305's
01-25-2008, 08:05 AM
#1
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305's I am going to be looking to buy a 3rd gen or cheap 4th gen come spring.
I am a high school student so i'm going to be looking for a cheaper one. I find a lot of 305's and i know everyone hates that engine. But i was wondering, how are they on gas? and what problems should i look for considering they might be in a near high mile range?
I am a high school student so i'm going to be looking for a cheaper one. I find a lot of 305's and i know everyone hates that engine. But i was wondering, how are they on gas? and what problems should i look for considering they might be in a near high mile range?
01-25-2008, 08:17 AM
#2
what kind of 305, TBI or TPI? Honestly a tbi 305 isnt worth your time, I had one in my old 89 RS it ran a 16.77 @81.10 mph 2.45 60ft with a catback only. I was puiing somewhere around 24-25 mpg 50/50 mix. Keep fresh oil in it and it will run forever but the car is no fun. My odo was stuck at 124K when I got it, smoked bad on start up, honestly man save up for a LS1 fbody if you can trust me from someone who has been there its worth it 
or even a 3.8 fbody or gran prix gtp
btw this was the car
or even a 3.8 fbody or gran prix gtpbtw this was the car
Last edited by streetassasin; 01-25-2008 at 08:23 AM.
01-25-2008, 08:22 AM
#3
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It wouldnt matter to me. I just want a Camaro. It seems narrow minded but i'll take about any cheaper, good running f-body in the chicagoland area.
Obviously i want an ls1 but i have about $700 goin towards a camaro plus i'll be working all spring. Plus i get to play with my dads ls1 every once inna while.
Obviously i want an ls1 but i have about $700 goin towards a camaro plus i'll be working all spring. Plus i get to play with my dads ls1 every once inna while.
01-25-2008, 08:26 AM
#4
just a camaro? A 3.8 v6 is faster than a lo3.....
check out thirdgen.org if you are serious about a third gen. I was overthere but I graduated to LS1tech
check out thirdgen.org if you are serious about a third gen. I was overthere but I graduated to LS1tech
01-25-2008, 08:34 AM
#5
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just a camaro? A 3.8 v6 is faster than a lo3.....
check out thirdgen.org if you are serious about a third gen. I was overthere but I graduated to LS1tech
check out thirdgen.org if you are serious about a third gen. I was overthere but I graduated to LS1tech
And i'd rather have a tpi but what ever i can find.
01-25-2008, 01:02 PM
#6
I dont know about the v6's but a tpi will fall on its face around 4000-4500 rpm. But if you start looking at nice tpi cars you could easily get a lt1 for the price. Hell I sold the car in the pic for $3k a few months back and it needed quite a bit of work: valve seals, tranny was slippin bad, paint, etc. But a nice third gen does look good
01-25-2008, 11:50 PM
#7
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That's one sexy 16 sec. car. I agree I had a 91 bird with the TBI and it was fun when I was 17 but got real old so I bought a 92 GTA with an L98. A set of 1.6 rockers fixes the power fall around 4500rpm. Being that your in high school i say get what you can afford because chances are you are going to upgrade later on no matter what you buy.
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01-26-2008, 01:18 PM
#8
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I hate to be "that guy" but I beg to differ on the 3.8 V6 beating the LO3. i only had some basic bolt ons, (catback, K&N) but my 305 TBI car would beat them. maybe i had a strong LO3 or something? i sold it to my friend a while back after i bought my 98 trans am a couple years back. i actually bought the car back yesterday! lol still runs. I have plans for it, seeing that it will be my track dedicated car. A friend of mine was telling me about a turn key 327 that his friend is selling cheap. so im gonna go with that and maybe spray it. then, next year itll get something really nasty for it
01-26-2008, 01:53 PM
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See if you can locate an early 305 H.O. Z.Those can be a lot of fun!Cheap ones are out there and the 305 H.O. is actually a strong performer for what it is.Noteo not let yourself buy an early Crossfire piece of crap or you will really be disappointed!
o not let yourself buy an early Crossfire piece of crap or you will really be disappointed!
01-27-2008, 04:28 PM
#10
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Im 17 Years old, and ive got a '89 Iroc-Z with a TPI 305.
First thing: Dont bother with a 98+ Camaro, As soon as an insurance company see's "Z28", and knows it has the LS1, your guaranteed to be paying $5k + /yr in insurance.
The TBI (Toilet Bowl Injection) is a useless system, their fun to drive at our age, and if you hold the brakes, it will smoke the tires, but they arnt going to peel all the way out of the school parking lot (Not that i reccomend you do, i was taught a lesson doing that)
My TPI 305 gets about 20 - 22mpg around town, and 26+ on the highway with my 3.42 gears. It also layed down 209rwhp/ 287rwtq with just an LT1 cam, Magnaflow catback, tune and full ignition.
I looked into LT1 camaro's but abandoned ship based on 3 things; LT1's are still losing value, Opti-spark sucks, and i dislike the engine bay.
That being said, id get off my high horse and work with the engine bay if an LS1 was in there, but insurance says no no to an LS1 for me.
The TPI system falls on its face at 4750rpm (in my car atleast), and ive been working on adapting an LT1 intake into my car at school.
On topic, My 305 is amazing on gas (my winter truck is a '97 K1500 that gets 15 - 20mpg, so thats my comparison) and it starts with the tap of the key. Only thing i had to touch in the engine bay was when the alternator crapped out, engine has ran Absolutaly perfect.
If you have any other questions. Shoot me a PM, being a highschooler with a camaro, im in the position you seem to be wanting to get into, i may be able to help you out
First thing: Dont bother with a 98+ Camaro, As soon as an insurance company see's "Z28", and knows it has the LS1, your guaranteed to be paying $5k + /yr in insurance.
The TBI (Toilet Bowl Injection) is a useless system, their fun to drive at our age, and if you hold the brakes, it will smoke the tires, but they arnt going to peel all the way out of the school parking lot (Not that i reccomend you do, i was taught a lesson doing that)
My TPI 305 gets about 20 - 22mpg around town, and 26+ on the highway with my 3.42 gears. It also layed down 209rwhp/ 287rwtq with just an LT1 cam, Magnaflow catback, tune and full ignition.
I looked into LT1 camaro's but abandoned ship based on 3 things; LT1's are still losing value, Opti-spark sucks, and i dislike the engine bay.
That being said, id get off my high horse and work with the engine bay if an LS1 was in there, but insurance says no no to an LS1 for me.
The TPI system falls on its face at 4750rpm (in my car atleast), and ive been working on adapting an LT1 intake into my car at school.
On topic, My 305 is amazing on gas (my winter truck is a '97 K1500 that gets 15 - 20mpg, so thats my comparison) and it starts with the tap of the key. Only thing i had to touch in the engine bay was when the alternator crapped out, engine has ran Absolutaly perfect.
If you have any other questions. Shoot me a PM, being a highschooler with a camaro, im in the position you seem to be wanting to get into, i may be able to help you out
01-28-2008, 02:16 PM
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Originally Posted by fastSS_LS1
But i was wondering, how are they on gas?
Last edited by CrazyCamaro; 01-31-2008 at 11:33 PM.
01-28-2008, 03:00 PM
#14
forgot the point of my post, my first ride was a 84 z28 with a carbed 305. I put a comp cam in it, edelbrock rpm intake, flowtech headers, and a cut out and it was still slow. it was loud and sounded sick with the cam but couldnt perform. Get a L98 350. Much better starting point.
01-30-2008, 01:14 PM
#16
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Insurance on my '89 is $280/mth (Approx $3100/yr) with only additives being fire/theft.
Insurance for me for a '98 Z28 is $5950/yr.
