im looking at transams and id get the 350, but i want a 5spd, how good are the 305's? are they worth modding out? and are they fasT? i want to be able to beat my fare share of cars.. and dust every little ***** that is in my neighborhood. pls put some info in, just 170hp isnt the much is it?

 

305's aren't bad. But if you must have a manual tranny you have to use a T56 6 speed from a newer 4th gen F-body. The one's in the 3rd gens couldn't handle the power of the 350. That is why they were never offered that way. And alot of 305 and 350 mods are interchangeable. Also if you are going to do a 305 make sure it is a TPI not a carb or TBI. The TBI is problematic and the carb it comes with is nothing special. The TPI's stock have the most horsepower and torque for those cars. And although HP seems kind of low on some models (ranging from 160HP to 210 depending on the engine code and model year. The newer the better.) they have alot more torque then you would expect. Espeically after 1985. My engine has at least 190HP but has 295TQ. The torque matters alot. It compensates for the weight of the car. That's why a 200HP Honda Prelude is no match for a 3rd gen stock. It has only about 170TQ. Almost half of the F-body. If you get a good deal on a 305 you won't be dissapointed. And you can engine swap easily to a 350. If you get a 350 then your just ahead of the game and can go straight to moddifiying. Hope this clears things up and helps.

 

With what I know now, I wouldn't buy a 305 car even with a 5spd.

The 350 will respond better to mods and you can swap in a stick if you want, like a T56.

Stock some 305/5spd ones with G92 option could run mid 14s.

 

I think you would not have any problem with ANY ricers with a 305, unless they have some serious $$$ under the hood. Anything can be made to go fast, including carb'ed and TBI 305's. Ya, if you can find a TPI cheap, go for it, but a carbed 305 would probably be easier and cheaper to work on, mod-wise, I would think. They're a lot simpler. It dont take much to have a slightly modded 305 that will hang with most cars out there, unless of coarse someone rolls by with an LT1 or something......in that case, i dont know what to tell you.........
OF COARSE, a 350 is going to be faster and more powerful than a 305 BUT............I think 305's are good dependable motors that can give you some good power if you know where to look for it........can't give you advise on the 5spd question tho, never drove one.....but I think they are faster if you can drive one right.....they are lighter and loose less engine power compared to an auto....

if you get the 305, there are always the free mods (carb and TBI, if it's either one of these), upgrade gears, exhaust, hedders, air intake assembly, adv. timing a little, and your little 305 will quickly gain a little more respect! OF COURSE, you can ALWAYS go more than this, if you got the time and money!!

 

A 305 with a 5-speed is a good car. Get the TPI one and you got some power. The 5-speed ones didn't come with the peanut cam. You can always look for a GTA if you want a 350. I would prefer to have a 350 but GTAs can be hard to find and pricier than a 305 TA. There is nothing wrong with a 305 car though. Some power can be made with it. Plus you can always swap in a 350 later on.

 

That's what I am doing.

 

how much wouldi be looking at to purchase a T56 in canada? and are they hard to get? plus how much would i be lookin at to put it in?i really like the idea of a 6spd 350

 

"Also if you are going to do a 305 make sure it is a TPI not a carb or TBI. The TBI is problematic and the carb it comes with is nothing special."

I'm sorry but that's inacurate. TBI is ten times more reliable than TPI. TPI comes out of the box being faster, but for less than the price difference, you can obtain the same power from TBI. TBI is idiot proof, and consists of fewer parts. Thats why GM used it- it was cheaper to produce and required less fine tuning, at the expense of about 20-30hp. Vehicles with TBI are known to exceed 200,000 without ever requiring maintenance to related parts. There's no way in he!! that TBI is problematic compared to ANYTHING, especially TPI.

 

I would agree that the carb is reliable. However what I have read on TBI vs. TPI suggests that the TBI is a cheaper easier technology. But not more reliable. Now I have never worked on/drove or done anything with a TBI car. However since I know only what I have read and I am currently having issues with my TPI you might be right.............