Just bought a 82 GMC Caballero w 100K miles for my son. Has a 305 in it with 30K miles from new. I would like to boost the performance on it and I am looking for some bolt on parts to do that. I have a set of Hooker headers with 1-5/8" tubes and will delete the cat unit and go true dual with 2.25" pipe. Looking for bolt on heads, manifold, new cam to get the most. I want to do this while the engine in in the body, any suggestions? Looking for 300+ hp Thanks
Bolt on performance for a 305
- Thread starter AKmobley
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I am sure you already are expecting this, but if you want power, just ditch the 305 and drop a 350 in.
A good cam, a set of Vortec heads, good intake and carb, as well as those headers will easily set you at least 350 hp.
If you are dead set on keeping the 305, all the same recipe works, but you just won't touch the power the 350 will. You can put a cam, heads, intake etc. on a 305 and still be only barely above the power of a relatively stock 350. Can you make a 305 have a lot of power? Sure. Is it worth it when you can get a good running 350 for a couple hundred bucks and build that instead to make more power? I don't think so.
Maybe you don't have the tools or space needed to do an engine swap?
A good cam, a set of Vortec heads, good intake and carb, as well as those headers will easily set you at least 350 hp.
If you are dead set on keeping the 305, all the same recipe works, but you just won't touch the power the 350 will. You can put a cam, heads, intake etc. on a 305 and still be only barely above the power of a relatively stock 350. Can you make a 305 have a lot of power? Sure. Is it worth it when you can get a good running 350 for a couple hundred bucks and build that instead to make more power? I don't think so.
Maybe you don't have the tools or space needed to do an engine swap?
I realize the 350 point, but I just dont have the time/$$ at this point. I would like to potentially use the heads for another 350 build once my son has a chance to drive his new car for a while. That is why the 305 for the time being. We could build a 350 block this winter and swap the heads, intake, headers when we have the new block complete. Just something to get him started with (16 yrs old) Thanks
vortec heads, rpm air gap manifold nothing over a 700cfm carburator, if your headers are shorties ditch them for long tube headers, a comp cams 260h is a decent cam that I believe you can run will the factory stall (some one correct me if I'm wrong) and thats about all I would mess with and that way the heads intake and carb can be bolted onto a 350. but if you want to see a really drastic change in performance change the rear end gear to a 3.42 or a 3.73 or something close. still streatable but you will probly see more of an improvment from that then anything else, other than maybe a huge shot of nitrous (not recomended)
If you want to swap in a 350 in the near future, then I wouldn't worry about dropping too much coin on the 305, and don't bother trying to go for 300 + hp as most of the stuff that is good for a 305 would be too small for a 350 as far as breathing goes.
Look for a set of 305 HO heads off a Monte SS, get a good intake and carb, or tune your carb up good. Swap out the cam for a better one, but don't go too big. You might be looking around 200 - 250 hp, but in all honesty, that should be plenty for a 16 year old just starting out driving.
Snag up a good 350 off Craigslist that you can hear run and make sure it has good oil pressure. Then build that engine up with your son while he gets used to the little engine. Even if it takes some time, it would be better then throwing a 300+ hp RWD car at a 16 year old and saying "here ya go" 8)
Look for a set of 305 HO heads off a Monte SS, get a good intake and carb, or tune your carb up good. Swap out the cam for a better one, but don't go too big. You might be looking around 200 - 250 hp, but in all honesty, that should be plenty for a 16 year old just starting out driving.
Snag up a good 350 off Craigslist that you can hear run and make sure it has good oil pressure. Then build that engine up with your son while he gets used to the little engine. Even if it takes some time, it would be better then throwing a 300+ hp RWD car at a 16 year old and saying "here ya go" 8)
How has the 305 build come out? Been gone awhile. We've got 2 elcos, 79 n 87. Both have 305s. I just wanted to do them anyway. The 79; Hooker 2466 shorties and duals with G-Force crossmember seem to make the most differnce. The holley 390 cfm, list 8007 seems to get the best throttle response. (intake and cam too) We just pulled the 84 305 from the 87 to "check it out". I found the most awesome heads for the engine. 1402260 casting has a closed chamber(I was shittin) and 1.84 intake valve. 1 valve was "pulled" up. Overrev-oh sh*t! By autozone listing/part search, it came up on an 85 camaro. But, the 79 elco search got a 1.72 intake. i'm guessin most 305s have 1.72 intakes. The 87 has stock exh manifolds and seems to choke the engine. My son tells me the fuel effy is much better on the 79. Hooker, 390, etc. His 87 will get the hookers and carb off the 79. BECAUSE,,, I'm puttin a 427 TALL DECK RAT in the 79, for MEEEE?!!? It has jegs th350 that should handle it. Didn't go ape sh*t on the rat, just wanted to be different. I love doin this sh*t 8) P.S. .480 lift is stock "safe" max lift, without alot of homework.
get some 416 heads like i got. and if yer gonna get rid of the cats, get rid of all the smog stuff. swap out the rear gears for some better ones, that alone will make the car feel like a totally different machine. you can also remove the stock fan for electric one, swap the fuel pulp for electric, and get rid of the power steering for a manual S10 steering box and remove the a/c. that will take some of the drag off the motor. not much, but some. then goto weight savings, every 100 lbs is like 10 hp or something, not totally sure on that calculation, but its something like that.
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