I'm planning on finally building myself an engine this spring. I've had my TPI IROC for 7 years now and it still thrills me. I don't want a huge engine but if I'm going to rebuild one I might as well build what I want. I like the low rpm torque and see no reason to wind an engine up to 6000 rpm on a regular basis.

Any input/experience anyone else has had building a 335 (305 block with the 3.75" stroke crankshaft) would be appreciated.

I have an 87 305 roller crankshaft block to use.

I have set of RHS pro topline heads with 2.02 intakes and 1.60 exhaust valves. Are the big valve heads usable on a 305 block? I've been told you can't use 2.02" valve heads on a 305 but I don't know its a fact, that's why I wondered if anyone else had use similar heads.

I plan on keeping the TPI stuff (I like the way they run and the gas mileage they get for the way I drive).

Was thinking of 6" rods but probably don't need them for the rpm I expect to run (typical low rpm TPI).

Standard oil pump. Roller cam and lifters. Roller rockers.

The car this engine is intended for has a 2.73 rear end and the extra torque of the longer stroke should help it a little I think. I still hope to get pretty decent gas mileage. My present IROC has a 3.08 BW rear in it right now but do to the dang shift kit in the 700r4 it only gets about 18 mpg around town instead of the 20 to 21 I used to get (won't go into OD or lock of the torque converter till it gets to 50 mph so all my 45 mph driving is in 3rd gear at 2200 rpm now.)

Any experiences or suggestions will be read and considered. Thanks.

 

If you're trying to be the only guy on the block with a 334, then go for it.
If you're using it for power, don't spend your money.

If you aren't trying to be original you'd be better off by either:
- Building up your 305 to a power level you're happy with OR
- Dropping in a 350 block and building that up.

 

there were a few threads about 334-335 strokers. try a search

also talk to TunedPort 335 on this site. he had one that ran very good for a mild 335 motor with TPI and 2.73 gears. it was like low 13's with 1.7x 60 foots

 

I'm not sure why you would want to do that....

You'll spend about $400-500 extra above the cost of building a 350 (even assuming that you have to buy the 350, and including that cost), and go slower.

With TPI on top, there's no issue about turning 6000 RPM. You don't have to worry about that. That's not even a concern. TPI's acoustic properties (the "T", stands for "Tuned", in TPI) pretty much rule that out.

Large valves on a 305 are DEFINITELY a potential problem. Think about it.... 2.02" + 1.60" = 3.62", right? The 305 bore is 3.736", right? There's some space between the valves, right? The valves aren't even across the center of the bore either, they're kind of off to the spark plug side a bit, so they don't even have the full 3.736" available to them to squeeeeze into, right? How lucky do you feel today that your valves will actually be above the bore and not above the deck? And, even if you DO luck out with your particular production-tolerance combination of bore locations in the block, dowel pin locations in the block, dowel pin hole locations in the heads, and valve guide placement, how much flow will occur around the almost HALF of the intake valve that's NEARLY TOUCHING the bore?? That kind of points up one of the MAJOR flaws with the 334 (that's what it actually is, NOT 335: 334.17 CID) combo... besides the extremely bad economic mistake, it's a functional mistake as well, because the small bore wipes out the flow of the big heads. Bad any way you look at it.

All in all, not a good plan.

Don't do it. Get a 350 instead. Lower your cost. Get a better running motor instead of screwing up like that. What's not to like? Spend less, get more: go pick up a 350 block and build that instead.

 

I've got 350's, sounds like everybody has 350's. I want something a little different. The money ain't the issue. I can save the big valve heads for that 350 roller cam block in the building (thinking about a 327 for the 83 Z28 one of these days). With the carb. it can use the rpm.

I like the low rpm torque the TPI puts out. I like the way it cruises down the interstate and effortlessly climbs steep mountians on the interstate like nothing else I've driven.

Like I said, I don't want a 383, I can't "feed" a 383 with the TPI set up without spending a bunch of money on aftermarket manifolds/runners/injectors. I figure if the TPI set up will "feed" a 350 up to 4500 rpm it'll handle a 335.

Maybe when I'm done I'll say, "hmm, not as much difference as I thought there would be." Maybe I won't.

Thanks for the suggestion for the search and the contact name (TunedPort 335).

I just want something dependable and fun. My old stock 305 TPI in the black IROC is right at 180,000 miles now. I'll probably never put that many miles on another engine in the red IROC.

Thanks again. Have a good one.

 

If money is not an issue, and you do go the 334 route, probably the best heads you could get is some 305 Vortecs casting #059 or #520.
They have 1.84/1.5 valves but still flow about 220/160 cfm. The small chamber (I think it's 58cc) will give you an increase in compression when paired with the stroker crank. You can even give them a slight port cleanup and get another 10cfm intake and 30cfm exhaust for just a couple hours worth of work.
On top of that, you would get the full swirl of the Vortec intake port and the Vortec fast burn combustion chamber. Not sure if those RHS heads have a good chamber or not.

 

i dont have any experience but it seems like everyones against this. it may be a little more money to build but hotrodding in my opinion is modifying what youve got. everybody and theyre cousin has a 350 in a car and truck and im actually tired of the same old thing, a stroker seems like a good idea would give you nice torque for the street, would be better than just a 305. i say go for it. theres 305s everywhere and most people just junk them for a 350 it would be nice to see somebody do something useful with one

 

Well, one advantage of that '87 305 block is the factory roller cam set up (cheaper than doing the aftermarket roller cam/lifters in a non factory roller cam block) and a second advantage should be the one piece rear main seal. Supposedly they don't have the same tendencies to leak that the older blocks have.

As I mentioned earlier, the TPI torque is what I like about that set up and the 335 ought to be more and better.

We have a Cherokee Sport with the HO 4.0 with the same horsepower as the TPI 305 that won't go up the steep mountains at Charlottesville, VA, Lexington, VA or Lewisburg, WV in overdrive. Neither will the S10 Blazers with the Vortec V6's and they have more horsepower than the TPI 305. I love being able to hit the turn signal, pull out and pass other vehicles without the thing dropping out of overdrive. I like driving 75/80 mph and getting 23 mpg. I've had it 7 years and I still smile when I see it in the parking lot coming out of work. A stoked TPI 305 ought to be even better. I know it runs out of breath around 4600 rpm but that's okay with me.

Thanks for the input guys. I appreciate it.

 

There's a good reason everybody is against it. It's because you spend MORE, but you get LESS. It's not that there's anything inherently evil or wrong about it; it's just .... not smart or sensible.

You'll find that the guy that has what he calls a 335, will tell you (has in fact told others numerous times) that if he had it to do over again, he wouldn't. I don't know for sure, but I suspect it's because he figured out that if somebody else took the same money and used it on a 350 instead of a 334, they'd have change left over, AND they'd beat him.

I have enough money to build pretty much whatever motor I want, too. I won't spend it that way. Because, I can spend LESS, and get MORE, if I spend my money some other way.

Think of it like this: you go to the grocery store to buy something, a loaf of bread or a steak or whatever. It costs, let's say, $2. You've got $100 in your pocket; so it really doesn't matter whether it costs $2, or $1.80, or $2.25, or really, even $5; you just want it. So, you walk up to the shelf, and you see it sitting there.

Quick: what goes through your mind?

Is it, "You know, everybody picks this thing up and pays $2 for it. But I want to be different, I don't want to be like everybody else. EVERYBODY pays $2 for it and gets the whole thing. So, just to be different, I'm going to cut off part of it and leave it here, and when I get to the checkout I'm going to pay $2.50 for this part of it instead of paying $2 for the whole thing like everybody else. Yeah, that's the kind of different that I want to be."

Well, is it???

So why would you do that with a motor?

There's LOTS and LOTS of 350 blocks you can get, that you can stick all of that factory roller stuff into; just like the TPI 350s themselves were. Virtually EVERY TBI truck and Caprice has just such a block. They're EVERYWHERE, and CHEEEEEP. At most, you'll have to drill and tap the little holes that the screws for the "spider" go into.

So in the end, it's your money, and you can spend it however you want to. Don't make yourself a laughing stock by short-changing yourself.

 

334 can be made to make power. there are quite of few fast 305 guys here. a 334 is no different, you can go fast with it. it will make alittle more torque over the 305 setup but not as much as a 350 with a TPI intake. But thats not always a bad thing. too much torque can be harmful on the street, you'll never hook up.

If i was you i'd just build the 305 up.... save cash on the stroker idea and put it toward a better 305. I dont know how much a 334 kit costs, but i really think you can make a 305 run just as good as the 334, you'll just have less torque.

Yeah you may not be as fast as a larger 350 for the same money but dont let that get you down. Be different. Depending on your goals with the car, there is no reason you cant go 305 or 334. Both can run 12's with the right setup

One goal of mine is to show just that, even tho its been done before. I want to pick up a 305 TPI 5spd car, preferably a 89 to go with my current 89 Irocz. I'll do the bolt ons and tune and see what i can wring out of it. Then i'll do the cam swap stuff. But thats way later after my Irocz gets done. I got lots of ideas that i think will turn out great.

 

Stroking a 305 is just a waste of a stroker crank.

Everyone says they want to be different, but why? There are hundreds of effective, powerful 350 combinations out there, but only a handful of 305's and even less 334's. Its because the 350 combination is the best bang for the buck. Why spend more money and get less power out of it? A TPI will power a 350 engine just fine, and top out around 5000 rpms, not 6000. A 350 TPI will make more power and torque over a 305 or 334 TPI engine EVERY time. And will cost less because the parts are more plentiful and more available.

But if you still want to spend more time and money and have less power, well then, we tried to warn you.

 

Thanks again guys. I appreciate the efforts to straighten me up even though I am stubborn and pretty much set in my ways.

 

some people are saying its a waste to build anything other than a 350? i'm not quite seeing the connection between wasting food and stroking a motor but in the end its your project and thats what makes it unique. i messed with the 262 v6 a little in my full size truck because thats what i had. i know its no big bad 350 but i was just looking for an improvement which is what i'l assume your after. i get better gas mileage and make more power than i did when it was new. so either way have fun with your project