possible to make a 305 fast?
, and we all know that the 80' TA's with 305's put out about the same HP as a new 4cyl civic. I am going to build this **** out of it, but is 305ci just to little to get lots of power, or not a problem. Im lookin to get like min 500-600 hp. Also im wanting to make it a really high reving motor, so can anyone link me to a cam that has like a at least an 8k redline?
, and we all know that the 80' TA's with 305's put out about the same HP as a new 4cyl civic. I am going to build this **** out of it, but is 305ci just to little to get lots of power, or not a problem. Im lookin to get like min 500-600 hp. Also im wanting to make it a really high reving motor, so can anyone link me to a cam that has like a at least an 8k redline?
The first motor I modified was the stock TBI 305 in my 1992 Camaro. I got my hands on a older set of 305 heads (perimeter valve cover bolts), and I believe they had a slightly smaller chamber than the heads on my 305 TBi motor. Most likely the same thing you have on your 83. Anyways did a half *** port job to the heads in my garage, port matched the intake and exhaust ports to the gaskets I was going to use, smoothed out the bowls and chambers, stuffed a 1.94 intake valve in the head, and unshrouded the intake valve. Comp Cams 236/236 @ .050 .454/.454 llift hydraulic cam (biggest cam I could get that still required the stock diameter valve springs).
Weiand single plane X-celerator intake, Holley 650 double pumper. Proform 1.6 roller rockers. All of this on top of a 130,000 mile tired out stock 305.
4.10 Gear, 5 speed manual trans 3400 lb car went 13.0's on motor and 11.89 on a 150 shot.
You can put a stroker crank in a 305 block and make a 337 I believe.
All small blocks are not created equally, the 305 block is not the same as a 350 block. You cant bore a 305 to much or you'll run right into the water passages, and your walls would be to thin for some real power.
Im not sure what magazine did it but they got around 425hp out of a stock 305 with a holley top end kit. Just go that route if you cant dish out some cash for a used 350 block. Or grab a 400 block and you can see sizes around 455 with sleeves.
the biggest draw back to the stock 3rd gen and replacement 305's is that the cams are total jokes, many aren't even .400 lift at the valve. look into a performer/street dominator intake and a good cam that revs to around 5500, comp extreme energy or lunati voodoo cams are recomended since they have modern ramp designs that help build cyl pressure and allow you to avoid spending a bunch of cash and effort doing a head swap.
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the small bore limits power
if you want to build something that is fun to drive and gets good mileage then it's not a terrible choice
note that Chevy High Performance magazine is doing an '84 Z28 atm, they did heads/cam/edelbrock headers and got around 200 rwhp (not bad for a 305 and CA emissions)
conventional wisdom would say 350 or bigger (383s are relatively cheap now)
big blocks fit in 3rd gens nicely too
As for selling the 305, good luck, I can't even give away the 2 I have. Nobody wants a 305 unless they are doing a stock engine swap.
If you really want to use your old 305, I'd put a stoker crank in it and bore it .060 over. Try to get 11 to 1 compression out if it unless its a track only car then go higher. Dart makes a nice Iron head that has a 49 cc chamber with 1.94/1.5 valves, this should help you get the 11 to 1 compression with flat top pistons, and make the engine a little more efficent with the smaller chamber. Put a roller cam in it, single plane intake and a 650 cfm carb on that you should have 325-375 horsepower for probably $ 2,000 if you do it yourself with exception of the machine work and block clearencing.
I'd personally get a 350 block and build that.
If you're interested and live close to me I have a used 350 short block for sale. It had a rod knock so it needs to get rebuilt. $ 150
Last edited by LilSlo1; Jul 16, 2007 at 09:42 AM.






