hey guys im looking into getting a 3rd gen, but dont know a thing about them, i know i want to get a manual, what are the different engines that were available and what was the best one to get, is carb or the tpi/tbi better for hp ?

 

TPI > TBI > Carb IMO

You will probably find a 305 car, since there were not many 350's, and all the 350's were auto stock.

Best bet is to find a V8 roller for dirt cheap (you can find these VERY cheap infact), build your own carbed 350 and swap it in.

(www.thirdgen.org)

 

really they didnt make any 350 manuals ?

 

You could get a 350 and a manual with the 1LE package. And in my opinion I would go TPI> CARB> TBI. I own a TBI 305 and I had a carbed 305 (both with California emisions) and with some work I did on the carb it had more get up and go than my TBI does now. And I have driven a few TPI and they were built with more HP than the carbed. Plus you can get either 305 or 350 with TPI. The carbed one were only 305. Provided it is original.

 

which one is better overall tpi or tbi, and would it be harder to carb it ?

 

TBI is simpler. And you may get a TBI car for cheaper to do a carb on. But TBI will only be a 305. In all engine sizes to do away with the computer basicly a carb, distributer and if an automatic a control unit for the TCC. 86 and up (look for the center bolt valve covers) is not the usual small block intake. The center bolts go into the heads at a different angle but you can get carbed intakes that bolt to them.

 

ive also heard that there isnt a good aftermarket on parts for the 305 as there is for the 350

 

well a 305 is harder to build as much power out of and i have herd they will not handle as much. as for the fuel system i had a 86 305 carb and now got a 350 TPI the 350 is a crate motor but in my opinion tpi is a better system. and my brother had a rs 305 tbi and it had less power than my carbed 305. if u want a 5 speed most of them are in the RS package not many Z28's or Iroc-z's had a 5 speed.

 

That just depends on exactly what you are looking for. All the parts will interchange between any small block. But is you do something like swap heads you have to make sure that the valves will clear the smaller bore.
The 305 can handle as much power as you can give any 2 bolt main. The only difference in them from the 350 is a smaller bore and a crank balanced for the lighter weight of the smaller pistons.

 

what does 2 bolt main mean?