I recently bought a 1970 chevelle as a project/weekend car. It has a 305 out of a 1977. The motor feels strong, but I want to build it up just a little. It has a 2bbl. I have a few old parts laying around that I am going to put on. I have a quadrajet & stock 4bbl manifold, HEI ignition and headers.
I am wondering if I should also put a cam & lifters in it. I know it will never be a fast 305, but I want to atleast put on the parts that I have (4bbl etc.) Does anyone have anysuggestions (besides getting a 350)?

I'm an old gearhead new to the game so we didn't have alot of 305s around back then. I still don't consider it hot rod worthy, but at least you know my prejudice. Sure, go ahead and bolt on whatever you have laying around and all the chrome you want. But, before you decide on spending any $$ on the internals, SERIOUSLY CONSIDER, spending the grand or whatever it is for a complete 350 longblock all done. I see them all the time from PAW and other co's in the mags. Then you can bolt all your chrome stuff back on and really go. The point is the extra 50 cubes and better heads etc., is worth way more than a cam/lifter upgrade, IMO. Plus you get a fresh motor. I wouldn't bother hot rodding a 305. Run it till it smokes. Buy a new 350.

Gene Chas
Gold #0062
'67 SS396

[This message has been edited by Gene Chas (edited 06-23-99).]

Ditto; run it till it quits, slip in a 350.
Harley

Check out this site:

www.ntcnet/~dragon64/Monte_SS.html

go into: emission legal SBC

It's a emissions legal build up of the
L69 305 in the '83 to '88 Monte SS's. I don't
know if your required to "pass" since it's
in a 70 Chevelle?
But the part's recommended are proof tested
to work by list members. My brother had a
'78 Nova Rally with a 305, normally aspirated
(Torker, Holly, Crane cam, headers, shift kit
and 3.73 gears) running in the 14.60's in the
early '80's. (Somebody stole the car it was Black with the gold tri stripes on the lower
body panels). One thing about the 305 is that it's a SBC! Also keep in mind that over the years there has been a lot of comparison and
build up articles on the 305 and it's big
brother the 350, and some speed equipment that works on the 350 (even though they share
the same stroke 3.48) does'nt work on the 305. For sure put in a healthier cam!
good luck...
Joe B

I also have a 77 305 in my 73 Malibu. While it isn't the fastest car in the world a free 305 is worth building up some. I have a crane 272/282 cam with a Qjet HEI and standard 1 5/8" headers and the motor runs good about 14" vacuum. This was supposed to be a temporary motor, did a cheap ring bearing and valve job redo back in 1990 but still going strong. Car craft had a nice article on 305 vs 350 this month. They got 325 HP using the L31 vortec heads and a victor jr manifold on a 80,000 mile beater. Not such a dog afterall
I'd bolt on all of your parts, stab a cam in it and blast it with NOS unitll you blow the pistons out the exhaust.

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I appreciate all the input. I will probably add all the parts that I have and add a cam set up. But, first I will take the car down to the track here in Long Island NY and make a few passes. After I add all the parts, I will take it back to the track. I will then post my time slips on my web page.

Imssiry, track did you say track??? Geez do yourself a favor and drop in a nice reliable 396 pushing 425 at 5800. And have I gotta deal....

Then post a timeslip.


[This message has been edited by Gene Chas (edited 06-23-99).]

them 305's arent all bad. i had a 78 305 with 90k a friend gave me. i put it in a 70 nova with alum. intake,holley 600,headers,280-.480 summit cam,and a 4 speed.drove it every day for 25k miles and ran 14.30's with it. but it did spin a bearing finally racing a mustang(did win though).it was a good motor for all the abuse i put it through, kinda gave me a little respect for the little motors.

I have had my share of 305's in the past and they do offer respectable grocery getter mouse power. They are fine as long as you don't dump any serious money into them. If it runs and it doesn't burn oil then pump it up with the bits you got. When it blows it's bearings or whatever else, then go out and get a real 350 and play with that.

If you do spend any money on it, then I would suggest that you only get parts that will fit up to a respectable 350 as well as your 305. Don't use 305 specific stuff.


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The proud owner of a Canadian 64-SS with ZZ4 Power!
Team Chevelle Gold Member #37
Canadian Classic Chevelles & Beaumonts Member #350

I think that Canuck64ss has had the best advice so far. Thanks for all the input.

I aggree with Canuck also.
Luckily not many parts would be 305 only World Products SR torquer 305 has specially angled 1.94 / 1.50 valves. Even that would run on a 350 fine. The L-31 heads are cool and only $400 a pair fully assembled, and they run great on a 350, but they take special intakes with only 4 bolts.
I would love to see your before and after timeslips. Even though I have had my car 9 years I have not run mine yet for many reasons. I would love to beat the time I got with my bone stock 5.0 Hatchback (14.89)
Luckily someone stole that car twice and rid me of Forditis

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I'm in the process of putting together a 331 stroker for a Monte SS, I see nothing wrong with 305s they seem to be underrated perf motors, kinda like the Cad motors!

Hmmm... Why put a '77 305 in the car? What did they take out? Something bigger? Or was it just as a replacement. Check your VIN#, as the car may be an origional Big Block car. Ya never know. (LS6?)

I know, I'm reaching, but hey, wouldn't it be cool.

I WISH it was an original big block car. I decoded the vin. It was an original 307 with a power glide. It did, however come with A/C. The tranny is now a 350 turbo, but all the original A/C stuff is still there.

I breifly thought about the 331 kit like sean has for my motor, but it is over $200 more than a 383 kit cheapest I saw was about $800 ouch, can build a 350 short block cheaper.

One drawback on the 305 is the 3.73"bore this does not allow 2.02" valves due to cylinder wall clearance, thus reducing HP/CI also detonation with high compression built motors occurs. 9 - 10/1 max with iron heads That is why they make better cheap floggers than something to build up as a killer motor.

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The only reason for the 331 is to abide by the rules, the owner is trying to do some sort of s/s thing. My '73 runs a 427.

Sean, I can understand some of that logic, putting the stroker crank is only "fixing" the existing motor. Or to keep the original block for resto reasons like on a Monte SS or IROC etc. But wouldn't swapping any small block still be legal?? or at least a same or newer year. 305's do supposedly have lower emmissions, or am I missing something.

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You are'nt missing a thing, My conclusion is that this dude wants to be able to tell people "it's just a 305" not lying but no one's going to call him George Washington either!
I think I could have dropped in a ZZ3 a bit cheaper a lot faster and still pass emissions.

Sean,

The GM ZZ3 Engine was discontinued at the end of 1997. The ZZ4 was released in Jan.1998 and all ZZ3's left in stock were sold off in batches to builders. In our area, the last batch of 15 or so ZZ3's were sold to West-Carleton Racing in Feb.1998

I tried getting a ZZ3 at that time, but I got a sweatheart deal on a ZZ4 which went to the local Hi Perf & Hot Rod Car show before it was delivered to me. Because I ordered it before the show, GM gave me 1G off the sticker so they could take it and show it.

A ZZ4 from Autocenter in Dalas Texas is 3495 US wheras a 350/300+HP with Cast Iron heads is 2020 US.