[Elkyman]

I have an 84 El Camino with the original 305 4bbl. What can I do to increase the performance without replacing the 305 with a 350 or larger. I want this to be as original looking as possible, but I want it to be quicker and more powerful.

 

[Jooooooe]

The 305 has sort of a horsepower cap due to the lowsy heads these motors have and the fact that you can't use any other heads on them. Car Craft magazine did a test on the 305 years ago to see exactly what kind of gains could be achieved. They did all that could be done with the heads(ported, polished, flow tested,etc.), they tried several camshaft, intake, carburator, exhaust and ignition combo's from mild to wild. The best they could do was somewhere around 315 horsepower. Thats not bad, but for all they had to do...... In my opinion the 305 was the biggest slap in the face Chevrolet ever gave it's performance customers and fans. You can make one run somewhat good, but don't get any high hopes. I bought a 75 Camaro and the previous owner installed a 305 in it. I put a 30/30 Duntov cam in and it ran better(pulled harder on the top end with out hurting the low end), later on I replaced the 2 barrel with a Performer intake and a Q-jet, also installed headers and a full exhaust. It was a big improvement over stock. One thing to make sure of, keep the exhaust not so high flowing, temporarily I had to use header mufflers on it and it ran like a dog. I didn't mean to dog out your motor or anything, but if your gonna mess with it put one in worth messing with, they all look the same from the outside.

 

[madingo]

I agree. There are stroker cranks for making the 305 to a 331, but power is in the cylinder heads, more than anything else. Just like those cerwin-vega speakers in my shop, with the $149.00 amplifier. A 406 would be a nice bonus, if you found one. CYA

 

[solowookie]

isn't he 305 the engine that is currently in their trucks... these engines aren't running 300 HP, but I'm assuming these engines are running a vortec head.

so could the new 305 vortec heads be using the same bolt pattern as the 350 version, and therefor use the intakes that are on the market for vortecs?

might be an option to get a better head on that 305.

 

[igotachevyor2]

i have ran several 305s the one i had in a 86 camaro was a ho motor but with stock heads a performer intake and a 600 or 650 edlebroc carb it would smoke 1st and catch 2nd and 3rd with ease and running well over 100 mph it still was not a 350 but it made a good driver also i put a reproduction crane cam of the old 66 corvette 327 cam in it i liked it maybe it was just me tho

 

[redcamaro83]

here you go a couple helpful links

<a href="http://www.angelfire.com/nb/thirdgen/343hp305.html" target="_blank">http://www.angelfire.com/nb/thirdgen/343hp305.html</a>

<a href="http://www.goingfaster.com/spo/325_horsepower_305_cid_chevrolet.html" target="_blank">http://www.goingfaster.com/spo/325_horsepower_305_cid_chevrolet.html</a>

<a href="http://www.goingfaster.com/spo/carcraft325hp305.html" target="_blank">http://www.goingfaster.com/spo/carcraft325hp305.html</a>

these shoul help u out i'm doing a modified version of the 325hp one
i'm hoping for just over 1hp per cube

 

[Maverick]

World Products or World Castings as its also called makes 305 heads. Ill see if i can find a link to thier web site. I have a 305 also around the same year. A buddy of mine was cleaning out a shop on a house he just bought and it was laying their under some stuff so he gave it to me. Iam putting it in my '49 chevy truck. Ill find the link and post it. <img src="graemlins/mwink.gif" border="0" alt="[mwink]" />

 

[Maverick]

<a href="http://www.worldcastings.com/" target="_blank">http://www.worldcastings.com/</a>

Here's that link they are called S/R torquer 305. I know its spelled wrong! You can order them from Jegg's or Summits. My plan is to do the best I can with it to get my truck on the road. Then I am going to build a 383 stroker for it. Hope this helps ya! <img src="graemlins/pimp.gif" border="0" alt="[pimp]" />