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Tech / General EngineIs your car making a strange sound or won't start? Thinking of adding power with a new combination? Need other technical information or engine specific advice? Don't see another board for your problem? Post it here!
These engines are not bad at all. I have one with headers and performer intake with a 650 on top in my 83 and it will smoke my 89 350 TPI. Had it on the dyno and pushed 314HP and 310 on the torque. Hotrod.com did a test and I an confirm the results are not far off. Mine falls in line with test 3. http://www.hotrod.com/articles/35029...-great-part-1/ Test 1: This is the baseline test with the small-block outfitted with the Chevrolet ZZ intake manifold, 750-cfm Holley carburetor, and cast-iron exhaust manifolds. Test 2: The first change was to add Westech’s dyno headers. Test 3: This test added the Edelbrock Performer RPM intake manifold. Test 4: The only change was to add the COMP Cams Xtreme Energy 268 camshaft. Test 5: The last change was to add better COMP valvesprings and Magnum 1.5:1 roller tipped rocker arms.
Its sounds good with the mild stock cam and with the 3.73 posi it will break loose and smoke tires far better than the 305 HO all day long. You can build one for the 2400.00 much stronger for sure but its not a bad motor as some say and its not to overpowered for the T5. Not to mention its all new parts not re-machined and 4 bolt mains. No it will not outrun my 2016 SS but it will take my 89 350 IROC easy. It really depends on what you want. I wanted to drop a new engine in and not overpower the stock 10 bolt axle and manual transmission and leave the car as stock as possible. Not to mention in my area its hard to find a good auto machine shop these days.
5-1/2 years between post #50 & #51, 6 years 11 months between post #51 & #52. Awesome.
This topic has been discussed at length over the timespan of this thread. The magazines have published many articles like it as well. Nothing new here. It's still low compression, and the heads are terrible. Much better options if you change anything in the engine.
Want an inexpensive engine to bolt in place of your '82-'85 305 that will run when you're done? Go for it. Anything else, look elsewhere.
Last edited by five7kid; Apr 17, 2017 at 04:41 PM.
I agree its a great drop in with 314HP with just a few addons and not overpowering the stock drivetrain and is faster than my 89 5.7 TPI. I'm thrilled and its all new. can't ask much more for the money invested. Just depends on what your after. Now if I wanted to change the tranny and rear axle and beef the car up for dragging then I would build my own.
but it will take my 89 350 IROC easy. It really depends on what you want. I wanted to drop a new engine in and not overpower the stock 10 bolt axle and manual transmission and leave the car as stock as possible. Not to mention in my area its hard to find a good auto machine shop these days. 
