@@ronaldphelps2689 yes you can if its 85 or older unless buy an aftermarket one piece rear main seal. If .040 over bore and 400 crank with the longer 350 rods it is a 339.6 and with the longer stroke compression goes up with flat tops 4 valve reliefs to improve the heads with hp 64 cc 350 heads works well. Good cam and intake and heads it runs well and over 300 hp. Torque curve is different than 350. Comes in hard low like 305 buys stays thru hp and peaks about the same. Not a total waste of time and money. Ran them against 327s in lower liter limited 30s 40s fiberglass bodied cars. Great luck with them until find out too big and get claimed.
One of the best performing motors I have seen was a 305. When we bought it we actually thought it was a beefed up 350. It was so well balanced it was crazy. I was working in a shop in Little Rock at the time. A guy had a beautiful 85 Monte Carlo. It had gotten stolen about 3 weeks after I had personally worked on it. You know. He just wanted a basic tune job. Plugs, wires, and a little carb adjustment. After the work I performed. Just like any other time , I get to test drive. WELL SIR, I MUST SAY. I was very, very impressed for what I thought it was. ( Keep in mind I had driven a numerous amount of Hot Rods at this this time.) I was personally driving an 81' El Camino. It had a Pontiac 400 with 6x heads. Edelbrock intake, 4 barrel Quadrajet. That I had tricked out a little bit.( Personally my favorite carb,,, when built right.) Either way it was a mean s.o.b. This all prettied Monte Carlo could've given me a run for my money. (Thinking it was a 350) The guys car got stolen. He sold it back to the shop I worked at. The owner of the shop loved the paint job that was on it. So he bought it. He was wanting to tpi it though. No prob. We had the stuff to do so. Anyway he was selling the motor. I had a buddy with a 76' El Camino that was going to rebuild his factory 400 SBC. I told him to come and check this motor out before he started spending money on his factory motor. He did. And just like me, thought it was a beast. With the craziest lope you could ask for in a street car it would sit perfectly still. NO SHAKE. The throttle was instant and all you could want. He bought it and drove that El camino for about 6 months. Then the most unfortunate thing that could happen did. THE OIL SCREEN FELL OFF. DAMN, DAMN. NEEDLESS to say he wasn't light footed. He liked drifting before drifting was a thing. We pulled the motor back out. Popped off the oil pan to see the damage to the crank. It was bad enough. It was clear it was a done. Yes it was a balanced engine, it was clear when we pulled the pan. It trashed 3&5 rods. So we pulled the heads. Our jaws dropped at this point. NO WAY!. BUT YET THERE IT WAS. IN ALL ITS GLORY. A 305. WOW!!!. Never could make any one believe that was the motor that had been in that 76' El Camino. If I were to guess....keep in mind this is 15yrs ago. I would say that little 305 was putting out around 320- 375 horse. So sad it went down that way. Either way I can say, done right. And I mean done right. I could see around 400 HP out of one. Naturally aspirated. I would like to add, I love watching your videos. I difference of opinion in a few little things you say. But I guess, we all know what we know. Trial and error means a lot. And I have done a lot. Good day to you sir. I will be watching for more.
Im racing an 87 Monte Carlo SS in Stock eliminator S/KA and I use the 305 that came in the car with 11:1 pistons and the stock 081 unported heads. It has a multiangle valve job bit with an early L82 intake and 750 quadrajet running VP C14+ on the dyno Im making 409 hp @ 6400. This is a balanced race engine that I have thousands in i my class Im all over the national record but cant quite match it.The record is held by a guy in Washington State with an 87 Formula 350 and hes running 11.63. Im a consistent 11.70s car on a good day but Ive put a whole lot of 350s, 302 Fords, 340 Mopars, and 351s on the trailer.
The entire reason I came to this video is because I'm working on my '76 Elko and was wondering if it was worth upsizing to a 350 or 400, your testimony might save me several hundreds of dollars if I can tune the engine up nicely :D
@@cosmicbrambleclawv2 Most of the issues I see in my custom shop is customers watching to many of those power shows. Huge difference between dyno tuned and drivability tuned. Many times a nice mild small block will beat these huge high priced big blocks in a lot of races. Main reason is part compatibility and tuning. I generally see the biggest issue is huge cams, huge carbs, 9ish to 1 compression and cheap ebay heads. Not going to work well. You can see good gains form those cheap heads but just dropping a 750 double pumper right out of the box and complain about it not having power......
My '93 Caprice Classic LS has almost 364K miles on original engine/trans. Doesn't burn or leak oil at all. TBI 305 runs perfect. Been a great car. The small block Chevy V8 is a very well engineered engine either as a 305 or a 350.
I have a 454,351,350 and 305 the only one I’ve blown up is the 350. Then I Rebuilt the 350 been driving for another 10 years.All Motors are damn near bullet proof and parts are cheap and everywhere .🏴☠️🏴
I bought a 1986 Elcamino in 1986 so I am the original owner it came with a 305 engine. I got 369,000 miles out of it very dependable. It jumped time while starting one morning in my driveway so I jacked up the motor and pulled the oil pan and changed the chain and gears, new oil pump, and just kept driving the car. Later on the valve guides were so worn (2005) that oil would leak down in the pistons and it was hard to start in the mornings; however after I got it started and warmed up it ran fine. Rebuilt the carburetor and kept going. That same year 2005 it was time to rebuild the motor so instead I dropped in a 2000 LS1 out of a Corvette and I still own the car today. I still have the 305 on an engine stand in the garage. Again very dependable motor for a daily driver.
Have an 86 Grand Prix with a 305. Odd options on the car, base interior, 200r4 trans, posi rear end, aluminum intake with a 4brl Quadra junk...I mean Quadra-jet. Still the runs the same as it did when I got it as a young teenager. 314,000 miles and actually screams.
Love your channel man. I’m an old school engine builder from the early 70’s and some of these new tools to assemble an engine is just ridiculous. The tool manufacturers are laughing all the way to the bank. I used to build 2 engines a day 5 days a week don’t see that happening anytime soon. Keep up your good topics and I’ll continue watching. Thank you. Tim Smith
I've owned a 305, 350, and 454. The 1989 305 was scary. Additionally, my 1998 454 engine was not any faster than the 305 it actually was a tad slower at high rpm. Currently I have a 305 el camino with quadra jet carburetor and I love it. Everyone talks crap about quadra jets but if you keep them atleast half ass clean it's a blast to cruise around then gun it soon as the two other barrels open up boosts you forward like crazy while also saving gas.
Quads are a great carb. only problem is the shafts wear and cause air leaks by the butterflies, but that usually around the 80,000 - 100,000 mile area. Not bad life span. Reason why OEM's use it over hollies (which many use to) and other kinds
Totally my experience as well. I've had both engines. The 305 is OK as you said and IMHO gets a bit better MPG, BUT, the 350 or better yet 383 gives you more of that kick in the pants we all love. Honestly I'm not even the least bit interested in doing 150 MPH on the street but I do love feeling the torque when I step on the throttle. Thanks for the show.
Thanks for that explanation. I'd never heard of a 305 V8 until about 1 year ago - a friend told me he had one in his 25th Anniversary '92 Camaro - though I distinctly remember the 307 in the '69 Camaro and Chevelles and other Chevys. With your info, I just realized what happened: They quit making the crankshaft for the 307 when they stopped manufacturing the 327 and enlarged the stroke to 350. So, in order to make another small, similar displacement, they used the 350 crank and then put a new, smaller bore with it. And they didn't want the C.I. displacement to be identical, so they made it slightly smaller! Thanks.
Glad to see someone besides me defend the 350s little brother. 305s get a bad rap because they don't make a lot of HP. They weren't designed to be performance motors but they're every bit as reliable and get decent milage and have decent power
@@Myvintageiron7512 had a 305 in my pops 66 impala ss that was out of a monte carlo not sure year but took it out to put 283. Have had the 305 sitting in the garage for the past 12 years and now im heavily debating building it and doing a swap with my 5mge in my 85 supra as its beginning to have issues and parts are ridiculously hard to find for the 5m. Problem is I’m in Cali so i would need to do sm0g under the table to “keep it legal”. Would be nice to stick the 305 in it for now as i acquire a stock 1uz to stick in it legally. If i didn’t live in Cali i would already have the 305 in and keep it in. Very nice engine and love that i wouldn’t have to be breaking my head over parts if something goes wrong.
@@andreze3667 I say do the swap and then move out of ComieFornia. I hear there gonna start taking people’s gas cars away soon. I say time for the gearheads and hotrodders to get the hell out of that comie mess of a state ...
Glad to hear your talk on the 305 engine, I've been building performance engines for 40 years, and have been trying to say the same about the 305 , it is a decent engine, and can be a great daily driver, Thanks for a little more common sense.
305's are good motors. Yes 350's are better for making power. Good thing about 305's is because they have a bad reputation for being junk you can get them for a dime a dozen. I picked one up for $100.00 with less then 50k miles on it.
I just put a vortec 305 roller engine in my 77 chevy 3/4 ton pick up it's just a stock truck I will use for an extra vehicle will haul engines around and probably use for yard work and home upgrades it runs very well If I need to run to the store or pick up parts or even go get lumber or building supplies at home depot I do not need a 700 HP Big Block there is nothing wrong with a 305 engine they are very reliable the cores are cheap and they get better mileage that a 350 all day long for doing the things I listed above they have more than enough power especially if you add an RV cam and good intake and EX mine has a roller RV Cam 208/218 dur @.050 edelbrock duel plain intake with 650 cfm carb and duel 1 7/8 ex with flow masters it runs very well it won't be winning any drag races but I did not build it for that most of the guys saying 305's suck have the mind set that everything you drive has to have high HP and be able to win a race at any time it's just silly
Yes I agree your post is an exact discourse of how I see it when I need to run across town and pick a set of heads or to home depot I don't really want to fire up my 600 HP drag truck let it warm up and fight it the entire way there and back because it was not really made for a daily driver it gets hot and has lousy driveability manners not to mention my wife hates it she wants smooth quiet and A/C and there are many times I would really like her to go with me to Home Depot or even out to eat She is a girl and I really like spending time with her the 305 Truck is perfect for it
Or, I don't know. Maybe order a 3.75" stroke crank, and forged pistons, forged rods, forced induction, and appropriate cam and aluminum heads (they are out there, just do the math); the 305 can be a fun street or race contender.
One thing I do remember from the 80's was that the 350 had better cooling with larger water jackets and thinner piston walls. This also accounted for more cracked blocks if over heated and cooled to quickly.
Good honest video. I love the 305 but that's because I've had one with 335k miles that wouldn't blow up, another with 200k that I had since 115k when I was in highschool and really stupid. Currently running the original 305 in my 83 Caprice with 228k and it's holding up great too. I think they're harder to kill than a 305 since they have the same rods and crank with less strain on them with the smaller bore. Plus the 305 heads aren't prone to cracking like a 350 head was for a lot of years. When I upgrade from the 305 I'm going to a 5.3 LS engine I already bought. Might as well make the upgrade worth it.
Appreciate your "straight forward" information. I have an 83 camaro with 305 runs great, all original. However, I also have a 2006 LS3 truck motor that I am looking at upgrading and swapping. Watching your various vids (and others) seems the LS will still be the biggest bang for the buck. Thanks!
I built one for an 80's Malibu. I got the complete engine including all the accessories ready to go for $200. New bearings and rings and a swap meet intake and it was on the road. It's a great daily driver motor for a Malibu.
Glad to hear you're a fan of Engine Masters too. I love watching their different engine builds and dyno tests. Especially the 305 test you talk about. was a fun one.
I just found out from a Roadkill extra episode they are planning on rebuilding the 305 with forged internals and setting it up fir NOS in a further episode sweeeetttt
James Palmer Chevy small block 383 is an aftermarket engine. There are a number of companies that sell kits to build a 383 out of a 350 block. In the old days we used to put a 400 SBC crank in a 030" over 350 block. It took some fiddling around to make it work. We would buy inserts for the mains (400 mains are smaller than the 350 mains). Also we had to grind some off the bottom of the cylinders to clearance the longer stroke 400 crank. Different pistons, different rods and the right set of 350 heads and we had a healthy engine for those days. Today if you want a 383 Chevy, buy a kit...... or a complete engine. It's cheaper and a lot easier.
If I remember correctly, the biggest problems with the 305 when they came out is that they had bad cams in them which would wear out prematurely. You can always take one, put the 350 heads and cam in it, a 4 barrel carb and it will run very well. Kinda like beefing up a 318 Chrysler, which I did, with 340 cam, 360 heads, and a 4 barrel. It ran great.
Having had a 1978 305 with a Rochester 4-barrel and the 1991 305 with TBI, and OBD-I computer control, it's a world of difference in power. My '78 Regal struggled to get from 50 to 65 mph (downhill!). My 1991 Chevy gets from 50 to 65 very easily, and beyond.
Another great trick with a 305 is to put a smaller crank and shorter rods in it and it pushes the redline up over 8,000 rpm's. Then there are other things to build up from there like, better heads, turbo, etc. Engine Masters had a great episode about it in one of the more recent seasons.
305 definitely continued beyond '92. 305 Vortec in lots of OBDII ('96 and newer) full-size pickups. Personally wouldn't want one but they were more than strong enough.
I had one in a '81 silverado, had a huge carb factory and 2.55 rear-end changed to 3.40 rear-end and put headers on it. Would smoke the tires with the cruise control, once you got it spinning... hauled 1500lbs of concrete in it and many slow it down tickets. Motor trans combo was great.
I've been a mechanic fifty years, and was working at a Chevrolet dealership when the 305 came out. They had a lot of camshaft problems the first few years, from wiped lobes to breaking in half. Timing chain problems too. One of our guys found a cam gear tooth stuck in the crank gear, but the cam gear on the engine had all its teeth. Anyway, that's what started the bad reputation, and I guess it's just passed down through the generations.
M H I believe what he is saying is cylinder flow, if you're heads can't inhale anymore than you're pretty much stuck in an n/a application. Forcing air into it is completely different, moral of the story is get the best cylinder heads you can afford
Never called it junk. Fact is they were the best taxi motor they ever made. It was nothing to get 500,000 miles out of these motors, since they invented overdrive transmissions.
If you're wondering how to tell them apart visually, here's a sexy hot tip 😉 The harmonic balancer is thicker on the 305. 305's is closer to 2", while that of the 350 is closer to 1" in depth.
Had a factory 305 in a 96' Silverado extended cab 2wd that came with a 5spd manual.. That thing made it 236k Capital H Bold, Italic and underlined HARD miles before it spun a bearing on the interstate during a 3rd gear drop acceleration pass.. Serviced Reguaurly and abused. I was impressed it lasted as long as it did, replaced with a 350 and sent it on to it's new owner. It was a 2 bolt main and replaced it with a 4 bolt main 350
I used to grind crankshafts back in the day. The old two-piece seal small block chevys. There was a small difference between the 350 and 305 crankshaft, even though the casting numbers were identical. If you stood each one upright side-by-side, and looked directly down on each, you would see the 350 first and second counterweights were identical size, meaning you could not see the second counterweight. The 305 first counterweight would be slightly cut back more, as to see some of the second counterweight. This was due to help the balance using smaller pistons. But dementionally, they are identical. So to keep from having too big a balance issue with either, it's something to look for.
@billyfromtheusa So that means parts are interchangeable if your theory is correct, right? Guess what, as a mechanic I can tell you that the motors are entirely different. Because Ford does their own thing and GM does their own, and Dodge, and so on. They have been for always and always will. Did you also know that Ford took Obama's government fund to make their cars different while GM said no and failed? Bet not, like all other Ford fans. Dont slam other fans because you worship only one, learn the goods and bads of every one and then pick what you like out of many. Dont pigeon hole yourself. Or do, it's your life.
Troll attempt failed there Billy. Who cares if you currently own 5 whatevers and this many of them is blah. I've owned over 20 different vehicles of all makes and models and types. Doesnt mean that I'm gonna get on here and be a dillrod though. Calm your tassels.
My buddy has an 86 305. It's deadly for what it is, .450-.450 cam, stock heads, .040 flat dished pistons. He got the engine for free, was supposed to be a 350, turned out to be a freshly rebuilt 305 with a rebuilt th350C. We threw a Holley Contender intake and a Holley 600 on it, it kicks the car sideways when it kicks down, it's in a 65 Studebaker with 3.73 rear gears.
I enjoy your channel alot. Lots of info and great ideas. Same reason I watch Roadkill, engine masters and dirt every day. I've always wonder how much torque can a person get out of a 305? Love the channel. Keep up the good work.
Another great video. thanks for posting. here's my 2 cents. for all those who don't believe a 305 can go fast, well your wrong. is more cubes better? of course. but what if you find yourself sitting on a good low mileage 305? I mean hell, they are cheap. is it a waste of time? no. I had a 305 sitting around, also a cam heads intake blah blah blah from another 350 that died. tore it down to a short block, 186 casting heads with screw in studs, mild solid cam, edelbrock single plane intake, 750 holley, hei w/msd6a box, holley blue pump, turbo 350 w/3000 stall, 4:10 gears in the stock 7 1/2 rear end in a full weight 80 elcamino...answer......13:50's friends, all day long. add edelbrock adjustable 50 to 100 hp nitrous kit and bam, instant 12 teens....no matter the heat or humidity. totally reliable. every wknd at any of my local tracks. ran that moter in that config for ten years...TEN SUMMERS of racing.......sold the rolling chassis but still have the motor in another car. so all of you who have a good condition 305 laying around and think it isn't worth wasting your time. i'll take it. who cares if you blow it up, take the parts off it and swap them onto another 305 or even a 350. enjoy.
Outlaw Mercenary Yeah,I had a 305 in my 78 elcamino and it was a nice performer after just adding headers,different intake and 4 barrel.And it got way better mileage than the low compression 350.Ill always be a 305 and 327 fan!
Outlaw Mercenary hell yeah , I feel exactly the same way. I’ve had a few over the years that had just few tweets to them and I pounded them into the ground and I can honestly say I’ve never had one leave me stranded . Not a whole lot of torque but plenty enough to be fun in a little small car .
I had a 305 four barrel in my 1982 Chevy van, it ran 23 years and over 260,000 miles and was still going fine when I sold it. It never once broke down or needed any work other than belts, and oil, 2 starters and a water pump, no engine work. Ran perfectly.
The thing I like about the 305 is that initially when you come off of a stoplight, you feel the torque and it feels like a 350. But that goes away as you start trying to pull harder/go faster. The 3.48 stroke gives it that pull in the beginning, but the smaller cylinders and less airflow won't let you maintain as much "pull" as a 350. I have yet to build a 305 (because I used to throw them away), but since they're basically free nowadays, I'll put one together, and it should make a decent low-end torque engine with a decent set of heads on them.
Remember the 265 in 55 the 283 in 57 270 go dual quads they contended with olds j2s pontiacs with tripower mopars with dual quads ford 352 interceptors with overdrive and cruisamatics those little small blocks stood tall !
They called the 307 a dog I've seen some run I've had 400 small blocks that ate 350s with their paper thin cylinder.walls some called them a dog my 81 z28 has a. 327 from a 65 vette and cranks like the midnight special LOL
@@hdjzzuush7867 So true, the tri-fives started the horse power race and performance war of the late 50's and the 60's. When I was a kid the fastest street car around was a 4 door 55 with a 327, it whipped ever big block car in town and the county.
@@everettpotter189 to get more power out of my setup, this is what I recently did just last month (on my boat 305, 2PC rear seal). Its an HO that has already been built up pretty good by Volvo Penta (all their 305s are HO models) but the was still a little room for improvement. - 416 heads, ported the intakes for more flow, ported and polished the exhausts for more flow. Deshrouded the combustion chambers. (Using a flow bench along the way) - ported the intake manifold heavily and port matched to the head (using a flow bench of course) - swapped to high flow polished valves - three angle valve job w/all new springs, seals, etc - put a fully redone Quadrajet 4MV on and up jetted to match the new flow rate. - used a 1" thick poly spacer to raise the carb for cooler intake flowing fuel and eliminate any percolating I had troubles with during really hot days and hard running. - slightly more cam with a tad more lift. They came mildly lifted, but not to the optimal setting for after all I did. - new sealed bearing alternator, sealed bearing PS pump, and eliminates the impeller unit, all to reduce drag on the front of the engine and to free up some tiny power. Hehe All in all, it started out with 209hp on the dyno before the refresh, and ended up with 253hp after the fact. Not a HUGE increase, but pretty decent nonetheless. :)
@@everettpotter189 yeah, those 601 heads are the bees knees! Haha. Unfortunately, I had the 416 on mine (close to the same, just slightly beefier) and couldn't locate any decent local 601's. :( The 601's were basically just 416's but hogged out in the bowl area by GM right? (Both are HO I know)
Thank you. I really needed to hear that, because the mechanic told my son that his motor was a 350 and started rebuilding, then later told my son it was a 305, and my son didn’t believe me when I told him it was a 305.
A marine mechanic once that told me the 283 was the best marine engine made. His reasoning was that the engine would run out of airflow or float the valves before the bottom end could be damaged. It didn't make as much power as larger 350s, but was hard to break. A great characteristic for marine use. Probably the same deal for the 305.
The "Hot Rod" stuff is very cool, but you, my friend, provide a wealth of knowledge with your channel here, and I know I really appreciate it! I wished I could apprentice under you for a while and just learn a fraction of what you know!!
He might have a great show but I'm experienced in my own research on my own mechanical skills with the Oldsmobile rocket motors I've made more HP than the numbers that these people on these sites are claiming they have already
Hello enjoyed your video! I once built a budget 305 in a Monte Carlo! Man that was one of the quickest street cars I ever owned! Yes I built it right! New heads intake and exhaust! Stock bore and stroke, did not want to go too far overboard! I was in the US Navy at the time! Ran like a top! Until I blew the transmission! oops! There was a guy waiting at the dealership when I traded it in! He had to have that motor!
I had a z28 witha ho 305 it had 1.6 exhaust valves you can port and polish the headsbig cam screw in studs intake good holly 373 .gear have some fun cheap.
my stock eliminator uses a Lunati Duntov solid lifter cam because my class has a stock lift rule. The 228/230 duration is perfect for my combination and paying 1200 dollars for a custom ground cam that wont make much difference is a waste of money.
Awesome to know this! Very kool to know this information. I had a 350 in a 1989 Formula Firebird, it was pretty powerful but had lots of issues with the headgaskets blowing, transmission constantly slipping or locking into 1st gear only. When it was up and running it was truly an exciting ride but unfortunately that was only about 15 percent of the time I owned it. Was it fun to drive and race around in yes, was the down time and repairs worth the hassle, no.
Had a 305 in my '77 Camaro. Started out as a 2bbl car, stock. Mustang GTs of the time would eat me alive. I was dumb and didn't change the oil, ever, and spun a bearing (teenage years). For the rebuild I got a high duration cam, put on dual glass packs, removed the cat, and put a 750 Holley double pumper up top (it was free). Too much carb, and no low end torque, but that motor would scream at high RPMs. I can't recall how many cars of the day I outran after that build. Sure, a 350 would've been better but that little 305 had some magic in it.
@@MasterWitchDoctor I'm sure it's stock! 3000 rpm is still pretty high. I was referring to mainly stock engines. The little 307 outpulls them both at a lower rpm. I wish I still had mine!
I had a 305 in a mid 80s Caprice Classic station wagon. The stock cam went flat (on the front 2 lobes) put a 350 spec. Cam in it and it ran crazy fast . The reduced duration and bump in the lift , raised the compression. I had to run 92/93 octane gas in it, but it was well worth it . I miss that car . It lived a life as a truck for the last 200k of its 300k . Great car .
I had one in a Camaro. It took a tremendous amount of abuse and never complained. If you have one, bore it out, put some heads on it and keep on Truckin'
Had a 305TPI in my 85 Iroc Z. Great engine considering how cheap it was to mod. Some vortec heads, cam, intake work, exhaust and it will create some decent numbers :-)
The 305 doesn't have real sleeves like a 350, so boring it out to a 350 would be risky. You could probably bore it out to a 307's bore (3.875"//7/8") and have 328" but you'll never get to a 4" bore and have much cylinder wall left. Wouldn't be safe for a stroker most definitely. You could stuff a 3.75" stroker crank in the 3.875" bore block and have a 353" engine. But as cheap as it is to get a 350 block and if you're building a stroker anyway you might as well do it to the block that gives you 30 extra inches.
I had an 87 IROC w a 305HO and a T5. I didn't care how I treated it because I wanted to build a 350 for it. I regularly turned 6500-7000 RPM's racing and only floated the valves once at about 135mph racing an off duty cop on the interstate in 4th gear before I let out. (Thought I blew it up). It was fine. Until a kid on a phone hit me at a light and totaled it (me too).
Jonathan-Emily Powell 305s are reliable tough as a brick but they absolutely do not turn serious rpms. With stock bottom end and mild top end they still fall flat at 5000 to be generous. ANY engine can turn serious rpms but it takes money and time. A Volkswagen air cooled flat 4 can turn 7 grand. That mean a stock beetle can turn that much? Fuck no the guys that make those 4000 rpm motors go 7 is because of serious money and effort to make it spin that much. A 327 can make a good screamer with minimal effort. A 350 can make a screamer after some pretty in depth modifications and at a 400+ power number. You’d have to sink some serious money into the truck motor that is the 305 to make that thing turn any rpms...
Thirdgen83 not reliable? I’ve owned 3 Monte Carlo SS and all had factory 305HO and total miles were 205,000, 115,000, 228,000(and counting). Never left me on the side of the road and none of the engines died...I run them up to 5000-5400RPMs Max. My Montes all ran 15.00-15.7 at drag strip with 373 gears and posi, not bad for little 305s
I think the 305 is a great engine. The 305 in my 92 Caprice has over 300,000 miles on it and it still runs very strong. And the power isn't that bad. I can break the back tires loose from a dead stop. It may not push you back in your seat, but she moves when you need her to and the economy is great. Also, with just a few minor upgrades like ignition, air intake and exhaust, all relatively cheap, you can get a surprising bump in power out of the 305. I may eventually upgrade the Caprice to a 350, but not until this 305 finally goes. And that may be a long time!
Thank you for this well done video. I have wondered what the difference was between the two Way back when some people called the 305 a smog motor version of the 350.
1st, great video, great information. When the 305 1st came out it was common practice to mill .100 off the head and angle mill the intake so it would fit better. Yeah, it was a bit of work, but you had a good truck engine in the end. You could have about 225-250hp and get 20-22mpg and back in the day that meant something. Mill the head, intake, comp cam 268, alum intake and you are good to go.
I expect my 305 being engineered for lower stress to "go the distance." Am hearing that 250 miles can be expected if reasonably maintained and not thrashed by teenage driving.
Just thought I'd share that I've have owned and 85 c10 with a 305 it lasted 458000 before quiting on me and now have an 82 c10 and it has a 305 with 300,000
Brandon Jay the 350 is a motor with little limitations to make power besides the block literally shaking itself apart at 600 horsepower so cylinder walls would never fail before you throw a rod or something. The power limit of the engine geometry is that the block itself may flex and change clearances or the mains shake and crack loose but that happens at such a high power number you’ll never get to it. It’s why the sbc is so good.
I have a question I have 98 sierra 305 and the block it's cracked and I can't find a motor so I was thinking to use a 350 and my question is if is going to work whit the transmission?? Do I need to change the computer too??
the wall thickness at the top but the cylinders arent meant to bore passed .060 or they start to get thin. You cant take a 305 block and bore it to 4 inches, the walls are too thin.
I definately wouldnt be suprized if you are a guest on ANY Hot Rod owned show. In fact im suprized i havnt seen you on those shows. Make a Chevy 400 sbc video if you can please
Love your vid's I have a 305 balanced blue printed with big valve dart heads edelbrock performer intake and carb lots of HP 360hp and torque in a 1977 vette got all the giddy up I need!!
Cool thnx for the vid. My grandparents have a 87 R1500 just sitting behind the shed sitting for years and I was confused on the type of Engine. Just totaled my 98 4.0 grand Cherokee too.. time to have some more fun 😅
Ed Spencer I built a 351 sroker one time had 6 inch Buick rods in it with some Keith black piston for a local round track car went from the back to the front would turn 8700 all day long.
Hell!!! 305 or not, we live in a power adder age beef up the internals...buy a small block turbo or twin turbo kit and anything is instantly fast...not to mention superchargers...lol
Johnny Johnson agreed you can make anything faster. Power is power. boost is boost. It Doesn't discriminate. A 300hp 305 is better than an un modified 190hp Vortec 350 from a Truck.
Thanks for telling me the difference. I have an 84 C10 I picked up in January with a good running 305 with only 95,120 original miles. Not trying to build a muscle truck, just a good daily driver and work truck
The 305 was developed as a fuel economy engine, max horsepower was really not the driving force behind it. That being said, you can get good power out of one if you build it right. As you stated the heads are the biggest liability. They work well with forced induction due to the thicker cylinder walls, and the larger webbing between the cylinders gives a better seal for the head gasket.
Back in the 70's I was given a 1965 Chevelle with a 6 cylinder engine. The 6 was blown and the body on the Chevelle was rusty but I wanted to make a hot rod. I bought an older Chevy with a 283. I took the 6 cyl out of the Chevelle and transplanted the 283 into the Chevelle. I also took off the 2 barrel carb and the intake off the 283 and replaced it with a Carter 4 barrel carb with the intake. It was a fast car!
The difference between a 305 and a 350 is only the bore size and the thickness of the cylinder walls. The 305 is dam small. The 350 has a a 4.00" bore. The Chevy 307 has a 3.875" bore size, and the the 305 has a 3.736" bore size with 3.48" stroke. The 4.00" bore size has the strongest bore of all of them. It's not some magic number, it's just what we get when we start messing with bore sizes. (Like Werner Vaughn Braughn once said about solid vs liquid fueled rocket engines... it's not what we want, it what we get!) my Father In Law was in the audience when Vaughn Braun gave us that little tidbit. The 307 Chevy is stronger that the 305 because of its bore size. It wasn't something that was planned, it just happened that way. Just like the 327 and 302 were stronger engines Than the 350! It's was bore to stroke ratio all the way, and that came down to rod length to stroke ratio! Who'd' ever thunk that. Smokey Yunick and nobody else! Rod length to stroke ratio meant power and durability, and nobody else saw it except possibly Mopar engineers. Still today rod length to stroke ratio means power and durability. Even in monster 500+ Cubic inch motors. Even 600+ cu in motors. I'll stick with rod length to stroke ratios and lighter rotating mass.
I knew most of this already, but I've never had JK Simmons explain smallblock chevy stuff to me before, so that was cool. I enjoyed the video. Also enjoyed the 305 heads on a 350 story. Always good to see real world results instead of backwoods hot rodder hearsay.
Shoutout to Engine Masters! As for the 305, he's right about them being able to make decent power, but it's the dependability that's got me sold. I've heard so many horror stories of 350s cracking, but since the 305 has so much extra iron meat there's less chance of them failing even after a brief overheating or freezing. 263,000 miles on mine that's pushing 25 years old, sat through many harsh winters in my Camaro, and still kicking with stock roller lifters saving the trouble of setting valve lash and having to buy ZDDP oil, what killed their horsepower is what's easily replaceable with something better anyway; change the cam for more aggressive lift and duration, change the intake manifold to carbureted or aftermarket fuel injection of your choice, and just set the engine for either high torque or high horsepower production, whatever you want out of it.
Midnight Mechanic only time I see them crack is 2 bolt mains and when they bore them 60+. Other then that never have seen one crack. I've seen 305 bored crack to. Plus they don't have as good water flow for cooling the cylinder.
I've been to engine masters since it was hosted at my school. But I have to agree under normal application the 305 is a better option. But when you get into induction and nitrous and such. That 305 will turn to dust they tend to run hotter already due to bad heat removal from thicker cylinder walls. Just from what I've heard and I've seen.
yah i can allso say my 1992 305 rs 25 anniversary camaro was over heating and i drove it 3 miles to my destination and the engine kept on going and never cracked heads or never damaged the block,im a true believer in the durability of the 305 v8 engine.
That extra meat in the 305 block isn't in the right place to help with freezing. I have never seen one crack into the bore. It's always to the outside or into the lifter valley when they do crack from freezing.
The very early 305's were complete junk. Once they got a couple of production issues solved they were just fine from a reliability standpoint. I'll never build one because the 283, 302, and 307 are all better options for a small displacement SBC. The 305's bore is simply too small. The valves are always shrouded, and there are limits to valve size because large valves will actually hit the cylinder block because the bore is so small. For all out economy, they're fine, but if you want to go fast build something else.
i had a 82 AMC Sprite factory with a 2.5 liter engine 4 banger stander in it (Cavalier motor?) i think the bore was same as the 305. 1/2 a 305 v8 piston`s and rod`s are same im guessing :) i yank that out put direct bolt in 390 4 speed with the stock cross frame and 3:34 pos rear end out of a 69 AMX :) there body design never change other then front suspension from 69 - 70 but all bolt holes line up :) i love my American Motors cars cheep and fast :)
Had i a 87 GTx 3 banger corvette motor? Same thing a jaguar 4.9 with turbo heads. i put vega headlights in with 5 speed and ran posi 10.4 to 3. Not 1 can beat me.
I put a set of aftermarket heads from summit and a good cam in a 305 and still didn't make much power also had it bored 40 over and still didn't get much power from it
In 1987-88 the IROCS had nice 305 TPI My 1984 Vette had a Cross fire injected 350 with 205 hp but 0-60 it was a beast thanks to 300 lbs torque above idle.
I learned more in five minutes watching this video about the difference between 305s and 350 engines. Absolutely recommend a watch.
Same for me sick info
Good video honest good info
Can you put a 400 crank in a 305
@@ronaldphelps2689 yes you can if its 85 or older unless buy an aftermarket one piece rear main seal. If .040 over bore and 400 crank with the longer 350 rods it is a 339.6 and with the longer stroke compression goes up with flat tops 4 valve reliefs to improve the heads with hp 64 cc 350 heads works well. Good cam and intake and heads it runs well and over 300 hp. Torque curve is different than 350. Comes in hard low like 305 buys stays thru hp and peaks about the same. Not a total waste of time and money. Ran them against 327s in lower liter limited 30s 40s fiberglass bodied cars. Great luck with them until find out too big and get claimed.
Me too
One of the best performing motors I have seen was a 305. When we bought it we actually thought it was a beefed up 350. It was so well balanced it was crazy.
I was working in a shop in Little Rock at the time. A guy had a beautiful 85 Monte Carlo. It had gotten stolen about 3 weeks after I had personally worked on it. You know. He just wanted a basic tune job. Plugs, wires, and a little carb adjustment. After the work I performed. Just like any other time , I get to test drive. WELL SIR, I MUST SAY. I was very, very impressed for what I thought it was. ( Keep in mind I had driven a numerous amount of Hot Rods at this this time.)
I was personally driving an 81' El Camino. It had a Pontiac 400 with 6x heads. Edelbrock intake, 4 barrel Quadrajet. That I had tricked out a little bit.( Personally my favorite carb,,, when built right.)
Either way it was a mean s.o.b.
This all prettied Monte Carlo could've given me a run for my money. (Thinking it was a 350)
The guys car got stolen. He sold it back to the shop I worked at. The owner of the shop loved the paint job that was on it. So he bought it.
He was wanting to tpi it though. No prob. We had the stuff to do so. Anyway he was selling the motor. I had a buddy with a 76' El Camino that was going to rebuild his factory 400 SBC. I told him to come and check this motor out before he started spending money on his factory motor.
He did. And just like me, thought it was a beast. With the craziest lope you could ask for in a street car it would sit perfectly still. NO SHAKE. The throttle was instant and all you could want.
He bought it and drove that El camino for about 6 months. Then the most unfortunate thing that could happen did. THE OIL SCREEN FELL OFF. DAMN, DAMN.
NEEDLESS to say he wasn't light footed. He liked drifting before drifting was a thing. We pulled the motor back out. Popped off the oil pan to see the damage to the crank. It was bad enough. It was clear it was a done. Yes it was a balanced engine, it was clear when we pulled the pan. It trashed 3&5 rods. So we pulled the heads.
Our jaws dropped at this point. NO WAY!. BUT YET THERE IT WAS. IN ALL ITS GLORY. A 305. WOW!!!.
Never could make any one believe that was the motor that had been in that 76' El Camino.
If I were to guess....keep in mind this is 15yrs ago. I would say that little 305 was putting out around 320- 375 horse. So sad it went down that way. Either way I can say, done right. And I mean done right. I could see around 400 HP out of one. Naturally aspirated.
I would like to add, I love watching your videos. I difference of opinion in a few little things you say. But I guess, we all know what we know. Trial and error means a lot. And I have done a lot. Good day to you sir. I will be watching for more.
i have a 86 monte carlo and it has a 305
Could you run an 84 monte carlo with 305 and a supercharger kit and still use an automatic transmission?
Im racing an 87 Monte Carlo SS in Stock eliminator S/KA and I use the 305 that came in the car with 11:1 pistons and the stock 081 unported heads. It has a multiangle valve job bit with an early L82 intake and 750 quadrajet running VP C14+ on the dyno Im making 409 hp @ 6400. This is a balanced race engine that I have thousands in i my class Im all over the national record but cant quite match it.The record is held by a guy in Washington State with an 87 Formula 350 and hes running 11.63. Im a consistent 11.70s car on a good day but Ive put a whole lot of 350s, 302 Fords, 340 Mopars, and 351s on the trailer.
The entire reason I came to this video is because I'm working on my '76 Elko and was wondering if it was worth upsizing to a 350 or 400, your testimony might save me several hundreds of dollars if I can tune the engine up nicely :D
@@cosmicbrambleclawv2 Most of the issues I see in my custom shop is customers watching to many of those power shows. Huge difference between dyno tuned and drivability tuned. Many times a nice mild small block will beat these huge high priced big blocks in a lot of races. Main reason is part compatibility and tuning. I generally see the biggest issue is huge cams, huge carbs, 9ish to 1 compression and cheap ebay heads. Not going to work well.
You can see good gains form those cheap heads but just dropping a 750 double pumper right out of the box and complain about it not having power......
My '93 Caprice Classic LS has almost 364K miles on original engine/trans. Doesn't burn or leak oil at all. TBI 305 runs perfect. Been a great car. The small block Chevy V8 is a very well engineered engine either as a 305 or a 350.
Yeah that's after 3 generations
With all of that extra metal inbetween the cylinders, the 305 block looks like it could be strong enough to handle plenty of boost.
Meat between the cylinders doesn’t mean thicker walls.
The 305 is my favorite Chevy engine because many times it is nearly free and sometimes it is free .
L.E. Batte don’t forget the significantly better gas mileage
@@jacob.calloway6833 😂😂 yeahhhhh
327 small journal 250-375 hp is my favorite
351 is my favorite Shevy Ingun.
I have a 454,351,350 and 305 the only one I’ve blown up is the 350. Then I Rebuilt the 350 been driving for another 10 years.All Motors are damn near bullet proof and parts are cheap and everywhere .🏴☠️🏴
I bought a 1986 Elcamino in 1986 so I am the original owner it came with a 305 engine. I got 369,000 miles out of it very dependable. It jumped time while starting one morning in my driveway so I jacked up the motor and pulled the oil pan and changed the chain and gears, new oil pump, and just kept driving the car. Later on the valve guides were so worn (2005) that oil would leak down in the pistons and it was hard to start in the mornings; however after I got it started and warmed up it ran fine. Rebuilt the carburetor and kept going. That same year 2005 it was time to rebuild the motor so instead I dropped in a 2000 LS1 out of a Corvette and I still own the car today. I still have the 305 on an engine stand in the garage. Again very dependable motor for a daily driver.
James Perkins great story man, I visualize the entire thing. What do you think about the 350?
That's an awesome story man I have an 81 and plan to buy a crate 350 370horsepower
Have an 86 Grand Prix with a 305. Odd options on the car, base interior, 200r4 trans, posi rear end, aluminum intake with a 4brl Quadra junk...I mean Quadra-jet. Still the runs the same as it did when I got it as a young teenager. 314,000 miles and actually screams.
Love your channel man. I’m an old school engine builder from the early 70’s and some of these new tools to assemble an engine is just ridiculous. The tool manufacturers are laughing all the way to the bank. I used to build 2 engines a day 5 days a week don’t see that happening anytime soon. Keep up your good topics and I’ll continue watching. Thank you. Tim Smith
I've owned a 305, 350, and 454. The 1989 305 was scary. Additionally, my 1998 454 engine was not any faster than the 305 it actually was a tad slower at high rpm. Currently I have a 305 el camino with quadra jet carburetor and I love it. Everyone talks crap about quadra jets but if you keep them atleast half ass clean it's a blast to cruise around then gun it soon as the two other barrels open up boosts you forward like crazy while also saving gas.
Quads are a great carb. only problem is the shafts wear and cause air leaks by the butterflies, but that usually around the 80,000 - 100,000 mile area. Not bad life span. Reason why OEM's use it over hollies (which many use to) and other kinds
You probably didn't make a decision on changing the gear set to gain any kind of good dude 🙄 duh
The big block is built for torque range up to 4000 rpm
I always end up with these engines and I cruise my classics with them . Leave them stock and they will be reliable and use GM parts on them.
the difference between a 305 and a 350 are both the 5's & 0's are switched around.
Jerk Jiggler the difference is the 350 is more tough ,sounds better, and more powerful through take off and mid rpm hp.
I was gonna say 45ci difference
Jerk Jiggler yeah that's right not,,,,
Yeah pretty much
@Michael Rodriguez TOU ARE A REAL FOOL
i had a couple of 305s they ran great very reliable. one of them had crazy power. got a roller one now cant wait to build it.
Totally my experience as well. I've had both engines. The 305 is OK as you said and IMHO gets a bit better MPG, BUT, the 350 or better yet 383 gives you more of that kick in the pants we all love. Honestly I'm not even the least bit interested in doing 150 MPH on the street but I do love feeling the torque when I step on the throttle. Thanks for the show.
Thanks for that explanation. I'd never heard of a 305 V8 until about 1 year ago - a friend told me he had one in his 25th Anniversary '92 Camaro - though I distinctly remember the 307 in the '69 Camaro and Chevelles and other Chevys. With your info, I just realized what happened: They quit making the crankshaft for the 307 when they stopped manufacturing the 327 and enlarged the stroke to 350. So, in order to make another small, similar displacement, they used the 350 crank and then put a new, smaller bore with it. And they didn't want the C.I. displacement to be identical, so they made it slightly smaller! Thanks.
Glad to see someone besides me defend the 350s little brother. 305s get a bad rap because they don't make a lot of HP. They weren't designed to be performance motors but they're every bit as reliable and get decent milage and have decent power
with all the aftermarket parts available a 305 can really scream and if that is what you have I say just go with it
@@Myvintageiron7512 had a 305 in my pops 66 impala ss that was out of a monte carlo not sure year but took it out to put 283. Have had the 305 sitting in the garage for the past 12 years and now im heavily debating building it and doing a swap with my 5mge in my 85 supra as its beginning to have issues and parts are ridiculously hard to find for the 5m. Problem is I’m in Cali so i would need to do sm0g under the table to “keep it legal”. Would be nice to stick the 305 in it for now as i acquire a stock 1uz to stick in it legally. If i didn’t live in Cali i would already have the 305 in and keep it in. Very nice engine and love that i wouldn’t have to be breaking my head over parts if something goes wrong.
@@andreze3667 I say do the swap and then move out of ComieFornia. I hear there gonna start taking people’s gas cars away soon. I say time for the gearheads and hotrodders to get the hell out of that comie mess of a state ...
@@josefastboats5874 no yeah for sure man I’m already trying to figure out where i should go. Considering back to alaska but id drive it up 💀
Glad to hear your talk on the 305 engine, I've been building performance engines for 40 years, and have been trying to say the same about the 305 , it is a decent engine, and can be a great daily driver, Thanks for a little more common sense.
I have a stock 1976 camaro with 305. It runs all day and never complains. Thanks for the video
305's are good motors. Yes 350's are better for making power. Good thing about 305's is because they have a bad reputation for being junk you can get them for a dime a dozen. I picked one up for $100.00 with less then 50k miles on it.
jayson brock
Yup, good cheap motors.
jayson brock
I just put a vortec 305 roller engine in my 77 chevy 3/4 ton pick up it's just a stock truck I will use for an extra vehicle will haul engines around and probably use for yard work and home upgrades it runs very well If I need to run to the store or pick up parts or even go get lumber or building supplies at home depot I do not need a 700 HP Big Block there is nothing wrong with a 305 engine they are very reliable the cores are cheap and they get better mileage that a 350 all day long for doing the things I listed above they have more than enough power especially if you add an RV cam and good intake and EX mine has a roller RV Cam 208/218 dur @.050 edelbrock duel plain intake with 650 cfm carb and duel 1 7/8 ex with flow masters it runs very well it won't be winning any drag races but I did not build it for that most of the guys saying 305's suck have the mind set that everything you drive has to have high HP and be able to win a race at any time it's just silly
Yes I agree your post is an exact discourse of how I see it when I need to run across town and pick a set of heads or to home depot I don't really want to fire up my 600 HP drag truck let it warm up and fight it the entire way there and back because it was not really made for a daily driver it gets hot and has lousy driveability manners not to mention my wife hates it she wants smooth quiet and A/C and there are many times I would really like her to go with me to Home Depot or even out to eat She is a girl and I really like spending time with her the 305 Truck is perfect for it
Or, I don't know. Maybe order a 3.75" stroke crank, and forged pistons, forged rods, forced induction, and appropriate cam and aluminum heads (they are out there, just do the math); the 305 can be a fun street or race contender.
One thing I do remember from the 80's was that the 350 had better cooling with larger water jackets and thinner piston walls. This also accounted for more cracked blocks if over heated and cooled to quickly.
And thats a fact
I had a 75 Nova with a 305 in it. I kept it running for years off of a rusted-out old 73 Chevelle with a 350
Good honest video. I love the 305 but that's because I've had one with 335k miles that wouldn't blow up, another with 200k that I had since 115k when I was in highschool and really stupid. Currently running the original 305 in my 83 Caprice with 228k and it's holding up great too. I think they're harder to kill than a 305 since they have the same rods and crank with less strain on them with the smaller bore. Plus the 305 heads aren't prone to cracking like a 350 head was for a lot of years.
When I upgrade from the 305 I'm going to a 5.3 LS engine I already bought. Might as well make the upgrade worth it.
I love these videos! Just found them. Can't wait to watch the vortec breakdown.Old school all the way.
my friend had a Caprice Classic with 4bbl carb 305. my impression was the same, the motor is not bad.
Appreciate your "straight forward" information. I have an 83 camaro with 305 runs great, all original. However, I also have a 2006 LS3 truck motor that I am looking at upgrading and swapping. Watching your various vids (and others) seems the LS will still be the biggest bang for the buck. Thanks!
I built one for an 80's Malibu. I got the complete engine including all the accessories ready to go for $200. New bearings and rings and a swap meet intake and it was on the road. It's a great daily driver motor for a Malibu.
Glad to hear you're a fan of Engine Masters too. I love watching their different engine builds and dyno tests. Especially the 305 test you talk about. was a fun one.
yeah they made over 600 hp, then the next step it went boom. If I remember right 600 hp was a 250 shot nos.
I just found out from a Roadkill extra episode they are planning on rebuilding the 305 with forged internals and setting it up fir NOS in a further episode sweeeetttt
Myvintageiron7512 can you fit a 383 head on a 350?
James Palmer, there is no such thing as a Chevy 383 head. those are chrysler big block heads
James Palmer Chevy small block 383 is an aftermarket engine. There are a number of companies that sell kits to build a 383 out of a 350 block. In the old days we used to put a 400 SBC crank in a 030" over 350 block. It took some fiddling around to make it work. We would buy inserts for the mains (400 mains are smaller than the 350 mains). Also we had to grind some off the bottom of the cylinders to clearance the longer stroke 400 crank. Different pistons, different rods and the right set of 350 heads and we had a healthy engine for those days. Today if you want a 383 Chevy, buy a kit...... or a complete engine. It's cheaper and a lot easier.
If I remember correctly, the biggest problems with the 305 when they came out is that they had bad cams in them which would wear out prematurely. You can always take one, put the 350 heads and cam in it, a 4 barrel carb and it will run very well. Kinda like beefing up a 318 Chrysler, which I did, with 340 cam, 360 heads, and a 4 barrel. It ran great.
If you want to be a lamo stick with the three o five motor
Having had a 1978 305 with a Rochester 4-barrel and the 1991 305 with TBI, and OBD-I computer control, it's a world of difference in power. My '78 Regal struggled to get from 50 to 65 mph (downhill!). My 1991 Chevy gets from 50 to 65 very easily, and beyond.
I gotta say for the last 2 1/2 hrs of reading and I don't read that much, so good for you and your videos.
Another great trick with a 305 is to put a smaller crank and shorter rods in it and it pushes the redline up over 8,000 rpm's. Then there are other things to build up from there like, better heads, turbo, etc. Engine Masters had a great episode about it in one of the more recent seasons.
Great tip!
Yeah that's fine if you're gonna do 200 mph on the street idiot or unless you drive on the autobon in Germany hmmm 🤔🤗🐂🤔
I've got a 98 sierra with a 305 and has 340k on it and still runs and drives very well, been a great engine for me.
You would only have a 305 if you put that engine in it. Gm stopped making the 305 in 1992
305 definitely continued beyond '92. 305 Vortec in lots of OBDII ('96 and newer) full-size pickups. Personally wouldn't want one but they were more than strong enough.
I had one in a '81 silverado, had a huge carb factory and 2.55 rear-end changed to 3.40 rear-end and put headers on it. Would smoke the tires with the cruise control, once you got it spinning... hauled 1500lbs of concrete in it and many slow it down tickets. Motor trans combo was great.
I've been a mechanic fifty years, and was working at a Chevrolet dealership when the 305 came out. They had a lot of camshaft problems the first few years, from wiped lobes to breaking in half. Timing chain problems too. One of our guys found a cam gear tooth stuck in the crank gear, but the cam gear on the engine had all its teeth. Anyway, that's what started the bad reputation, and I guess it's just passed down through the generations.
Flow is everything for a naturally aspirated engine regardless of the displacement.
To a point. You can build that engine all you absolutely can. Yet a massively huge exhaust and giant intake tube will not help
M H I believe what he is saying is cylinder flow, if you're heads can't inhale anymore than you're pretty much stuck in an n/a application. Forcing air into it is completely different, moral of the story is get the best cylinder heads you can afford
Never called it junk. Fact is they were the best taxi motor they ever made. It was nothing to get 500,000 miles out of these motors, since they invented overdrive transmissions.
They put 283s in the Checker Cabs! So I myself would beg to differ! LoL
train jam I got 375k on mine. Cam went flat. I could put a new cam in and kept going. I threw a 350 in instead.
I had one crapnout on me at under 80,000 miles and the junk 200 4R didn't last much longer
If you're wondering how to tell them apart visually, here's a sexy hot tip 😉 The harmonic balancer is thicker on the 305. 305's is closer to 2", while that of the 350 is closer to 1" in depth.
Had a factory 305 in a 96' Silverado extended cab 2wd that came with a 5spd manual.. That thing made it 236k Capital H Bold, Italic and underlined HARD miles before it spun a bearing on the interstate during a 3rd gear drop acceleration pass.. Serviced Reguaurly and abused. I was impressed it lasted as long as it did, replaced with a 350 and sent it on to it's new owner. It was a 2 bolt main and replaced it with a 4 bolt main 350
I used to grind crankshafts back in the day. The old two-piece seal small block chevys. There was a small difference between the 350 and 305 crankshaft, even though the casting numbers were identical. If you stood each one upright side-by-side, and looked directly down on each, you would see the 350 first and second counterweights were identical size, meaning you could not see the second counterweight. The 305 first counterweight would be slightly cut back more, as to see some of the second counterweight. This was due to help the balance using smaller pistons. But dementionally, they are identical. So to keep from having too big a balance issue with either, it's something to look for.
If you want power, and stability out of a Chevy engine, start with the 327.
Aaron Lovell yep, a 350 with a 283 crank
not that easy to find
@billyfromtheusa that'd be a downgrade in some cases, ignorant ford fanboy
@billyfromtheusa So that means parts are interchangeable if your theory is correct, right? Guess what, as a mechanic I can tell you that the motors are entirely different. Because Ford does their own thing and GM does their own, and Dodge, and so on. They have been for always and always will. Did you also know that Ford took Obama's government fund to make their cars different while GM said no and failed? Bet not, like all other Ford fans. Dont slam other fans because you worship only one, learn the goods and bads of every one and then pick what you like out of many. Dont pigeon hole yourself. Or do, it's your life.
Troll attempt failed there Billy. Who cares if you currently own 5 whatevers and this many of them is blah. I've owned over 20 different vehicles of all makes and models and types. Doesnt mean that I'm gonna get on here and be a dillrod though. Calm your tassels.
My buddy has an 86 305. It's deadly for what it is, .450-.450 cam, stock heads, .040 flat dished pistons. He got the engine for free, was supposed to be a 350, turned out to be a freshly rebuilt 305 with a rebuilt th350C. We threw a Holley Contender intake and a Holley 600 on it, it kicks the car sideways when it kicks down, it's in a 65 Studebaker with 3.73 rear gears.
I enjoy your channel alot. Lots of info and great ideas. Same reason I watch Roadkill, engine masters and dirt every day. I've always wonder how much torque can a person get out of a 305? Love the channel. Keep up the good work.
Another great video. thanks for posting. here's my 2 cents. for all those who don't believe a 305 can go fast, well your wrong. is more cubes better? of course. but what if you find yourself sitting on a good low mileage 305? I mean hell, they are cheap. is it a waste of time? no. I had a 305 sitting around, also a cam heads intake blah blah blah from another 350 that died. tore it down to a short block, 186 casting heads with screw in studs, mild solid cam, edelbrock single plane intake, 750 holley, hei w/msd6a box, holley blue pump, turbo 350 w/3000 stall, 4:10 gears in the stock 7 1/2 rear end in a full weight 80 elcamino...answer......13:50's friends, all day long. add edelbrock adjustable 50 to 100 hp nitrous kit and bam, instant 12 teens....no matter the heat or humidity. totally reliable. every wknd at any of my local tracks. ran that moter in that config for ten years...TEN SUMMERS of racing.......sold the rolling chassis but still have the motor in another car. so all of you who have a good condition 305 laying around and think it isn't worth wasting your time. i'll take it. who cares if you blow it up, take the parts off it and swap them onto another 305 or even a 350. enjoy.
Outlaw Mercenary Yeah,I had a 305 in my 78 elcamino and it was a nice performer after just adding headers,different intake and 4 barrel.And it got way better mileage than the low compression 350.Ill always be a 305 and 327 fan!
Outlaw Mercenary what if you were to port polish and jet the 305 heads to create better flow on a 5.7 block
U the man. Your comment seems honest and genuine. Thanks
@@nighthawk8053 right on man. 327
Outlaw Mercenary hell yeah , I feel exactly the same way. I’ve had a few over the years that had just few tweets to them and I pounded them into the ground and I can honestly say I’ve never had one leave me stranded . Not a whole lot of torque but plenty enough to be fun in a little small car .
Just like a diesel there's more meat between the walls leaving strength and bore options. Thanks for the video I love my 305 in my 94 Chevy :) :) :)
I had a 305 four barrel in my 1982 Chevy van, it ran 23 years and over 260,000 miles and was still going fine when I sold it. It never once broke down or needed any work other than belts, and oil, 2 starters and a water pump, no engine work. Ran perfectly.
Thank You for making this great video 🌞 !
The "is it a 305 or a 350?" question is surely a very common question,and your vid is a big help!
The thing I like about the 305 is that initially when you come off of a stoplight, you feel the torque and it feels like a 350. But that goes away as you start trying to pull harder/go faster. The 3.48 stroke gives it that pull in the beginning, but the smaller cylinders and less airflow won't let you maintain as much "pull" as a 350. I have yet to build a 305 (because I used to throw them away), but since they're basically free nowadays, I'll put one together, and it should make a decent low-end torque engine with a decent set of heads on them.
Remember the 265 in 55 the 283 in 57 270 go dual quads they contended with olds j2s pontiacs with tripower mopars with dual quads ford 352 interceptors with overdrive and cruisamatics those little small blocks stood tall !
They called the 307 a dog I've seen some run I've had 400 small blocks that ate 350s with their paper thin cylinder.walls some called them a dog my 81 z28 has a. 327 from a 65 vette and cranks like the midnight special LOL
@@hdjzzuush7867 So true, the tri-fives started the horse power race and performance war of the late 50's and the 60's. When I was a kid the fastest street car around was a 4 door 55 with a 327, it whipped ever big block car in town and the county.
all the 305s i've had were awesome
They are EXTREMELY common to be used in marine applications at 225hp, because they hold up extremely well to the constant torque being applied.
everett potter I have a 1984 Chevy Caprice with a 305 in it. What can I do to add more hp to my 305 .
@@johnbell9281 601305 heads they are h.o heads for the 305 port them and tube them they are good but thin heads
@@everettpotter189 to get more power out of my setup, this is what I recently did just last month (on my boat 305, 2PC rear seal). Its an HO that has already been built up pretty good by Volvo Penta (all their 305s are HO models) but the was still a little room for improvement.
- 416 heads, ported the intakes for more flow, ported and polished the exhausts for more flow. Deshrouded the combustion chambers. (Using a flow bench along the way)
- ported the intake manifold heavily and port matched to the head (using a flow bench of course)
- swapped to high flow polished valves
- three angle valve job w/all new springs, seals, etc
- put a fully redone Quadrajet 4MV on and up jetted to match the new flow rate.
- used a 1" thick poly spacer to raise the carb for cooler intake flowing fuel and eliminate any percolating I had troubles with during really hot days and hard running.
- slightly more cam with a tad more lift. They came mildly lifted, but not to the optimal setting for after all I did.
- new sealed bearing alternator, sealed bearing PS pump, and eliminates the impeller unit, all to reduce drag on the front of the engine and to free up some tiny power. Hehe
All in all, it started out with 209hp on the dyno before the refresh, and ended up with 253hp after the fact. Not a HUGE increase, but pretty decent nonetheless. :)
@@everettpotter189 yeah, those 601 heads are the bees knees! Haha. Unfortunately, I had the 416 on mine (close to the same, just slightly beefier) and couldn't locate any decent local 601's. :(
The 601's were basically just 416's but hogged out in the bowl area by GM right? (Both are HO I know)
you answered my questions in under a minute! Great video :)
Thank you. I really needed to hear that, because the mechanic told my son that his motor was a 350 and started rebuilding, then later told my son it was a 305, and my son didn’t believe me when I told him it was a 305.
A marine mechanic once that told me the 283 was the best marine engine made. His reasoning was that the engine would run out of airflow or float the valves before the bottom end could be damaged. It didn't make as much power as larger 350s, but was hard to break. A great characteristic for marine use. Probably the same deal for the 305.
Both made great boat anchors not a performance engine by any stretch of the imagination people who have a clue to what's going on with motors at all
Yeah that's about all they were good for when you got through with them they made great boat anchors also
When I saw the title of this video...I said out loud.... "The bore size"... LOL
Lmaoooo me too
Don't forget the heads.... Difference on the flow of the heads
I have a 92 rally sport with a tub 305 that runs like a bear
I said 45.
Different stroke too
The "Hot Rod" stuff is very cool, but you, my friend, provide a wealth of knowledge with your channel here, and I know I really appreciate it! I wished I could apprentice under you for a while and just learn a fraction of what you know!!
I've been a Hot rodder for at least thirty five years now and I know when someone is blowing smoke up my ass
He might have a great show but I'm experienced in my own research on my own mechanical skills with the Oldsmobile rocket motors I've made more HP than the numbers that these people on these sites are claiming they have already
@@rodneyhopper22 Where are your videos displaying all your knowledge?
Hello enjoyed your video! I once built a budget 305 in a Monte Carlo! Man that was one of the quickest street cars I ever owned! Yes I built it right! New heads intake and exhaust! Stock bore and stroke, did not want to go too far overboard! I was in the US Navy at the time! Ran like a top! Until I blew the transmission! oops! There was a guy waiting at the dealership when I traded it in! He had to have that motor!
I love the 305 in my 82 Z28, it's been built up some and the car is a beast, never underestimate!.
Steve W what did you do to it??
I didn't do anything, I bought it that way but I was told it had a better peformance cam I believe mixed with a good TH350 trans and 3:73 gears.
Steve W yeah i would be impressed with a 82 camaro and its 150,horsepower trash car and trash motor
Its a fucking dog man u cannot make a 305 a "beast"
I had a z28 witha ho 305 it had 1.6 exhaust valves you can port and polish the headsbig cam screw in studs intake good holly 373 .gear have some fun cheap.
Thanks for the input I’ll build a nice 305 w a thumper cam and be way under budget and have fun w it
my stock eliminator uses a Lunati Duntov solid lifter cam because my class has a stock lift rule. The 228/230 duration is perfect for my combination and paying 1200 dollars for a custom ground cam that wont make much difference is a waste of money.
Awesome video, I just found your channel and subscribed. You got me interested in learning more!
Awesome to know this! Very kool to know this information. I had a 350 in a 1989 Formula Firebird, it was pretty powerful but had lots of issues with the headgaskets blowing, transmission constantly slipping or locking into 1st gear only. When it was up and running it was truly an exciting ride but unfortunately that was only about 15 percent of the time I owned it. Was it fun to drive and race around in yes, was the down time and repairs worth the hassle, no.
I'd like to see a 305 build with Dart Vortec heads as well as a PONTIAC 301 build with the McCarty RAM AIR V heads and intake.
Had a 305 in my '77 Camaro. Started out as a 2bbl car, stock. Mustang GTs of the time would eat me alive. I was dumb and didn't change the oil, ever, and spun a bearing (teenage years). For the rebuild I got a high duration cam, put on dual glass packs, removed the cat, and put a 750 Holley double pumper up top (it was free). Too much carb, and no low end torque, but that motor would scream at high RPMs. I can't recall how many cars of the day I outran after that build. Sure, a 350 would've been better but that little 305 had some magic in it.
That's what I've learned. 305s have nothing on the bottom, but wake up higher with a little help.
@@FerrickOxhide not true Im making 409 hp @ 6400 and it pulls hard from 3000 RPM on, its an NHRA S/KA stock eliminator drag car not a street car.
@@MasterWitchDoctor I'm sure it's stock! 3000 rpm is still pretty high. I was referring to mainly stock engines. The little 307 outpulls them both at a lower rpm. I wish I still had mine!
Only in your imagination 😉
Very good information for years I was wondering what was the difference between the 305 and a 350 thanks for the info.
I had a 305 in a mid 80s Caprice Classic station wagon. The stock cam went flat (on the front 2 lobes) put a 350 spec. Cam in it and it ran crazy fast . The reduced duration and bump in the lift , raised the compression. I had to run 92/93 octane gas in it, but it was well worth it . I miss that car . It lived a life as a truck for the last 200k of its 300k . Great car .
Maybe if you're gonna be a grandpa or a grandma going to get the groceries to and from the house 🏡
I had one in a Camaro. It took a tremendous amount of abuse and never complained. If you have one, bore it out, put some heads on it and keep on Truckin'
mcinkyt I have on in my 91 rs need help what to do
Had a 305TPI in my 85 Iroc Z. Great engine considering how cheap it was to mod. Some vortec heads, cam, intake work, exhaust and it will create some decent numbers :-)
Had one with the same mods in a 86 Regal, one wheelie peelie for days until we put a posi in it lol.
So why shouldn't he just bore out the 305 and build a 383 out of that ?
The 305 doesn't have real sleeves like a 350, so boring it out to a 350 would be risky. You could probably bore it out to a 307's bore (3.875"//7/8") and have 328" but you'll never get to a 4" bore and have much cylinder wall left. Wouldn't be safe for a stroker most definitely. You could stuff a 3.75" stroker crank in the 3.875" bore block and have a 353" engine. But as cheap as it is to get a 350 block and if you're building a stroker anyway you might as well do it to the block that gives you 30 extra inches.
292 straight 6. Best engine I ever had.
had one too .
never a problem.
you got to love chevys man!
sevenhornets hey the less power the less of a chance that motor hurts itself
THANK YOU FOR THE SIMPLE EXPLANATION ! There is so much bad info out there on forums that is too hard to find the truth.
I had a ‘72 Chevy van with a 305 and three-on-the-tree. Zero drivetrain issues. Rock solid. Wish I’d bought two.
305 are super reliable and they can turn serious rpms.
You're full of shit. They are NOT reliable, and have the SAME stroke as a 350.
I had an 87 IROC w a 305HO and a T5. I didn't care how I treated it because I wanted to build a 350 for it. I regularly turned 6500-7000 RPM's racing and only floated the valves once at about 135mph racing an off duty cop on the interstate in 4th gear before I let out. (Thought I blew it up).
It was fine. Until a kid on a phone hit me at a light and totaled it (me too).
Thirdgen83 he is full of shit, but not the way you think.
Jonathan-Emily Powell 305s are reliable tough as a brick but they absolutely do not turn serious rpms. With stock bottom end and mild top end they still fall flat at 5000 to be generous. ANY engine can turn serious rpms but it takes money and time. A Volkswagen air cooled flat 4 can turn 7 grand. That mean a stock beetle can turn that much? Fuck no the guys that make those 4000 rpm motors go 7 is because of serious money and effort to make it spin that much. A 327 can make a good screamer with minimal effort. A 350 can make a screamer after some pretty in depth modifications and at a 400+ power number. You’d have to sink some serious money into the truck motor that is the 305 to make that thing turn any rpms...
Thirdgen83 not reliable? I’ve owned 3 Monte Carlo SS and all had factory 305HO and total miles were 205,000, 115,000, 228,000(and counting). Never left me on the side of the road and none of the engines died...I run them up to 5000-5400RPMs Max. My Montes all ran 15.00-15.7 at drag strip with 373 gears and posi, not bad for little 305s
I think the 305 is a great engine. The 305 in my 92 Caprice has over 300,000 miles on it and it still runs very strong. And the power isn't that bad. I can break the back tires loose from a dead stop. It may not push you back in your seat, but she moves when you need her to and the economy is great. Also, with just a few minor upgrades like ignition, air intake and exhaust, all relatively cheap, you can get a surprising bump in power out of the 305. I may eventually upgrade the Caprice to a 350, but not until this 305 finally goes. And that may be a long time!
The 700R4 tranny had an ultra low range 1st gear, a hole shot advantage.
Kd Grayson the 700r4 sucks I went through 4 of them in my 81 c10 I finally got a th350 and haven't had a problem since
@Keith Allen If you ant to haul ass get a Corvette or Camaro or a motor home.
Thank you for this well done video. I have wondered what the difference was between the two Way back when some people called the 305 a smog motor version of the 350.
1st, great video, great information. When the 305 1st came out it was common practice to mill .100 off the head and angle mill the intake so it would fit better. Yeah, it was a bit of work, but you had a good truck engine in the end. You could have about 225-250hp and get 20-22mpg and back in the day that meant something. Mill the head, intake, comp cam 268, alum intake and you are good to go.
I expect my 305 being engineered for lower stress to "go the distance." Am hearing that 250 miles can be expected if reasonably maintained and not thrashed by teenage driving.
250 miles is like one tank of gas.
Just thought I'd share that I've have owned and 85 c10 with a 305 it lasted 458000 before quiting on me and now have an 82 c10 and it has a 305 with 300,000
I have a 1992 Rs camaro, with 305 engine with 240,000 miles and the engine never locked up or burned oil from driving it hard .
so the 5.0 Had thicker cylinder walls? therby allowing it to hold more power overall before cracking a cylinder wall??
Brandon Jay the 350 is a motor with little limitations to make power besides the block literally shaking itself apart at 600 horsepower so cylinder walls would never fail before you throw a rod or something. The power limit of the engine geometry is that the block itself may flex and change clearances or the mains shake and crack loose but that happens at such a high power number you’ll never get to it. It’s why the sbc is so good.
I have a question I have 98 sierra 305 and the block it's cracked and I can't find a motor so I was thinking to use a 350 and my question is if is going to work whit the transmission?? Do I need to change the computer too??
Oscar Ayala nah both work
Yeah but it also had a 2 bolt main that’s the kicker
the wall thickness at the top but the cylinders arent meant to bore passed .060 or they start to get thin. You cant take a 305 block and bore it to 4 inches, the walls are too thin.
I have a 305 in my truck and I love the thing, it has power when it needs it but it has amazing gas mileage ever other time.
Good information. I just picked up an ‘89 C1500 with a 305 and 5 speed.
I had a 85 Chevy 1/2 ton with a 305 it was good as long you don't load anything heavy
boat man p
I definately wouldnt be suprized if you are a guest on ANY Hot Rod owned show. In fact im suprized i havnt seen you on those shows. Make a Chevy 400 sbc video if you can please
Love your vid's I have a 305 balanced blue printed with big valve dart heads edelbrock performer intake and carb lots of HP 360hp and torque in a 1977 vette got all the giddy up I need!!
Cool thnx for the vid. My grandparents have a 87 R1500 just sitting behind the shed sitting for years and I was confused on the type of Engine. Just totaled my 98 4.0 grand Cherokee too.. time to have some more fun 😅
I'm a Ford man, but now I'm more versed in Chevrolet. Thanks for the info.
Ed Spencer I built a 351 sroker one time had 6 inch Buick rods in it with some Keith black piston for a local round track car went from the back to the front would turn 8700 all day long.
Hell!!! 305 or not, we live in a power adder age beef up the internals...buy a small block turbo or twin turbo kit and anything is instantly fast...not to mention superchargers...lol
Johnny Johnson agreed you can make anything faster. Power is power. boost is boost. It Doesn't discriminate. A 300hp 305 is better than an un modified 190hp Vortec 350 from a Truck.
I have an 86 1/2 ton pickup, 305, 4 barrel carb, gets 22 mpg hiway, running empty. I like it a lot.
Last year for the carburetor in the trucks
Thanks for telling me the difference. I have an 84 C10 I picked up in January with a good running 305 with only 95,120 original miles. Not trying to build a muscle truck, just a good daily driver and work truck
How much mpg where you getting?
do you have more room on 350 to put more gas power like 4 carbs 302 less room
Dude yea engine masters is a sick show
Steve dulcich is the man he always loves high rpm
Dude I just learned so much from this video thank you so much
Great topic , I own one of both one 95 350 van and 92 pickup. I'm a chevy guy from way back.
The 305 was developed as a fuel economy engine, max horsepower was really not the driving force behind it. That being said, you can get good power out of one if you build it right. As you stated the heads are the biggest liability. They work well with forced induction due to the thicker cylinder walls, and the larger webbing between the cylinders gives a better seal for the head gasket.
Why
@@rodneyhopper22 Why not?
If you're a pussy and that's all you can handle for a motor 🙄 wtf OMG people
Try putting it in a 5000 lb car and 2.41:1 ratio rear end and see what you can get from that
@@rodneyhopper22 That has nothing to do with what I commented on.
it's a v8! of coarse it's powerful!
Back in the 70's I was given a 1965 Chevelle with a 6 cylinder engine. The 6 was blown and the body on the Chevelle was rusty but I wanted to make a hot rod. I bought an older Chevy with a 283. I took the 6 cyl out of the Chevelle and transplanted the 283 into the Chevelle. I also took off the 2 barrel carb and the intake off the 283 and replaced it with a Carter 4 barrel carb with the intake. It was a fast car!
Thank you! I needed this information. 👏
Glad it was helpful!
Had a 305 once, ran good
The difference between a 305 and a 350 is only the bore size and the thickness of the cylinder walls. The 305 is dam small. The 350 has a a 4.00" bore. The Chevy 307 has a 3.875" bore size, and the the 305 has a 3.736" bore size with 3.48" stroke. The 4.00" bore size has the strongest bore of all of them. It's not some magic number, it's just what we get when we start messing with bore sizes. (Like Werner Vaughn Braughn once said about solid vs liquid fueled rocket engines... it's not what we want, it what we get!) my Father In Law was in the audience when Vaughn Braun gave us that little tidbit. The 307 Chevy is stronger that the 305 because of its bore size. It wasn't something that was planned, it just happened that way. Just like the 327 and 302 were stronger engines Than the 350! It's was bore to stroke ratio all the way, and that came down to rod length to stroke ratio! Who'd' ever thunk that. Smokey Yunick and nobody else! Rod length to stroke ratio meant power and durability, and nobody else saw it except possibly Mopar engineers. Still today rod length to stroke ratio means power and durability. Even in monster 500+ Cubic inch motors. Even 600+ cu in motors. I'll stick with rod length to stroke ratios and lighter rotating mass.
Kenneth Cohagen 302 /327 ha they where all the same in the end 69 dz was a 350 block
I knew most of this already, but I've never had JK Simmons explain smallblock chevy stuff to me before, so that was cool. I enjoyed the video. Also enjoyed the 305 heads on a 350 story. Always good to see real world results instead of backwoods hot rodder hearsay.
Great information! Thank you!
Shoutout to Engine Masters! As for the 305, he's right about them being able to make decent power, but it's the dependability that's got me sold. I've heard so many horror stories of 350s cracking, but since the 305 has so much extra iron meat there's less chance of them failing even after a brief overheating or freezing. 263,000 miles on mine that's pushing 25 years old, sat through many harsh winters in my Camaro, and still kicking with stock roller lifters saving the trouble of setting valve lash and having to buy ZDDP oil, what killed their horsepower is what's easily replaceable with something better anyway; change the cam for more aggressive lift and duration, change the intake manifold to carbureted or aftermarket fuel injection of your choice, and just set the engine for either high torque or high horsepower production, whatever you want out of it.
Midnight Mechanic only time I see them crack is 2 bolt mains and when they bore them 60+. Other then that never have seen one crack. I've seen 305 bored crack to. Plus they don't have as good water flow for cooling the cylinder.
I've been to engine masters since it was hosted at my school. But I have to agree under normal application the 305 is a better option. But when you get into induction and nitrous and such. That 305 will turn to dust they tend to run hotter already due to bad heat removal from thicker cylinder walls. Just from what I've heard and I've seen.
yah i can allso say my 1992 305 rs 25 anniversary camaro was over heating and i drove it 3 miles to my destination and the engine kept on going and never cracked heads or never damaged the block,im a true believer in the durability of the 305 v8 engine.
That extra meat in the 305 block isn't in the right place to help with freezing. I have never seen one crack into the bore. It's always to the outside or into the lifter valley when they do crack from freezing.
The very early 305's were complete junk. Once they got a couple of production issues solved they were just fine from a reliability standpoint. I'll never build one because the 283, 302, and 307 are all better options for a small displacement SBC. The 305's bore is simply too small. The valves are always shrouded, and there are limits to valve size because large valves will actually hit the cylinder block because the bore is so small. For all out economy, they're fine, but if you want to go fast build something else.
i had a 82 AMC Sprite factory with a 2.5 liter engine 4 banger stander in it (Cavalier motor?) i think the bore was same as the 305. 1/2 a 305 v8 piston`s and rod`s are same im guessing :) i yank that out put direct bolt in 390 4 speed with the stock cross frame and 3:34 pos rear end out of a 69 AMX :) there body design never change other then front suspension from 69 - 70 but all bolt holes line up :) i love my American Motors cars cheep and fast :)
Had i a 87 GTx 3 banger corvette motor? Same thing a jaguar 4.9 with turbo heads. i put vega headlights in with 5 speed and ran posi 10.4 to 3. Not 1 can beat me.
GM 2.5liter was a 4inch bore and 3inch stroke. it was half of a GM (chevy) 302ci
I like all your information on the small block Chevy that you provide on the internet I think that's great I love the old-school Chevys
Great explanation! I’m going to check out road kill today.
305 and 350 to me are both good. Now the real question is would you rather run 350 or 454?
454 is the best for pulling but burn a lot of gaz
I put a set of aftermarket heads from summit and a good cam in a 305 and still didn't make much power also had it bored 40 over and still didn't get much power from it
In 1987-88 the IROCS had nice 305 TPI
My 1984 Vette had a Cross fire injected 350 with 205 hp but 0-60 it was a beast thanks to 300 lbs torque above idle.
Great information, thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the valuable information