a 350" but for the kind of work you just described, you could do all that on a 350 with only a *tad* bit more work pulling out the short-block (or maybe actually a tad less since you could do a lot of it faster with the engine out of the car).
I know you say that you're "learning on the 305", but keep in mind that the 305 is dimensionally identical to a 350. Everything that can bolt to a 305 will bolt to a 350, even if it might not be the best thing for it, so learning on one is learning on the other.
Anyway, I say all that because there was no discernable "question" in your post, so I just spit out what I was thinking. Most of what you mentioned would work better on a 350 (for example that cam and TB would be a bit much on a 305).
Also, with your T56 swap, the gear you choose would depend on what you intend to do with the car. It sounds like you drive the car every day over a long distance since you mentioned being in college, so I'd say no higher (numerically) than a 3.42 gear ratio. But you said you'd sacrifice some drivabilty (keyword some) for performance, so depending on the final engine combination that you settle on, you could go up to 3.73 for a rear gear ratio.
As far as help burning your own chip, you'll get any help you ask for here as long as you can put up with some of the more self-absorbed people you'll encounter doing it. Welcome to Thirdgen.Org.
I know you say that you're "learning on the 305", but keep in mind that the 305 is dimensionally identical to a 350. Everything that can bolt to a 305 will bolt to a 350, even if it might not be the best thing for it, so learning on one is learning on the other.
Anyway, I say all that because there was no discernable "question" in your post, so I just spit out what I was thinking. Most of what you mentioned would work better on a 350 (for example that cam and TB would be a bit much on a 305).
Also, with your T56 swap, the gear you choose would depend on what you intend to do with the car. It sounds like you drive the car every day over a long distance since you mentioned being in college, so I'd say no higher (numerically) than a 3.42 gear ratio. But you said you'd sacrifice some drivabilty (keyword some) for performance, so depending on the final engine combination that you settle on, you could go up to 3.73 for a rear gear ratio.
As far as help burning your own chip, you'll get any help you ask for here as long as you can put up with some of the more self-absorbed people you'll encounter doing it. Welcome to Thirdgen.Org.
Thanks for the reply
I have considered going with the 350, but with the money I will have this summer I don't think I could afford it. I plan on spending about 1300-1500 on the engine. If I could get a 350 and make it as fast as a 305 with the mods that I am planning I would do it.
With my previous post I just wanted to know how difficult it would be to make this setup work. I have to retain EGR so I know I will have that to deal with. I also wanted some suggestions on the cam and manifold. I forgot to mention that I live on campus and don't drive more than 100 miles a week. Also I am just looking to make the car a mid to low 13 second car if that is possible.
I have considered going with the 350, but with the money I will have this summer I don't think I could afford it. I plan on spending about 1300-1500 on the engine. If I could get a 350 and make it as fast as a 305 with the mods that I am planning I would do it.
With my previous post I just wanted to know how difficult it would be to make this setup work. I have to retain EGR so I know I will have that to deal with. I also wanted some suggestions on the cam and manifold. I forgot to mention that I live on campus and don't drive more than 100 miles a week. Also I am just looking to make the car a mid to low 13 second car if that is possible.
Supreme Member
JR......I'd be surprised with the times you are expecting. I can't really say because I'm more of an open road big sweeper kind of driver. But...it pulls well to 130ish.
The Hot LT4 is too much IMO for a 305 without alot of tuning by someone who know what they're doing.
The LT4 stock or LT1 cam would be a better choice IMO. If I had to do it again I would do the cam and install a better intake on the stock heads and keep the Vortec's for a larger inch engine later.
What year T56 do you have? The ratios are different for different years and this could affect your rear gear selection.
The Hot LT4 is too much IMO for a 305 without alot of tuning by someone who know what they're doing.
The LT4 stock or LT1 cam would be a better choice IMO. If I had to do it again I would do the cam and install a better intake on the stock heads and keep the Vortec's for a larger inch engine later.
What year T56 do you have? The ratios are different for different years and this could affect your rear gear selection.
DM91RS, I was wondering if you kept EGR with the vortec heads, and if so what did you have to do. Also how much tuning did you have to do to get your setup running? Did you use an adapter plate for the TBI to the manifold or are you using a TBI manifold and how is your hood clearance? The t56 is out of a 95 camaro and I was thinking of going with a 4.10 gear ratio.
Supreme Member
Quote:
Originally posted by JR305
DM91RS, I was wondering if you kept EGR with the vortec heads, and if so what did you have to do. Also how much tuning did you have to do to get your setup running? Did you use an adapter plate for the TBI to the manifold or are you using a TBI manifold and how is your hood clearance? The t56 is out of a 95 camaro and I was thinking of going with a 4.10 gear ratio.
JR no I do not have egr and I am still tuning the prom. Wot is great but still have some part throttle probs to tune.Originally posted by JR305
DM91RS, I was wondering if you kept EGR with the vortec heads, and if so what did you have to do. Also how much tuning did you have to do to get your setup running? Did you use an adapter plate for the TBI to the manifold or are you using a TBI manifold and how is your hood clearance? The t56 is out of a 95 camaro and I was thinking of going with a 4.10 gear ratio.
I have an adapter plate and a reg Vortec Performer intake. With a regular TBI bottom breather and a 1" taller lid off a LO5 cop car it just clears the hood with no insulation and some bracing cut out. The adapter plate is .500 thick I think.
With a 95 model trans it should have a .50 6th gear and in 6th with a 4.10 rear you will be cruising with a 2.05 final drive which is very good to go
Here is a photo showing the plate on the Vortec intake