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305 compression testing

8K views 17 replies 6 participants last post by  Jim Rockford 
#1 ·
I have a 305 sbc in the basement and I was wondering, can I use a compression gauge and turn the engine over to determine if the rings are still good and that its got the right comp.. The bottom end is still in the block. i have a pair of good truck heads I can put on the block. Can I do it this way or does it have to be actually hooked up in a vehicle.
 
#2 · (Edited)
I guess what Im trying to say is, I want to know if the engine still holds compression. Make sure all the rings are good. Im trying to see if its still good so I can put it all back together or throw it away. So I was just going to bolt those heads on for now and hook the gauge up to each cylinder and test it. What should it read or how would I figure that out.

Thanks
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As far as those 350 heads on a 305 Why wouldn that be ok. And what about 305 or 307 heads on a 350.
 
#3 ·
Most 305 heads have a 58cc chamber or smaller and small valves. The larger valves help with higher RPM flow. The 350 truck heads have 76cc chambers with valves as small as 1.72 & 1.5 to 1.94 & 1.5. Here is some examples. An 305 engine with 5cc flat top pistons and 58cc chamber heads will have a compression ratio of 10.0 while the same engine with 76cc chamber heads will have a 8.2 compression ratio. Another 305 engine with D cup 12cc pistons with 58cc heads will have a 9.2 compression ratio and with 76cc heads will have 7.7 compression ratio. As for testing compression on each cylinder by turning it over by hand IDK, but logically thinking I would not think you could spin the motor over fast enough to get an average reading.
 
#4 ·
A cranking compression test is good with the carb removed or wide open.

A Cylnder leak down of each cylinder will get more in depth analysis if you find the location of the leaking air.

The oil pump output pressure belive it or not, is a excellent indicator of remaining engine life.

If the heads are off flip them over and fill the combustion chamber with water. The shut valves should retain the water pool in the chamber.
 
#6 · (Edited)
The cylinder walls look great. There is a very little amount of surface rust that has appeard in two of the cylinders at the very top but I can clean that off. There is no lip at all they look very good. If I put these cylinder heads on this block which is bored .060 over with flat top pistons (head # 14101083). Would it be a good little street motor depending on cam choice and other applications??
 
#7 ·
Don't see why this wouldn't give some sign of ring quality. The engine is probably pretty dry I'd put some lube on the cylinder walls before putting the heads on. A leakdown test may prove to provide more valuable information than a compression test if you've got a compressor you can use to presurize the cylinders.

Bogie
 
#16 ·
Ok thanks for the input. Just curious. Im not doing this cause I dont want to waist these heads on a 305 but how would the 305 react to vortec heads (906) and that cam I listed above. Both heads are 64 cc but of course the 906's flow alot better. Would it be worth doing that. I have two pairs of vortecs but also have two 350 blocks I am putting them on and experimenting with the two. Curious how they would do on a 305 with that cam. Nothing else.
 
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