Ok guys I know this topic has been written before but seriously, is a 5.7 TPI really that much faster than a 5.0 TPI? I had a 5.7 and now that I've been driving my 5.0 vert, I dont feel a whole lot of difference! Yeah I know the bigger the better sorta speak, but I think the horse power ratings are VERY close and lets face it once Chevy realized the Ford guys were tearing up the streets with a powerful 5 liter wusstang they decided to put the 5.7 in our rides. I think it was mostly to intimidate those Ford guys (yeah I know... GOOD!) But was it faster?

I really wish my car was stick, cause now I would take a 5.0 TPI (manual) over the 5.7 auto anyday...what do you guys think?

 

Stock wise, not a HUGE difference. However, since a 305 and a 350 is a similar engine, for the same parts you get more power out of the 350.

 

^ Pretty much it. Stock for stock there isn't that big of a horsepower/torque gap, maybe 30 or so horse/torque difference. The thing is, torque comes in earlier on a 350 and once you start modifying the car the gains are exponentially as great with a 350CID vs 305CID. If your not looking to modify there is nothing wrong with the 305 TPI. Plus, you can easilly find a 305 with a jerk stick, but VERY few 5 speed 350 cars were made (Yes there was a VERY small amount that had to be special order/signed off on).

 

Since the 5.7 was first offered to the 3rd gen in '87, It's been well documented that this was NOT the case. From GM, there wasn't any 350/5 speeds. Of course if you have documentation showing otherwise, we'd LOVE to see it. After 24 years, the burden of proof falls on you to prove otherwise.

 

stock i would take the 305 5 speed over the 5.7 auto , especially if the driver can drive a stick.. in 1989 the 350 was rated at 240 h.p. and the 5.0 5 speed was rated at 230 h.p. .. pretty darn close .. i think the 5.0 mustang was rated at 225 h.p. ..

 

I own both an '88 IROC 350 with 2.77s and an '86 TA TPI with 2.77s...both AT. I can guarantee you that if you drove a 5.0 and a 5.7 back to back like I have, there is a significant difference. My 86 makes 190hp...yours makes 195. My 88 makes 230hp, along with 40 extra lbs/ft of torque.

You feel it...all of it. I love my TA, but its a loaf compared to the IROC. Both cars are bone stock, BTW.

 

Really? I'd still call it a fair race.

 

i guess if you compared the 86 peanut cam 305 to the 350 there would be a big difference ... but if you compared your 88 350 to a 89 305 5 speed they would be close 230hp to 230 hp ..

 

never said it wouldnt be a fair race ... i would just take the 305 5 speed if it was my choice ..

 

91RS vs 92Z28- my car would pull bus lenghts on the rs. He had a 305TBI while mine was a 350TPI. I honestly believe that they are absolutly no where close. Rated HP they may be close but when it comes to putting it down on the street it wasn't even fair. Just my expirience. Im sure that the fact that his was TBI played a role in it too

 

Both automatics btw

 

lol, a 305 tbi ... those things are pigs, those things are about as fast as the v6 camaros.. now if you raced a 92 z28 with a 305 5 speed it would be a different story ..

 

My point is valid...he has a "peanut cam" '89 for crying out loud

No one is comparing an LB9/T5 to a 350, here...

ray,
I've owned a V6, and own an LO3 now. There is no comparison...an LO3 is quite a bit quicker stock...about 1.5 seconds in the 1/4 mile, and over 1 second 0-60.

 

The 350 still has a lot more torque and a much more desirable torque curve. Physics is physics.

 

I have two stock 305's and I love them both. If I wanted more power and torque, I would find a 400, and start a new debate.

 

Stock for stock, the 350 TPI isn't really any better than the 305 TPI.... its once you start spending money building them up that the 350 starts to shine, for 2 reasons:

1 - mod for mod, the 350 will net a larger power gain than the 305 because of displacement alone.

2 - 350-specific parts are generally cheaper to buy, and easier to find than 305-specific parts. Pistons being the obvious example.

The 305 TPI isn't a bad engine, the 350 TPI is just better. And only marginally. Thats all.

 

who cares, these cars are 20 yrs old. They're both slow these days, unless you mod them. And who wants one that isn't modded. And with that the case, 350 wins.

 

I am looking at an 86' Iroc Z-28 with 41,000 miles. The previous owner upgraded the 305 with a crate 350 and dual exhaust. It still retains the stock look under the hood with tpi, does this hurt the value or increase the value?
Thanks,
Tim

 

Value to who? I would rather have the 350, because I don't care about originality. For someone who does care about the car being original it would probably decrease the value.

If you are looking for an "investment" I would recommend a SP500 index fund.

 

I can't imagine anyone would pay more for an engine swapped vehicle over an unmolested example all else being equal. Also just on that engine picture it looks to have a case of previousowneritus so I personally I would be looking for a decent discount over similar comps.

 

Depends on the 350. There's some REAL CRAP out there in the "rebuilt" aka "crate" world. Some, I'd rather have the original 305, than those. Some real gems too. It all depends on the details.

I'd have to see this "dual exhaust". Since no such thing ever came from the factory, only a single exh w 2 tailpipes, it's not an easy task AT ALL. Again, there's some REAL CRAP out there in this realm, and some real works of art. Details matter GREATLY.

Overall a fairly nice looking car, from what can be seen in the photos, except that they hacked the AC off of it. I believe I'd have to lose the tire slime and the mud flaps myself, though.

I doubt the "value" is affected much by whether it has a 305 or 350, regardless. What "value" these cars has, is in their CONDTION. A TPI 305 in GOOD condition is better than a 350 straight out of a 76 Impala with150k miles and a fresh coat of Krylon on it for example. None of them are anywhere near "fast" by today's standards, unless AHELLUVALOTTA money and work has been put into them, first among which is getting rid of the TPI. (was great in its first coupla years, rapidly got outclassed, and nowadays is hopeless) "Originality" isn't worth much except that many "mods" that have been popular to do to these cars over the nearly 40 yrs since that one was built are raw unadulterated unvarnished unmitigated unalloyed ELEPHANT PLOP; the less of THAT that a car has, the better. Tastefully done, functionally sound, true IMPROVEMENTS, can help; better disc brakes than the crap they were putting on 86 cars, for example. That one looks like a repaint; whether that was just an Earl Scheib special squirted all over whatever was there including dirt and rust, or was meticulously prepped and applied, would matter too. Hard to tell from the photos. Nobody really wants to pay for one of these cars that's been maintained or restored like a Concours job in any case. Butt since it's been downgraded by hacking the AC off, and the engine has been replaced (which shouldn't have been "necessary" at 40k miles, which requires that the obvious question be asked), and who knows what all else, plus all those miles, "originality" isn't really in the cards there.

 

If 'originality' is important to you, look elsewhere; that car isn't it.

 

Ha ha ha.....I was thinking the same thing: "Those spark plug wires decrease the value!" ....if nothing else does.

 

Original is boring. Unless the car is an extremely valuable collector's item, MODIFY it...