305 power....but there's a catch!
Originally posted by iroc22
The 350's actually have better combustion because of more surface area; which will increase burning efficiency. The smaller bores on the 305 puts less stress on the rods and crank though.
The 350's actually have better combustion because of more surface area; which will increase burning efficiency. The smaller bores on the 305 puts less stress on the rods and crank though.
"Stress on the rods and crank" is what we usually call horsepower/torque around here. LMAO To make more power you want MORE stress !! So yeah the 305 does put less stress on them... because it makes less power!
Originally posted by Odyssey
"Stress on the rods and crank" is what we usually call horsepower/torque around here. LMAO To make more power you want MORE stress !! So yeah the 305 does put less stress on them... because it makes less power!
"Stress on the rods and crank" is what we usually call horsepower/torque around here. LMAO To make more power you want MORE stress !! So yeah the 305 does put less stress on them... because it makes less power!
Originally posted by chrimv
I NEVER ONCE STATED THAT A 305 COULD OUT RUN A HIGLY BUILT 350 OR ONE WITH THE SAME MODS. .
I NEVER ONCE STATED THAT A 305 COULD OUT RUN A HIGLY BUILT 350 OR ONE WITH THE SAME MODS. .
Originally posted by chrimv
! I can prove that a 305 mildly built will lay down a mildly built 350! .
! I can prove that a 305 mildly built will lay down a mildly built 350! .
Member

Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: Sweden
Car: Trans Am -84
Engine: 355, Twin Turbo
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.73 open
Hello si-camaro.
I live in Sweden and over here we don't have your kind of problem, we've got A LOT of american cars over here, though parts are a little bit expensive. As far as I know parts are even more expensive in England. Perhaps you should take a trip over to Sweden and look at some 350's and just get one. You could take the engine on a pickup or in a stationwagoon.
Take a one week long vacation in Sweden and try to find an engine while you're here, I can give you some phonenumbers if you'd like. If you don't find one you can always buy mine so that I can finally get a forged bottom end.
My engine is a, 350 +.30, Edelbrock cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, Edelbrock Performer Series carburetor 600 cfm, Ported GM 441 heads, estimated 320-350 hp @ 5800 rpm.
If you decide to go with your 305, port your heads, get a new cam. Comp Cams XE268 is great for your engine, get headers and a 3" exhaust zand a better intake. That way you could probably get to about 300 hp. People have run low 14's with that setup.
/Anders
Webmaster: Trans Am Club of Sweden
http://www.tacs.nu
http://www.tacs.nu/forum
I live in Sweden and over here we don't have your kind of problem, we've got A LOT of american cars over here, though parts are a little bit expensive. As far as I know parts are even more expensive in England. Perhaps you should take a trip over to Sweden and look at some 350's and just get one. You could take the engine on a pickup or in a stationwagoon.
Take a one week long vacation in Sweden and try to find an engine while you're here, I can give you some phonenumbers if you'd like. If you don't find one you can always buy mine so that I can finally get a forged bottom end.
My engine is a, 350 +.30, Edelbrock cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, Edelbrock Performer Series carburetor 600 cfm, Ported GM 441 heads, estimated 320-350 hp @ 5800 rpm.
If you decide to go with your 305, port your heads, get a new cam. Comp Cams XE268 is great for your engine, get headers and a 3" exhaust zand a better intake. That way you could probably get to about 300 hp. People have run low 14's with that setup.
/Anders
Webmaster: Trans Am Club of Sweden
http://www.tacs.nu
http://www.tacs.nu/forum
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 649
Likes: 0
From: San Rafael, CA
Car: 1988 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 5.7L TPI (L98)
Transmission: 700RJunk
Man, some of you 305 guys rank up (or down for this matter) with the TBI crowd when it comes to dealing with reality. The 305 was a lo-po smog motor from the late '70's and it really needs to stay there. The only thing going for 305's is longevity. I had a 305 in my old '87 Formula that i drove the **** out of and it still ran well when i sold it with 150K on the clock. But thats it. Its a small bore/long stroke motor which is great for granny's caprice or a little pick-up but NOT for going fast. Why do you think the ford 5.0's smoke 305 cars with basically the same displacement, in both stock and modified form? Not only will the 350 blow the doors off a 305 (by a factor much greater than the 350's displacement advantage) with the same mods but it is easier to modify and there are much more good parts out there for standard 4" bore sbc's (302, 327, 350). Sure, just about all of those parts can go on a 305 as well but will it work ok? Go out and find an a decent head out there outside of the aluminum L98 heads (which are far from the best head) that won't kill your compression without a trip (and $$$) to the machine shop. Good luck squeezing some decent sized valves into those bores. And i don't see too many 305 pistons or rings in my jegs or my summit catalog either. Look, if you had say a roller 305 engine in real nice condition and you're goals are not too lofty, work with it. But if i'm trying to put down some serious HP, i'm going to put down my money on a 350 instead of digging into an old 305.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 744
Likes: 1
From: England UK
Car: 85 Z28
Engine: LG4 modified
Transmission: 700R4
OK I think some people are missing the whole point of this thread. The reason I went to the trouble of stating those factors in the very first post was to avoid another rendition of the 305 vs 350 argument. I (the one who started the thread) have already made it quite clear that for my own reasons I am not interested in a 350. This means that I am not interested in how much better they are, how easy they are to tune, and how the 305 is a "granny motor". I don't care! If people really want to argue over this old, old subject, then please do a search and find someone who is undecided on which motor to go for. Do not try to convert the people who have already decided...PLEASE!
Other than that, I wish to thank the people who have gone to the trouble of helping me out on this one. I will doubtlessly think of some more questions later in the rebuild...however if there are any more posts telling me to get a 350 I'll be starting a new thread for it.
Sorry if I've offended anyone, it was not intentional...I just wish people would read the question before posting. Sure, I like to keep my options open, but in this case I have already decided on my route.
Si
Other than that, I wish to thank the people who have gone to the trouble of helping me out on this one. I will doubtlessly think of some more questions later in the rebuild...however if there are any more posts telling me to get a 350 I'll be starting a new thread for it.
Sorry if I've offended anyone, it was not intentional...I just wish people would read the question before posting. Sure, I like to keep my options open, but in this case I have already decided on my route.
Si
Supreme Member
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,238
Likes: 4
From: Calgary, Alberta, Republic of Western Canada
Car: 1986 Sport Coupé
Engine: 305-4v
Transmission: 700R4 and TransGo2
Originally posted by evil t/a
Dude , threads are like conversations , they flow ,and they dont always have to be about the original topic.
Dude , threads are like conversations , they flow ,and they dont always have to be about the original topic.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 744
Likes: 1
From: England UK
Car: 85 Z28
Engine: LG4 modified
Transmission: 700R4
evil t/a,
Don't get me wrong - I like the way threads evolve into discussions, but there are many threads which are aimed at the 305/350 argument, whereas I'd hoped to keep this one purely 305 oriented. And sure, if someone wants to recommend a 350 for one reason or another, then I'm happy to listen. But you've been around for a while, you know as well as I do that these things can so easily turn into wars of words, and flaming for the sake of flaming. And it seems this one is becoming just like that. As I said before, I don't want to offend anyone. Nor do I want to pretend that this thread is all mine and choose who can reply and who can't. None of my previous message was aimed at you, my friend.
And incase anyone is of the illusion that I think a 305 can "whup" a 350 in the power/$ stakes...not at all. But as you can see from the start, the power I would like is within reach of the 305's capabilities, without over spending.
Sitting Bull,
Your input has been a g0dsend. Thanks very much for understanding!
Everyone else too (really don't have the energy to recall everyone's name, but you know who you are) thanks a lot for your help.....it's not over yet!
Si
Don't get me wrong - I like the way threads evolve into discussions, but there are many threads which are aimed at the 305/350 argument, whereas I'd hoped to keep this one purely 305 oriented. And sure, if someone wants to recommend a 350 for one reason or another, then I'm happy to listen. But you've been around for a while, you know as well as I do that these things can so easily turn into wars of words, and flaming for the sake of flaming. And it seems this one is becoming just like that. As I said before, I don't want to offend anyone. Nor do I want to pretend that this thread is all mine and choose who can reply and who can't. None of my previous message was aimed at you, my friend.
And incase anyone is of the illusion that I think a 305 can "whup" a 350 in the power/$ stakes...not at all. But as you can see from the start, the power I would like is within reach of the 305's capabilities, without over spending.
Sitting Bull,
Your input has been a g0dsend. Thanks very much for understanding!
Everyone else too (really don't have the energy to recall everyone's name, but you know who you are) thanks a lot for your help.....it's not over yet!
Si
hey u 350 retards.... we know 350s can be made to fly to the moon... whatever... but we dont care.... we have the 305 and we do wana build it up.... maybe one of us will take our 305 to the next level... hey.. at one point 350s were tested to there limmits... and there still beeing broken today... y cant the 305 become just as popular as the 350.... everyone wants to test there 305 it can be a very mean street engine.... would we all like to have a 350... im sure... hell yea i would like to have 2 or 3 lyin around.... just let us take our 305s as far as we can take it.... the more its done... the cheaper and cheaper is will become....
Originally posted by bigals87z28
hey u 350 retards.... we know 350s can be made to fly to the moon... whatever... but we dont care.... we have the 305 and we do wana build it up.... maybe one of us will take our 305 to the next level... hey.. at one point 350s were tested to there limmits... and there still beeing broken today... y cant the 305 become just as popular as the 350.... everyone wants to test there 305 it can be a very mean street engine.... would we all like to have a 350... im sure... hell yea i would like to have 2 or 3 lyin around.... just let us take our 305s as far as we can take it.... the more its done... the cheaper and cheaper is will become....
hey u 350 retards.... we know 350s can be made to fly to the moon... whatever... but we dont care.... we have the 305 and we do wana build it up.... maybe one of us will take our 305 to the next level... hey.. at one point 350s were tested to there limmits... and there still beeing broken today... y cant the 305 become just as popular as the 350.... everyone wants to test there 305 it can be a very mean street engine.... would we all like to have a 350... im sure... hell yea i would like to have 2 or 3 lyin around.... just let us take our 305s as far as we can take it.... the more its done... the cheaper and cheaper is will become....
I would respond but I dont know what the hell you just said.
Anyone have a gibberish to english translator ?
Si,
Just a few thoughts for you to ponder.
I recently installed a copy of the Edelbrock Performer camshaft in my LG4. 204-214 dur. .420-.442 lift
And I installed a set of Flowtech shorty headers and y-pipe.
And I installed the L69 carb kit, it has larger main jets and different secondary rods and hanger.
My motor has 8.6:1 compression, I don't remember what year GM gave the LG4 the higher compression ratio, but with these mods and the L69 dual snorkle air cleaner, my motor pulls strongest from 2000 through 4800 rpm, it still has good power from 4800-5500, but I try to keep it below 5000 rpm.
I'm certain that if I were to get a 3" cat and 3"cat back exhaust, the power numbers would improve on the top end.
I sometimes wonder if I shouldn't have gone with the next bigger camshaft that Summit Racing offered, which was some thing like a 214-224 dur .442-.465 lift. But I'm not going to agonize over it because 1. the power band would have probably extended over my self imposed 5000rpm redline and 2. I'm very pleased with the performance that my LG4 has attained with just the minor modifications already done.
If you want to spend money. buy the Edelbrock Performer intake and put your ccc Q-jet on it.
If you need/want to put the money elsewhere, keep the factory aluminumn intake, it's not a bad piece of equipment.
IMHO, your Q-jet is the best route for you to go. It will give you excellent fuel economy, if you keep your foot out of it
and is capable of flowing more cfm than the LG4 will ever use.
Get a Year Specific Factory Service manual and read read read. It will teach you more than you ever wanted to know about the car.
If you have the time, patience, mechanical ability, and tools, you can port your heads but, if you can get a set of World S/R torquers (sp?) you would be further ahead than playing with the stock heads. But from the sound of your post the heads are coming off and going right back on. You may want to have a machine shop mill the heads down a little to bump the compression up a little bit (notice I said "little" twice) and to make sure they are good and flat. If the heads are shaved too much, you run into fitment problems between the heads and the intake.
As far as the ignition system goes, if you can scrounge up an Accel HEI super coil, you wouldn't have any problem sparking up those fresh ponies under the hood.
As for the ecm, leave it alone, from my own experience and from what I've read, replacing the PROM is pretty much a waste of money when it comes to carburated engines.
One other thing, I assume that you have an overdrive transmission. If so, for a few hundred dollars, you could go with a higher numerical ring and pinion for acceleration, and still have good top speed and fuel economy. But you would have to know what ratio is already in the rear end. If it is 3.23 or higher, you can install the higher gears, no problem. If the ratio is lower than 3.23, you will need a different carrier.
And just for grins 305's rule 350's drool
Just kidding folks. Don't want to fan the flames :nono:
Just a few thoughts for you to ponder.
I recently installed a copy of the Edelbrock Performer camshaft in my LG4. 204-214 dur. .420-.442 lift
And I installed a set of Flowtech shorty headers and y-pipe.
And I installed the L69 carb kit, it has larger main jets and different secondary rods and hanger.
My motor has 8.6:1 compression, I don't remember what year GM gave the LG4 the higher compression ratio, but with these mods and the L69 dual snorkle air cleaner, my motor pulls strongest from 2000 through 4800 rpm, it still has good power from 4800-5500, but I try to keep it below 5000 rpm.
I'm certain that if I were to get a 3" cat and 3"cat back exhaust, the power numbers would improve on the top end.
I sometimes wonder if I shouldn't have gone with the next bigger camshaft that Summit Racing offered, which was some thing like a 214-224 dur .442-.465 lift. But I'm not going to agonize over it because 1. the power band would have probably extended over my self imposed 5000rpm redline and 2. I'm very pleased with the performance that my LG4 has attained with just the minor modifications already done.
If you want to spend money. buy the Edelbrock Performer intake and put your ccc Q-jet on it.
If you need/want to put the money elsewhere, keep the factory aluminumn intake, it's not a bad piece of equipment.
IMHO, your Q-jet is the best route for you to go. It will give you excellent fuel economy, if you keep your foot out of it
and is capable of flowing more cfm than the LG4 will ever use.Get a Year Specific Factory Service manual and read read read. It will teach you more than you ever wanted to know about the car.
If you have the time, patience, mechanical ability, and tools, you can port your heads but, if you can get a set of World S/R torquers (sp?) you would be further ahead than playing with the stock heads. But from the sound of your post the heads are coming off and going right back on. You may want to have a machine shop mill the heads down a little to bump the compression up a little bit (notice I said "little" twice) and to make sure they are good and flat. If the heads are shaved too much, you run into fitment problems between the heads and the intake.
As far as the ignition system goes, if you can scrounge up an Accel HEI super coil, you wouldn't have any problem sparking up those fresh ponies under the hood.
As for the ecm, leave it alone, from my own experience and from what I've read, replacing the PROM is pretty much a waste of money when it comes to carburated engines.
One other thing, I assume that you have an overdrive transmission. If so, for a few hundred dollars, you could go with a higher numerical ring and pinion for acceleration, and still have good top speed and fuel economy. But you would have to know what ratio is already in the rear end. If it is 3.23 or higher, you can install the higher gears, no problem. If the ratio is lower than 3.23, you will need a different carrier.
And just for grins 305's rule 350's drool
Just kidding folks. Don't want to fan the flames :nono:
Of course, now that I have spent an hour hunting and pecking the key board, I noticed that your original post is 2 weeks old
Oh well, keep us informed of your progress and what components you used and most importantly, tell us about the performance improvement
Oh well, keep us informed of your progress and what components you used and most importantly, tell us about the performance improvement
Supreme Member
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,238
Likes: 4
From: Calgary, Alberta, Republic of Western Canada
Car: 1986 Sport Coupé
Engine: 305-4v
Transmission: 700R4 and TransGo2
Originally posted by jeffs82z28
Of course, now that I have spent an hour hunting and pecking the key board, I noticed that your original post is 2 weeks old
Oh well, keep us informed of your progress and what components you used and most importantly, tell us about the performance improvement
Of course, now that I have spent an hour hunting and pecking the key board, I noticed that your original post is 2 weeks old
Oh well, keep us informed of your progress and what components you used and most importantly, tell us about the performance improvement
well guys since a few of the more childish members here have resorted to name calling when they lacked words for a senseable and logical argument this thread is done. thanks for understanding and enjoy yourself while you're visiting thirdgen.org.
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