Need engine build guidance

[SilvrPegasus47]

Ok, so this is an engine build for a buddy of mine. Not a G-body, but it is a Chevrolet. So I figure ill ask and see what happens.
My buddy as a '93 Chevy 1500 pickup 2WD, 32" or 33" tires, 3.55:1 gears, auto transmission. It has a TBI 305 in it, and we're going to rebuild it soon. It's a budget build. He wants more torque out of this motor, but his wife won't let him get a 350. What we are planning is a 335 CID stroker build. Fuel mileage is a concern as he drives 50 miles a day roundtrip to work. It's not going to be a screamer or super high horsepower motor. Just more pulling power than it has now, and no more than 5000 rpm. He wants the torque of a 350, but were having to use a 305 as the base for the build. He's looking for 330-380 ft.lbs. and wherever the horsepower lands is ok with him. 8.5-9.0 compression, TBI heads, factory intake or maybe an Edelbrock TBI, headers, y-piped single exhaust w/ cat. We may look into a manual transmission swap later on.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[pontiacgp]

get a 350, you can't tell them apart by looking at them and grind off the 5.7 on the rear ledge. I would look for a 96 and newer 350 with vortec heads. If you find a good used one it'll be cheaper to freshen that up than to modify the 305 and probably give you better fuel economy

 

[drogg1]

get a 350, you can't tell them apart by looking at them and grind off the 5.7 on the rear ledge. I would look for a 96 and newer 350 with vortec heads. If you find a good used one it'll be cheaper to freshen that up than to modify the 305 and probably give you better fuel economy

X2. If you're going to do all those modifications, the only difference between using a 305 or a 350 is the 350 will make more power. The gas mileage would be what I would think his wife would argue about, but a 350 and 305 will get similar gas mileage.

 

[gwhiz]

just tell her you are rebuilding a small block and if that small block happens to be a 350 oh well. your not lying ,got to love loop holes. 😀

 

[joesregalproject]

get a 350, you can't tell them apart by looking at them and grind off the 5.7 on the rear ledge. I would look for a 96 and newer 350 with vortec heads. If you find a good used one it'll be cheaper to freshen that up than to modify the 305 and probably give you better fuel economy

X2. If you're going to do all those modifications, the only difference between using a 305 or a 350 is the 350 will make more power. The gas mileage would be what I would think his wife would argue about, but a 350 and 305 will get similar gas mileage.

x3, the 305 is a dog, my buddy had one in a g body wagon, the thing could barely make it up hills.

 

[Intragration]

Where do these women come from? "No, you can't get a 350". How does she even know what a 350 is? All he has to do is tell her that it will be cheaper to build a 350 to a power level that he's happy with, and that means she can shop more. Or he can tell her that a 350 is called a 350 because it's more efficient, and will be kinder to the earth. Then he can buy a SB 400 and she'll never know the difference.

 

[RITTER]

It will be touhg to acheive those torque numbers using a the factory TBI setup, it may be possible though. The concentration needs to be in the heads and the camshaft :!: The heads will definitely benefit from some port work and I would suggest talking to a reputable technician from a camshaft manufacturer. Combined with headers and maybe a throttle body spacer ... that is about the maximum amount of work you will want to do without killing fuel mileage.

I had an '89 Firebird Formula 305 TBI and it was a great car. It had plenty of power (for me, at that time) It would cruise at 70-80 mph getting 26-28 mpg or you could hammer down and run 120 mph when you wanted. Nothing wrong with a 305 engine. Obviously a 350 would make more power with the same amount invested, but if that is what you have ... then do it 8)

 

[G_Body_Enthusiast]

gee, my wife insisted we get a cadillac engine. we cant all be that lucky i guess.

 

[-83MONTESS-]

He needs to let his wife know that it will take more money to build that 305. Hell get a stock 350 and freshen it up a little bit and I bet hes happy. A stock vortec headed 350 is the way to go.

 

[84cutlassjuggalo]

I know it's a noob question but what tools do you need to make a rebuild easier? I know there is a specific tool used to help get the pistons back in the block easier and you use a dead blow hammer in combintion with it. Any short list for a budget tool list would be great thanks.