My players car has a 305 tpi in it, moved out pretty well, granted it was balanced and hand assembled with different internals. The players suspension was different as well, they out cornered the corvette of the day. Can't wait until it's finished though. with a bad clutch through northern Ontario, stayed with all newer cars until the clutch started slipping. I'm keeping the 305 instead of swapping.
For a cruiser that you are not racing, a 305 is great. All the standard SBC bolt ons work and they are dirt cheap. They also get much better gas milage than a 350.
The 305's to get for an easy swap are the 84-85', especially the L69. They are two piece rear seal, with a standard intake and qujet carb. They also have the much better heads (416 or 601 casting) than the earlier cars, and decent compression. They also have perimeter valve covers for an old school look.
The later 305's are also great, but have the revised intake bolt pattern (different angle on the center bolts) and are generally fuel injected. They do have the better one piece rear seal, most have roller cam provisions if they don't have a roller cam, but the heads are hit or miss. The 801 casting heads are good, but most of the others are crap as they cast them with a vane in the intake bowl to try to improve swirl. They also have centerbolt valve covers.
Stay away from any 70's or early 80's 305's. Absolute dogs - tiny cams, horrible heads (castings 450 or 434), and no compression. They probably have already had their soft cam changed at least.
Racer Rick hit it right on the proverbial nail. The 305s of those vintages had really soft cams. And they got done real quick, of course a good cam change fixed that. Most of my mechanic buddies that are around my age and older remember a steady stream of soft cam shaft changes for those engines. Brother get the original motor for your car build it and put it in. Forget the belly button engines. Cheers. George.
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1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six
1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8
i was just about to post about the soft cams as well, my 305 block from my old trans am is still in my garage being used as a paper weight. The cams in the basement on the workbench for decoration, 4 lobes really rounded!! My original 305 i had was a good engine, just got too tired after 350,000 kms on her, had a new cam in her though.
