i have a stock 79 with a 305. i plan on putting in a 350 down the road but in the mean time while im working on rebuilding that does anyone know what the best things are to do to the 305 to wake it up alittle? im not planning on putting that much money into it but i dont wanna be driving the car around with a boat anchor for a moter either lol. thanks

 

A good intake manifold,carb,and headers would help it out some without putting alot of money into it,plus you could swap them onto the 350 when it's ready.

 

Intake, carb, cam, etc. wont do much good with the stock heads. Those little 305 heads are way too restrictive to gain much with those changes. The absolute best thing you can do is get some good breathing heads on it.
Cheapest tthing is to have new valves and seats installed in your heads to upgrade them to 1.94" intakes and 1.60 exhaust valves. Then a cam, carb and intake will really bring that 305 to life!
You may even change your mind about going to a 350 after that! The combination can easily yeild 350hp+ from a wimpy 195 hp 305 engine!

 

I have a a305 in my 76 camaro you should do what im doin to it....Intake manifold, Hooker comp headers flowmaster 40 new heads or rebuild urs with better parts, new cam high rise rocker cam, you can get a new barrel carb or go with a 4 barrel when you replace the manifold. and thats about it... it will help you with the power you need

 

how much would all that cost? ive always wanted a rly rough idle like a thumper cam. i dont know if they have them for a 305. im kinda new at this as u can tell lol. what brand of heads would work best. thanks for all the input!

 

Those are just a fad.

 

the most exspensive cam is about $470 the heads i say just get urs rebuilt with better parts so that you know the heads will fit back on the block so just rebuild the springs the rods the rockers all that stuff...you spend less replacing all of it with really good ones than having to buy a new set of heads

 

A thumper will be just fine. I would get the smallest one on the page though. Over camming is easy to do and stock 305s won't run worth a crap with a big cam.

If your hell bent on the 305 then this is a great choice, if your just on a budget and wanting to build something later but need something in there better than stock. We all know that feeling. A cheaper cam may be the way to go. You'll be into the thumper about 200 with lifters and you'll need a set of springs to see the full benefit of the cam. Do that along with the other mods 71BB427 suggested.

For the rest of it. an Edelbrock Performer EPS intake, 600 Holley, and a set of 1 1/2 or 1 5/8 headers and I bet no one would ever know its a 305. Just keep from thinking that because something is bigger that it makes more power. Small motors have small needs.

 

Runonsentancesgetreallyhardtoreadandreallyhardtoun derstandbutthenwhenjustdontusperiodsisthatsjustlaz y

 

$470 is a crazy price for a cam! A really good cam wont cost over $250, even with lifters. You can get a nice Edelbrock Performer cam and lifters for $125
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EDL-2102/

Or something a bit larger for $126.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EDL-2162/

Either of these would work fine in a 305 with a set of heads and an intake/carb change.