I've been telling myself that I wanted my 305 for mpg. But I got an 88 Caprice the other day with a 350 for $100. I took them both to the shop and told them I'd be back in 3 weeks. He said that it's only gonna run around $300 to do the swap. Will I be able to tell a big fifference in power with this 350? I pretty much plan on my mpg dropping a little. I'll post again when I get the car back. For now I'm just waiting.....

 

out of a caprice? not much difference. might even seem a little slower. are you going to rebuild it or do any kind of performance mods to it before its put into your camaro? Thats probably at most a 250 horse motor. i HIGHLY doubt its more. sorry bud.

 

what was the 305? i thought it was much less than 250hp

 

Even if it's slower initially, it's a MUCH better platform for modification and has alot more performance potential than the 305 ever would have. You could probably plan on MPG dropping pretty considerably. Depending on how you drive probably in the 10-13 range. My Yukon with a 350 TBI and 81k original miles gets 12 if I drive conservatively. If you keep your foot out of it (and on the highway) you'll probably be able to get into the high teens or maybe even crack the 20's, but it all depends on your driving and the condition your engine is in.

Oh, and the 350 in my Yukon is rated at like, 240hp I think, so I think 250hp out of that motor stock would be kind of a stretch. BUT, it's all about the potential that's there.

 

it was just a ball park guess, no real idea what the caprice has. but the 305 has 180 horse. SO the 350 would be a jump, just not much out of a caprice. I would say its got anywhere from 225 to 250 horse TOPS.

but none the less,like stephen said, its a much better place to start with mods than with a 305.

But enjoy it, thats what its for!!



also, my 350 TBI is getting about 12 city, but on the highway at say 70, im doin about 20 give or take. Does pretty well

 

does the caprice have different heads/cam than the camaro tbi? there is always the chance that its more marketing shenanigans like with the 300hp ls1 camaro

 

im not sure. if its a 350 it would have to have different heads at least. prolly a cam as well though.

 

When I did the 305 to 350 swap im my Maro I was like 'huh, thats noticable, but thats it.??...' You will feel the difference, but your not gonna be piloting a rocket ship. Ive said this a thousand times before, (and I wish I had listened to those who told me before) GEAR OUT THE REAR END! Bang for the buck, nothing beats out swapping those gears. I went from a stock 305 and put a Brock carb and some headers on it....huh, ok, little gain.....Then I dropped a slightly worked 350 in, HUH< NICE, it was an improvement...but the gears...when I punched the gas for the first time, I was screamin "wooo hoo" all the way home.

 

For 1988 a 350 in a Caprice was about 170Hp & 240 TQ.You were in the middle of the low Horsepower Era.

 

a 170 horse 350?!?! damn, i thought as low as a 350 went was 180. Bummer dude!