Dennis-Z28

iTrader: (1)

Hi all,

I've been working on the interior and electrical of my car and am now progressing to the engine bay but need direction.

I am assuming this is a totally over-asked question but I have been reading and searching casually for months with no great finds.

I have a stock 305 TPI with T5 with no real mods worth mentioning. It has 120k miles (200k kms) on the motor and it still runs great, feels strong, and blows no smoke. It leaks some oil and coolant so new gaskets and what not are obvious. I want to make the engine a little stronger for my street driving with no intentions of ever racing (read: low rpm power is just fine). $3k or so is the budget on parts and shop-only type work.

What direction do I go to get a nice strong pulling engine that is maybe closer to 300hp than the 210hp when new? I immediatly think re-build, headers, exhaust, throttle body, cam. Should I also be thinking bored cylinders, longer stroke to add displacement? Can I get an engine strong enough to accept a Paxton safely? I dont want to swap engines.

Bobby_80s

iTrader: (2)

you already know the answer to your question.

plus if you've been reading around you would of seen many people ask this question and many other people responding to dump the 305 and get a 350

from what ive heard you can build on top of the engine to make a 350

better bang for buck and yes while your in there new cam/lifters/valves

might as well do a full rebuild at that point and replace the piston rings

fresh aftermarket exhaust is a great idea

point is your going to spend a lot of money and even more if you have someone else do it.


but if your content with sticking with your 305 check into fresh new fuel injectors, fuel filter, k&n air filter, bore out the plenum and runners to except more air, get headers and nice muffler, get a real nice tune up and make sure everything is operating just as it should.


you can also get a performance chip for your ecm but i wouldnt do that to a 305 unless you know what your doing or intend to race but you said this is for street driving so i don't think you need to go that far.


get a compression test so you know each cylinder is good.
replace fuel injectors and spark plugs wires distributor fuel filter air filter etc...

basically get a great tune up add exhaust parts if you wish

you have so many options it really just depends on how badly you want it and how much its worth it to you do it.

but definatly build up to a 350 if your alreayd willing to do all the internal parts of the engine anyway.


goodluck

billybird

omg im tired of hearing "drop the 305 and put in a 350"...plzz the guy not building a race engine..he just wants more ***** for it

goto thunderracing.com and find camshafts at the 262 grind is for stock computer and tpi(notch better than lt1 cam)

next for about 1k you can get fully assem trickflow super 23 heads

bigger tb
injectors
exhaust
slp runnerss....and you have a solid 300hp maybe more...305s can have ***** to.....AND you keep it numbers matching car

Dennis-Z28

iTrader: (1)

Sounds like I am on the right track then. Yes I want to keep the TPI because of #'s matching, it looks sexy, and hey thats what they come with. Plus I'm not a racer or anything like that.

I was looking at TPIS and they seem to have great products to swap with the TPI components (a bit $$'y though).

So maybe:
TPIS runners, throttle body, manifold
K&N filters, new fuel filter,
headers with no-cat SS exhaust
full re-build with rings, new cam, cylinder polishing.

I already have new injectors albeit straight replacements, new fuel pump.

Is it worth mucking around with lifters and rods? Also, what do you mean by make a 350? Not sure if you mean power wise or boring and what not. Finally, would a supercharger down the road make sense or would too much be required like new heads, rod arms, bolts, etc? Im talking 5-10psi boost.

Saculia

iTrader: (1)

I just went through the same thing in my 305. I only have put about 2300 miles on it since the full rebuild. Currently I am working on the exhaust and upgrading the ignition. Then computer tune for the new camshaft that I had installed.
$3000 can get you a lot done in the area I live only if you can pull the engine out yourself and take it to a machine shop. If you have to have a shop do all of the work, like I did, you would spend more than $3K. My rebuilt ran me about $4500 and that included a new clutch, rotating assembly and all necessary machine work.

8T9 BANDIT

305's are the best, fastest, most powerfull motors gm has ever built


LET THE FLAMMERS IN

Dennis-Z28

iTrader: (1)

Wow, you were able to post a completely useless reply whilest also declaring that you are a total *** and all in the same post. You should post more often on this site.

RicksIroc86

hahaha

thesargster4

iTrader: (1)

ROFL. sure, if your comparing to a civic

Rusty91o

Sounds like a good plan to me

8T9 BANDIT

well it was a joke little man,, the others had a good laugh.. not for nothing, i have a pretty potenet 305 myself, so i really could of helped u out.. but u had to be a *********.
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i guess canadians have no sense of humor.

wht91z28

Sorry to just pop in on another thread but i have a quick question. Would it make any differnce to put a cam out of 89 tpi 350 into my 91 305 tpi? if the cam cost me $10 or is it not even worth it?