Just bought a small block chevy a while back, found out it was a 305 a few weeks ago when i ran the numbers on it. The guy i bought it from swore it was a 350 so i took his word for it and bought it. So far i know it is a 88-92 model 305, don't know if it was roller cam or non roller though, has 55cc heads with good sized valves. As of now I have a 600cfm edelbrock elec. choke carb, performer RPM manifold with 1'' spacer, longtubes, and a mild cam inside. Don't know the specs on the cam but it is not outrageously huge. Judging by the since it already had a performance camshaft in it when i bought i would bet it was a non roller engine. Anyway, what kind of power could i expect out of this engine with maybe a more radical cam inside and a 4 speed tranny. I was wanting to hit 350 hp. I already chunked it in my 69' chevelle before i knew it was a 305 so i really dont wanna have to take it right back out yet. Havent had a chance to drive the car and see what kind of horses it is making but will pretty soon after everything is complete. It does sound like a healthy engine and has good compression. I was just wondering if throwing a bigger cam and a set of heads on it was worth it or just sell it and get a earlier model 350. What do you think?

 

I had a 1992 camaro with a 305 in it... Save yourself some time and money and just get a 350.. that 305 is garbage IMO.

 

I would say go for a 350, I know people who haven't been successful with a 305 in their dirt track cars

 

Hey I went through that with a tpi TA with the 305. I wasted a fortune trying to get it to go fast, only to go home depressed night after night. Get rid of it as fast as you can!!

 

Unless youre just wanting to prove a point, I would dump the 305 and get the extra cubes.

 

Just to play devil's advocate...

343hp 305
http://www.hioutput.com/tech/343hp/343hp.html

Car Craft or Hot Rod, don't remember which, did a build up of a 305 using a Comp Cams mild XE cam and Vortec heads, got 325hp out of the little sucker.

 

i think hot rod got 400hp out of a 305 a long while ago, but its not worth it. Just go to a 350, you will be ALOT happier, 305s blow.

 

I used to have a 305 ta. I t was cool becaude it was my first car but once I got my lt1 I noticed how much 305's SUCK.

I would not recomend using it!!!!!!

ps - with my stock 305, ricers used to beat me

 

If you do decide to build up the 305 here is an interesting read.

As far as I understand the smaller bore size in the 305 limits it's breathing at higher RPM's, I think they can be made with some low end grunt but the engine runs out of steam once you get up in RPM.

http://www.goingfaster.com/spo/praisetbi.html