what's wrong with 305's

[white71chevy]

It seems a lot of people don't like 305 I don't understand why. What's wrong with them I have one in my truck and it runs great. It does everything I need it to do and its got way more power then the v6 I'm driving right now.

[Palf70Step]

Nothing really in my opinion. If you have one they work just fine, just not as powerful as 350. Most though will take the 350, because for minimal cash difference you get a big difference in power/torque, as well as the build up possibilities.

[Shyguy]

I am not sure why people don't like the 305 myself. A lot of them were sold and seemed to work ok.

I think people like the 350 better because there are more performance parts for them and the price is not too bad.

[LONGHAIR]

Nothing wrong with a 305, in stock form. I just wouldn't put any money into one, like rebuilding, etc. Minor things like intake, headers, are ok, because they will work on the 350 if you go that way later....
The point being that when you do spend some money, do it on a better foundation.

[CSGAS]

As an engine by itself, it's fine--but nearly nothing can be upgraded really using parts available for performance applications. the intake and exhaust ports in 305 heads are too small to take advantage of most 327- or 350-intended parts. Changing heads exposes how small the bore size is. the list goes on.

If you have one and are just looking to drive or pull shop truck duty, you're fine--I have one right now and I complain about the mish-mash of those same other-engine parts that the PO threw on, not the engine itself. Still, I wouldn't use one for making real power. And you definitely are right about being better off with it than with a V6.

[raycow]

I agree completely with the previous posts. It's a perfectly good engine if you just keep your hands off of it and leave it stock. I have had one in my parts chaser for about 10 years now with absolutely zero problems.

Ray

[cheepin]

I ran a rebuilt one for years in a few wheelers.Swapped on a 4bbl a little bigger cam and ran it.Had enough power to turn 33"ers on slickrock in Moab in a locked up Suburban.Moved the drivetrain to a '73 blazer and upped to 36"ers.Still no problem and would cruise I-70 at 80mph all day.

[white71chevy]

Thanks for your thoughts guys and ya I'm not going to mess with it. It runs fine without anything and I agree with yall about them being good but I always hear people saying there crap.

[Hubscrub]

nothing wrong with them, the best motor i have ever had was a 305 ho still running good today, it always got me home lol

[silverstreak]

I have one in my 71 C20 and it does fine. I've pulled more than the trucks rated GVWR. Before it was given to me, my grilfriend's cousin tried to burn the tires off of it. The trans went out and the rear end blew, (that's why they gave it to me) but the engine still survived.

There's a recent article in the July 2010 issue of Super Chevy magazine where they got 362hp and 353lb-ft out of one. (I've seen some magazines be a little generous when it comes to power figures) I don't think a 305 would be a good truck engine at that level though.

Looks like Trick Flow is making a head just for the small bore Chevys.
http://www.trickflow.com/egnsearch.a...=KeywordSearch

[Fitz]

In one word: Everything.

[68GMCCustom]

its comparable to the days of the 307...another "get by" motor that takes up the same mass as one with double (or even triple) the hp.

Smaller c.i. motors can make good power...but bigger IS better. :LOL:

[marks1972]

Originally Posted by 68GMCCustom

its comparable to the days of the 307...another "get by" motor that takes up the same mass as one with double (or even triple) the hp.

Smaller c.i. motors can make good power...but bigger IS better. :LOL:

dont know that much about the 305 havent ever messed with one however i have do disagree with the comment on the 307. that was a great moter and you could really get those things through out some power.

[oldgold70c10]

The 305 is really a great engine. I ran one for 5 years in my truck, and it never gave up or gave out. Maybe its the smaller bore size (3.75" vs 4.0") than a 350, but they seem to wear a lot longer. I'd rebuild one.

[67ChevyRedneck]

I had one in my 86 Z28. Other than it being a complete joke that it was even in a "Z28" it was a good running motor. I got about 15mpg running around town and 21 highway (the car had a 700R4). Not bad for a V8 car. I would never put one in my truck (for all the reasons above) but if I ever bought a truck with a good running 305 already in it, I'd probably leave it alone.

[BluTrukker]

nothing wrong with a 305 or a 307 for that matter. They just got a lot of crap from people who think bigger is always better. If you don't want to burn tires or drag race, all a bigger engine will get you is bigger gas bills. A 305 and a 350 will both pull your truck down the highway at 65 mph. If your just cruizin' it really doesn't matter. Dollar for dollar a 350 is cheaper and easier to upgrade or rebuild though.

[68GMCCustom]

a 307 from the factory...was no "hot rod" motor. Most (if not all) came with a 2bbl. carb. HP ratings ranged from like 115hp -200hp....in days of 300+hp small blocks. They were built to fill a void as they had more torque then a 6cyl.


just because somebody had one and/or people said it was "really fast" (which is an opinion based on a persons known comparables) doesn't mean squat...
I had a brand new '78 305ci Camaro LT and at 17yrs old and sure...I thought it was "fast". Compare it to todays cars....or even yesterdays hotrods and it was sssslllloooowwwwwww.....


look it up....
Chevrolet_small-block_engine

or how about all (1st thru 4th gen) the Camaro motors....
http://www.enginefactory.com/Camaro_FirstGen.htm


It was a product of the times. If you needed a motor with more torque then a 6cyl but you want to keep it small...you got a 307...or later a 305. But then again, at one time and in a day of 4.3L V8's....a 305 was about as big a small block as you could get.

[powerdriver 1958]

I wish you gentlemen would just drop all this 305 talk,I have bought two of them and ready to do a 3rd for my plow truck.150 bucks is the most I have spent because "It's just a 305 and not worth much" Thats the best kept secret around these parts!

[68GMCCustom]

now thats funny.

[dbaillargeon]

I have a 305 V-6 in my c30 1 ton, it was out of a 1966. I changed the carb to a new 2 barrell Holley. She is a champ pretty much, bullet proof....

[Warrens69GMC]

I have picked up FREE 305's from craigslist. Rebuilding a 305 can count less than a 350 if you wait (or source) the parts before you need them. If you were to rebuild a 305, the best option is to get a 88-up roller cam block with a 1piece rear main seal.

Use a piston like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SET-8...Q5fAccessories

cam like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/350-5...item3a5cd176e8

and run chevy heads (416) or 305 vortecs with a dual plane manifold.

[Ticker]

45 (or more) too few CID. Same price to build, lesss power - seldom what folks are looking for.

Not a bad little engine, but not one to spend any money on.

I can only speak for myself.

[red69ss]

good motors if its a driver or work truck no problem ,but in my opinion not good for resale, bought the 68 I had with one in it
(smoking and using oil) and it was the first thing to go . I couldn't give that motor away had to scrap it. they will de-value a classic, in my opinion the same car or truck with a 350 will always bring more.

[GASoline71]

As a stocker... fine.

Modified... garbage.

You won't find any 305's under the hood of anything I own.

Gary

[Hubscrub]

bring the all to me i will take them