Well the plan for next winter is to get my engine redone...right now its a 305 tuneport...I want to have it bored out but not sure how much I can go and still be able to use the tuneport setup.....what do you guys think??

...Not that you can't make power with a 305, but if it's gonna be out of the car, I'd put the money into a 350, not working the 305.

...if you do keep the 305, the TPI will be fine.

The thing about the TPI is that it's long tube design makes great torque in the lower RPM, because it speeds up the air moving through the runners, forcing air into the combustion chamber. In the upper RPM range, the long tubes just can't support enough air flow.

...the question is not so much what size engine, but how much air do you need to flow. You'd need a heck of a 305 to outflow the TPI.

So if i am getting my engine redone what do you suggest i do??? Just leave it alone or should i get it bord out or something?

Well, I'm not an expert but here's what I would do.

Assuming you're gonna bore the block, that means you've already got the whole engine torn down. You might as well get a 350 block, and start from there. Some guys here have a mission to make as much power as possible out of a 305, which I think is awesome, but for most of us, the 350 is the way to go.

You can find 350 block dirt cheap all day long. Even an assembled short block (cam, crank, pistons, etc) isn't too expensive. Sure, you can get into some big inch engines, like maybe a 383, but since you were gonna build the 305 originally, I figure you plan on keeping this fairly mild, so a 383 (or similar) is probably not what you're looking to do, correct? There's a guy here in town who quoted me about $750 to take my 350 shortblock, bore it to 355 ci, and re-build it with factory quality parts. No forged internals or anything, but I'm not planning on any serious racing. Traxion (tim) was running mid 11's on a factory bottom end IIRC.

The point is that I'd get the bottom end squared away and done right, even if it's not some huge high performance beast. You can swap pretty much everything else as you decide you need it, but that bottom end isn't something you want to keep on changing over and over.

I imagine you'd be disappointed with doing all that work to a 305.

Let me back up a second. What are your goals? What about your budget? How much can you do yourself?

...this question probably should've come first!!

I will have around 1500 to 2000 to spend on the engine....for now! I want but i am not sure how i should go about doing it...adventually i want to build a really nice engine

I can also do alot of the work my sell execpt obviously the machining work..like having the block bord and stuff

I love my 305 and it can really run, but I have taken the leap and went with a larger displacement motor. I was going to go with a 355 but I just went ahead and did the 383, because I can. I am agreeing with Abubaca on this one. You can find blocks already machined for around $100-150 with plugs and everything ready to go. Then if you want all new stuff hit up EBay motors and look at the different rotating assemblies and you will be done with the bottom end for $800-$2000 depending on if you go forged or not. Non-forged can run really well if you are not going to be running a really big hairdryer or giggle juice, but the good thing is they can take some abuse. The other thing you have to think of are heads. They will cost you between $800-$1500 for aftermarket heads. You really should plan out what you want and what you are going to do with it and then go from there.

Me I wanted good horsepower for a cheaper price and I am going to come in around $2000 without the heads.

In your boat, I think I'd put a set of headers and exhaust on, and save until you can afford what you want. I think the 350 may end up costing a little more than you have. Like Darkhrse89 mentioned, you gotta keep heads in mind too.

the only way the 305 will be a good motor is if u get a different intake system TPI is no good after a few miles.... 305's were ment to hold boost, way more boost than any 350 can hold!

Actually, the TPI works better on 305's than they do on 350's, due to the lower air requirements.

...More efficiently anyway.

So if you were in my shoes and what would you do? Where should i head first?

I just saw your profile under your name...do you have a 305 TPI, or a 305 TBI?

...anyhow...

As far as what you should do, it really boils down to what you want in the long run. With only $2000, you're really limited on "major" changes. Whether you bore your 305, or go with a 350 block, and have it worked, both are going to require performance heads, exhaust, etc, to take advantage of the work you do to the block. I doubt 2 grand is enough.

Do you have an automatic? I guarantee some rear end gears and a torque convertor will make a HUGE difference. And don't forget the exhaust.....that's almost the "first" mod anyone should do.

You could always leave the car alone and save for a whole new motor. That's no fun though!

...check that, I see you have a 5 speed.

I think you have to decide what your longterm goals are. If you're not really planning on doing much more after the $2000, then you have to be happy with the final product, after spending the money. I don't think any major engine work will be worthwhile with only $2000. That being the case, ....as I keep preaching....exhaust, maybe gears? Maybe a L98/350 cam?

If this $2000 is only the first initial investment, why not build a bullet proof shortblock, and go from there when you have more money.

...You also have to keep in mind how long the T5 tranny is gonna last if you throw some real HP at it.

Sorry my info hasnt been updated yet....I have a newer car its a 305 tuneport with a 323 posi rearend...and its an automatic

no the bottom line question is do you love to go fast??? very fast??? feel like paying more for gas?? daily driven??

Adventually I want a car that friggen Rips....But i cant afford it all now obviously so i wanted to just get a start on it

If I were in your shoes I would get done all of the basics and then wait for the money to roll in for the other stuff. Things you can do now would include, but not limited to, exhaust (Headers, cat, catback), suspension (LCA's, LCA relo brackets, panhard bar, springs, shocks, struts or coilover kit, K-member, new A-Arms, subframe connectors, torque arm), transmission mods (performance rebuild, torque converter, aluminum driveshaft), new tires and rims, port and polish heads, port lower intake and plenum, K&N air filter, gut your air boxes, new iginition, underdrive pullies. All of the things listed will cross over to a 350, 355, 377, 383, 400, 406. Well almost all, the heads will need to be changed. This is the route that I have taken. I have done the essential suspension mods and now I am doing to motor build because I have the money. Good luck with it all.

Thanks you Drkhrse89 thats what i was looking for

well heres what ive done...i have a 305 tpi 5 speed car.

free ram air
headers and 3" catback (with not cat)
throttlebody bypass (up for grabs on this one)
new red top battery
tune up, tune up, tune up
lca's
panhard bar
stiffer lowering springs
wonder bar
and then a TON of apperance mods


but the key is that everything ive done crosses over to my 383 shortblock i saved for a bottom end (all forged of course) and now im going to save again for the heads, then again for the cam, and then again and again and again for the rest of the 3000 to complete my engine. all im saying is do free or low cost mods to the 305 or things that can be changed over to your new engine and in the meantime save for and start building your new engine. then swap it in down the road and enjoy. youll be much happier, but keep in mind if you are a college student like me it will take quite a while to save for everything so dont plan on getting this new piece of steel in the car in just a few months (like i had planned on over this summer )

good luck and have fun!!!