[Gearstix]

Well guys I have a Chevy 305. I am not sure what year or its mileage but I got it for free from my school.

It has centerbolt valve covers, HEI distributor and a Rochester Quadra-Jet.

I was originally going to rebuild it. Then I went and priced out how much it'd cost to rebuild it.. was too much, and I was told the 305 was a junk motor.
I can't see anything really wrong with it other than a small bore. I sorta want half decent gas mileage and I don't want gobs of power, just better than the 4 cylinder in my truck.

But back on track..

I priced out the stuff to rebuild it, was around $1500. Plus theres no machine shop in my town.

So I left it. I brought it to my buddys house and put it in his yard. It's been uncovered for almost a year, may be a bit of water in side but not enough to do any damage I don't think, maybe a teaspsoon or two..

I'm thinking about going and collecting the engine, and pulling it apart, and maybe just running the hone through it and puttin new rings or pistons in.
Put some gaskets in it and stuff, freshen it up.

Do you guys think its worth messing with?
I don't mind spending a couple hundred on it on parts as long as the motor is useable.
Its sorta hard for me to find decent SBCs where I'm at as theres 1 wrecker within 5 hours.
I cannot drive by myself yet, as I don't have a full license, that prevents me from driving far to get parts.

I'm looking for any help at all.
I will try to get the engine home. I will have to make a sleigh for it so I can get it out of the snow.

[bondo]

So I left it. I brought it to my buddys house and put it in his yard. It's been uncovered for almost a year, may be a bit of water in side but not enough to do any damage I don't think, maybe a teaspsoon or two..Do you guys think its worth messing with?

Ayuh,...
I'd Sooner think it's nothing more than a couple hundred pounds of Scrap metal at this point....

[curtis73]

Centerbolt valve covers started in 1986. TBI or TPI replaced the Qjet in 87 on chevys, so unless it was modified, it should be an 86.

But that's a big "unless."

[curtis73]

Originally Posted by Gearstix

I was told the 305 was a junk motor.
I can't see anything really wrong with it other than a small bore. I sorta want half decent gas mileage and I don't want gobs of power, just better than the 4 cylinder in my truck.

This is a debate that won't ever be resolved. The small bore limits breathing. Small bore = small valves = lower RPMs. They are also a much thinner/lighter casting so extreme RPMs and HP are not in the cards. So, my argument has been and always will be that 305s are fine engines for stock, low-rpm use, but they are small displacement.

Most any other brand of engine, its not a big deal. Like 302/351 Ford, 350/403 Olds, 400/455 Pontiac... but in the case of the SBC, 350s are just as cheap if not free compared to a 305.

So my argument against the 305 is this: why spend money on a lame duck, when you get spend the exact same money on a 350 and get more torque, power, and upgradability/resale value?

Its not so much that the 305 sucks, its that why would you sink money into it when there are just as many free 350 cores to be had these days.

[Gearstix]

Yeah I guess... I dobut I can find a 350 in my town.. I may have to get it somewhere else.

I was just thinking of buying the 250hp crate motor, but people say thats not worth it, its $1500. But how I look at this is, its a brand new engine, 0 miles, ...

[American Muscle]

I think the crate 350 is way worth it. Firsts off its a brand new motor. 250hp is a good start for a bone stock motor. Later if you want more horses slap you a set of vortec heads on there with matching intake and your even better.

[curtis73]

I'm not sure where you live, but around most of the states you can get a completely remanufactured warrantied 350 longblock for less than the money you would spend having that 305 rebuilt. I bought a remanufactured MARINE 350 Vortec longblock for $1200 shipped NEXT DAY AIR FREIGHT to my door. I didn't pay any core charge and didn't have to pay tax because I bought it out of state.

Most larger machine shops sell SBCs as exchange motors. You can buy a remanufactured shortblock for $800 with a $150 core charge in most areas. Even if you don't have a core, that's a warrantied 350 shortblock with all new parts for $950. Upgrading to a Vortec longblock is usually only a few hundred more.

Start poking around your resources. You'll often find several machine shops that crank these engines out in bulk. Consult your local racers and hotrod shops to make sure they do good work, but "SBC" and "inexpensive" go together like milk and cookies.

[joelunchbox]

WE have taken a few 305's because they were cheap/free. We are 3 for 3 in none needed boring, just deglaze and rebuild. They are nothing to get really excited about but they got the job done for cheap.
So, you had something decent until you let it rust up. At this point, it all depends on what the bores look like after you hone it.

[old fords]

I wouldn't bother to mess with a 305 that needs rebuilding. I would buy a 350 longblock and then buy an aluminum intake and such. It probaly wouldn't be that much more than the 305, and if you ever went to sell the vehicle it would most likely be worth a good bit more with a 350.From my experiences a 305 will not get better gas mileage than a 350. I have 2 friends with 86 chevy pickups. One is a stock 305 and the other has the 260hp crate motor and the one with the 350 gets a little better gas mileage.

[joelunchbox]

Don't talk gas mileage in one of the big boxy chevys! You are pushing too much air around. the 305 should have an edge in mileage around town but that really depends more on heavy your foot is, right?

[techinspector1]

Go get the 305 and disassemble it. Find out what you have before going out and spending any money. You'd be surprised what you can get away with on a motor.

[Gearstix]

If everything goes right I may be getting the engine tomorrow.

I've came across the Martin turbo system for SBCs while I was looking at some other turbocharging stuff.
Seems pretty neat.. I'm not sure if you could replicated it at home though.
I'm sure a light 305 will be enough for me.

[Ford Junkie]

If his truck is a s10 then he'll need a few more things than just a freshened up v-8. The 4 cyl. would make me think this is a S10.

He's in Canada so the 350's are everywhere doesn't apply either.

Get your engine home, tear it down and go from there, as techinspecter says.

When you know more about what you have to work with ask more questions there are some great and very knowledgeable folks here that will be glad to help you.

Tony

[RONNYinWAXHAW]

I think curtis73 had the right idea. The lower HP replacement engines that the General offers are great platforms for add-ons, and the low initial cost beats a rebuild. I've seen Scoggin-Dickey offer good deals on the 190 HP 350. All you need is a carb and distributor. Then do the usual hotrodder stuff, changing the cam, etc. Sadly, these engines, and other mail-order crate engines are what is killing the small machine shops. There used to be one in every town.

[Gearstix]

There used to be a machine shop here, but it closed down, lack of business.
Where I am, nobody really hot rods stuff, theres a few guys with older cars and stuff, but most people don't spend time with engines and transmissions and stuff.
Town here is pretty much a giant campsite for the oil plants to the north and such...