305 Rebuild project

Why wouldnt I build it? I have a very nice 305 sitting in my 79 C-10 right now, low mileage. I havnt fired it up yet but its sitting in the truck almost ready to go. Im not going to say that im going to get started right away, i have a bunch of projects going on already, but i'll get to it. It sounds pretty fun, and 305 or not, it will turn some heads.

Yes a good crank, good rods, pistons/rings & balancing are a necessity. Since I am on a budget, thus the reason this wont be a quick project, ill shop ebay and find good deals on parts. I dont see and reason why i couldnt use some used parts, a nice set of rods and maybe a used crank Possibly not even used, just something someone bought and didnt use. If I go turbo, it will obviously have to have custom headers build for the turbo. When i was working on this 305 last, i bolted the exhaust manifolds on it upside down so it would block the exhaust ports off while i took the power washer to the side of the block to clean it all up. Because of this, i know a set of headers would bolt up upside down (the ports should match still but thats something to check on) and i could cut them off 6-12" from the flange and fabricate the rest.

The nice thing about all this is that everything except the pistons will transfer to pretty much any other SBC down the road, should i feel it necessary just so long as it hasnt destroyed a crank or rod or something.


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my posts were in response to wanting the cheapest power from a chevy 305. switching the short block to a 350 is the best start if you're going towards cheap power. We went from a $1000 build to know what looks like a $6000 build. All for the sake fo saying "Yea, I'm sumb enough to build a 305".

it looks like your looking for input on putting together a 305 and not reasons to do a 350 instead. i can relate here. go for it and do up the 305. everything else is the same between the 2 with a slightly smaller bore on the 305, with less mass there you can spin them up pretty good. my last 305 was.060 over, 11:1 and saw 8k on the tach on a reg. basis. with the stock crank and rods(x rods). but you will need to take it above 5500 if you want it to be worth the effort. and no disrespect, but i wouldn't put those heads on my workbench let alone on a motor. and you'll want an rpm manifold at least. you were asking about to much or to little for cam specs and all.. just as a point of reference,i used a team G intake, 3" of carb spacers, my cam was 518/536 lift and 244/252 der. @ .050 and i used a set of dart iron eagles 215cc with 2.05/1.60 valve. it made 467hp/410lbs.the oiling system was stock except for a 7 qt.pan and it never ran dry, but i also polish my lifter valley's and open up all the drain back holes. and yes, it was my daily driver.

Didn't think those would clear the bore. Learn sumthin every day...

yeah, lol... pulled the keepers and set it at tdc and dropped it in.. it was close. we came up with .030 total between both sides.

Listen... I never meant to get in the middle of a pi$$ing match. I DON'T HATE THE 305. Its a fine engine. Let me clarify....

If someone said, "I have a 302W, how do I make more HP," I would reply, "heads, cam, intake."

If someone said, "I have a 4.3L V6 and I want more power," I would say, "heads, cam, intake."

If someone said, "I have a 305 and I want to make more power," I say, "swap for a 350." I say the same thing for an Olds 307, or anything with a tiny bore that will limit flow and therefore power and RPM.

Again, I NEVER said that a 305 sucks or isn't a fine engine. I was merely responding to the OP's original $1000 budget. All I said was that for his $1000 he could get more power with a 350 even taking into consideration the purchase price of the 350. I also said at least twice that its his engine and he can do what he wants, but I have no time for people who scream at the top of their lungs that 305s are just as good as a 350 for performance use, and come hell or high water, they are going to stick to their guns and prove us all wrong while ignoring physics.

Engines are air pumps. As a byproduct they make power which we can use to move a car. Limit its breathing and you limit its potential. If he wants to build a 305, that's fine, but I just think he's doing it for reasons that I would not personally choose. I would personally not choose to spend more for less power in this situation, which is why he asked us for our opinion. He can take it or leave it, I just don't appreciate when he asks for our expert advice and then tells us blatantly that we're wrong.

So (as is always the option on a forum) I'm just going to stop giving him advice if its not appreciated.

for that id say 305.

LOL you people are crazy hah. it wouldnt be cheaper ive done all the research. the 305 doesent need to get machined. any cheap 350 block does. and were did someone get a 6000 dollar build ? lol ive listed everything i got for 100 bones lolz. i cant get over how rediculus this is. all i did was ask for some power out of a THREE. O. FIVE. i didnt ask should i swap it with a 350. and how many times on this thread have i had to mention that i would much rather build a 350. i just dont have the money. and once again, i ahve done ALL the research, building a 350 just would not be cheaper. im not looking for used parts by the way. once again ill say. RE-FREAKIN-DICULUS.

Its fine. You're young. You'll learn.

Torque454 is talking about building a $6,000 305, and there is no reason your 305 needs any less machine work than a random 350, just because it was given to you does not make it magical nor better than any other 305. You didn't do ALL of your research. Maybe just all the research you felt like doing.

Will somebody block this post already?

I dont think it would cost 6k, maybe close if turbo but i am not at all saying he should go out there and do that. Hell if it were me and i was in his shoes id just rebuild it to stock except for a cam intake and headers.

Here you go:

http://www.popularhotrodding.com/en...ocks/index.html

I didn't read all the posts here since on the first page this once again devolved into a "build a 350" post. But the above article is a build that got 372 hp out of a cheapo 305.

Excellent find, thanks for sharing.