Okay to start off I know a 350 would be a better engine etc.. but I am a college student and currently unemployed so I pretty much have to go with the 305 here haha.

Okay, so here goes. My aunt is letting me have her old 82' Trans Am that has been sitting for a while. I haven't gotten to go and look at it yet but am making plans for when I am able to go get it. I want to get a little more out of the little 305 since it will probably end up being a daily driver when it's drivable but I'm not trying to make a track star or a dyno queen, just something to fiddle with and be a little unique.

I have also a 70s Monte Carlo with a 350 that I also was able to get from my aunt and uncle earlier. My uncle purchased it new way back when and it's pretty much gone now since it has been sitting for the better part of 12 years or so. Completely rusted and I'm not sure if the 350 is usable or not but I'm shooting for not. The parts I want to swap over should be fine, I just think the block might be seized up or cracked possibly.

Now to the questions. What parts could I swap over from the 350 to give my little 305 a bit more streetable appeal than the 140 or so ponies its currently rocking. Trying to go for more showoff low end than quick high end I believe. Unless this setup works better for high end... either way.

Headers (pretty sure they would flow better than the stock 305 ones due to the 305 exhaust system is kinda choked and whatnot and the 350s larger displacement but thats why I'm asking)

Intake manifold (Would it flow air better or have larger inlets? Also would need it if I used the 4 barrel carb anyway.)

Carb (Not sure what kind of setup the 305 has and the 350 has a 4 barrel setup so that would be getting swapped over if anything.)

Distributor (I know that has to come with the 4 barrel carb if the 305 has a computer controlled carb. Is there any performance difference between a 350 distributor and a 305?)

Heads (I know they are bigger and would lower CR but would the cam and 4 barrel carb and headers help flow better altogether?)

Cam ( Is there any difference in the 305 and 350 cam and if there is would the 350 cam provide a mild performance increase with the 350 heads and intake manifold)

So basically what would happen if I swapped over the 350 4 barrel carb, intake manifold, heads, headers, distributor and camshaft to the 305 with the stock Trans Am gearing?

I hate to be so obnoxious because I know people ask about hybrid 305/350s all the time but I have been searching around all over the internet and kind of combining answers but can't quite find the exact ones that apply to my little plan.

Like I said I'm not trying to get a track star or a dyno queen, just trying to see if I could get a few ponies out of the 305 with some parts on the junk 350 I have without spending a great deal of money and machine work is pretty much out of the question haha.

Thanks in advance for any replies. I need all the help I can get with this technical stuff. I understand a good deal about engines and vehicles, it's just the internals that start to get confusing when you start trying to figure out what sizes work best with what etc.. haha. I'm going to start college for my ASE certification in a few days so I should have this down soon but for now I'll just leave my questions to the pros. Thanks again.

 

Welcome aboard thirdgen.org.

This is the honest, straight, unadulterated truth - there is absolutely nothing on that 70's 350 that you could put on your 305 to make the 305 better. Absolutely nothing.

In fact, if you were to find the 350 still turns over, I would recommend that you take things off of your 305 to put on it! That's how bad 70's 350's were. Heads, intake, cam, carb - all of them no better, or worse, than what your '82 305 will have.

Now, assuming this '82 does have a carb, the 305 will never really be a barn burner. But, you can make it better with exhaust upgrades (everything from the exhaust ports of the heads to the tail pipe tips at the rear bumper should be replaced). Headers is the right way to go. The 350 manifolds won't fit in the Camaro chassis, and even if they did, they wouldn't be any better.

The air cleaner is the next thing that needs upgrading. There's about a 50/50 chance that the Monte air cleaner is better, and about the same chance that it will actually fit under the Camaro hood. Basically, the stock Camaro single snorkel air cleaner is very restrictive - the typical approach is to go with a dual snorkel, and the Monte air cleaner may be a good donor for the 2nd snorkel.

Next would be cam. Both the 305 and 350 cams are lame, so just get an aftermarket. The Comp XE series is pretty decent, but you may need to replace the valve springs while you're at it.

After that, forget any upgrades to the 305. It's time to go 350. At least the shortblock. The 305 heads will actually work pretty well on a mild 350. An aftermarket intake manifold may then be in order.

Given your employment status, I'd start with the air cleaner. You can improve that for next to no $'s. Exhaust will be more expensive, but must be done before you consider anything beyond that, or the other upgrades will be ineffective.

 

a good tune up is the best performance upgrade for a 305. and then into the trash

 

I've actually built a couple of GREAT running 305s. I agree, BIGGER IS BETTER...but at what point does it stop..... 632>540>502>454>383>350>305>3.4>3.1>2.8....you know the drill.

 

the only reason i would build a 305 is so i could say "my 305 is as fast as your 350" but who would do that?

 

Thanks for the replies guys. That was helpful Five7kid, I looked on wikipedia and the 70s 350s are pretty lame as far as power goes but I thought maybe a chance that something would be better. That makes me want to check and see if that 350 will still turn over, at least I'll have the block anyway and can add something new every now and then. What would a good base 350 be? like what vehicle has a good one that you could find in a scrap yard?

 

I would, but it would have to be boosted. The 305 actually shares a similiar bore/stroke with the 2JZ (the 2JZ obviously has the potential to flow way more air than any 305 though, of course), but it doesn't matter though, because a 1.94 intake valve is more than enough for any street driven 305. Couple that with fifteen to twenty pounds of boost for track use and watch out. Fact of the matter is, any engine can be made fast. If I pull the turbo off of my 231 cubic inch TTA, the 305 would annihilate me, think of it that way....

 

Another way to look at it....I have a 4.7 with a 3.66" bore and a 3.40" stroke and 2 valves per cylinder. I made 280 RWHP with the stock cam profile, cast-iron manifolds, stock intake manifold, stock compression ratio, stock engine driven fan. Just because it has a small bore and small valves, doesn't mean it can't run!

 

Another reason I just wanted to build the 305 for now is pretty much all the bolt ons will swap over to a 350 if I wanted one later down the road or a 400. I love the 2jz I have always been more of an import person until recently. I have this Trans Am given to me and I want to see what all the fuss is about the v8 world

 

hell yeah i completly agree! Id keep the 305 and boost it. hopefully get a little better gas miliage with the 305. i want to swap a 2jz-gte singo turbo into my f body!!