305 Heads...

EDITED:

I realize know there is no way I can afford to do an engine for my car until I am done with college probably. However, I need to go a little faster so I am going to try to do a mild build-up on my 305. I know I know...don't expect much and I don't, but I want to do something to it. I'd like to do some headwork or maybe a rebuilt set with some porting and bigger valves/better springs, and a decent cam. I have the ****ty peanut cam cause of my wonderful 305TPI auto combo, so I know any cam swap will do a good amount for me. My question is...I have heard of people using aluminum L98 vette heads (58cc) on the 305s...anybody tried this and what do they think? I am pissed I missed a set of World Products 305 Torquer heads, but I can't win em all. As for the cam, I was looking at the Comp XE262HR or 264HR. What do you guys think I can get out of this?

I would go with the 262, no larger. Keep the heads you have now. Dissasemble them, install the correct springs for your cam, and do some reading up on a backyard port/polish job. Those 305 TPI heads that everyone throws out or give away for $20 will outflow Vortecs with a decent port job. This has been documented several times by several different people on a flowbench. All you need is an air compressor, a $9 grinder from Harbor Freight, and about $30 in carbide bits with a 6' shank from Ebay. Its gonna take you a while, but its very doable. You don't need bigger valves for your 305. Keep the stockers.

I have never done any kind of porting ever...so I'm not sure what my options are?

Its not difficult, you just need to understand some of the theory behind it. Do a search on Thirdgen.org for 305 head porting. Sitting Bull, Vader, and FBird-88 (sp?) have tons of very informative posts with lots of pictures.

Its not worth the money if you pay someone to port them for you.

I agree, 262 is the largest cam I'd use for the 305. Also, a 258 would give almost the same power with better low end throttle response.
If you're not familiar with porting and don't have someone to help show you or aren't REALLY mechanical, just find a set of SR-Torker 305 heads. They'll flow as well or better than 305-ported heads, right out of the box. Later, porting them, will put them out of reach of a stock-ported head.

by the time you have 500$ into it you could have went to a j yard and picked up an lt1 out of an caprice for 500$ ... Just what i wished i had done the first time around.

Rather spend the $500 to run the same times and keep the torque of a TPI, and not hassle with wiring harnesses, ripping out motors in the junkyard and not knowing the history of them, etc...plus, I can't wait to say...yeah, it's ONLY A 305, and yeah I did it all myself :D.

Rather spend the $500 to run the same times

you wouldnt even run close to the same times. The lt1's are high 13's low 14's if you find a good one. Theres no 305 heads that flow as good as a lt1 head nor will it produce the hp and tq range of the lt1. Trust me ive been down the 305(money pit) rd. Lt1's are available all over and the harness work can be done in 2 hours. I could drop a lt1 in any 3rd gen with the correct cpu harness and sensors and have it running in 4 hours. And hell while it was out invest a few more $$ for a 306 cam and springs and hit 350-380hp.