hey, im new to the forums, i was jsut wondering i have a 1979 camaro with a 305 and and going to bring it out of the garage after these 8 long years. I was just wondering what would be the best set up i could do to the motor for about 2500 $ in parts. Also what kind of hp would i be able to achieve. Am i better off buying a 350 and waiting a bit then mabye stroking it to 383?

 

is it a 305 form '79 and if it is its only got like 125 HP im puttin a 350 in my 79 and this 350 has about [sm=partyparty.gif]300HP

 

Start by going to the top of the Third Generation section here and reading the top post, on how to get 325 HP from a 305. This gives you an idea what can be done although it would probably cost you more than $2500 to do all of that.

Number one advice: do a bit of reserach and decide on you plan before you jump into it. Decide on a "compatible" set of mods that you want, and make sure you can afford it, then proceed.

If it were me, I would start with long-tube headers and a good exhaust upgrade. They always help power and torque and fuel economy (usually) and improve the sound. I tend to like smaller diameter pipes if there is a doubt as to the size available (sometimes the manufacturer will offer to sizes, say a 1 1/2 inch and a 1 3/4 inch diamter) - smaller pipes may not produce as much power at the top RPM on a heavily modified engine (although they will always give you more than stock) but they give you gobs of low- and mid-range torque and work much better of street engines.

Next, a better intake and carburator. I would not get too ambitious here or oversize things. If you aren't in a hurry and you shop around at swap meets and local car shows, you can problem pick up one used at a real bargain. Be careful to check it over carefully though.

Anyway, in buying both the headers/exhaust and the intake/carb, I would let price be something of a guide--try to find bargains (i.e., don't go for the extreme high end stuff here: well-selected parts that cost you only half what the premium stuff costs will give you 90% of the benefit).

Hopefully, that would allow you just barely enough to be some mildly reworked heads and a cam package on your engine, which would make a substantial difference, but probably not push it far enough in HP that you had to worry about breaking the crank, etc.

 

thanks for the help with the 305 but while i was looking around i came across a 1973 corvette 350 just rebuilt with some aftermarket heads unsure of the kind of head but the rebuild sale was 2500. I was told i could have the 350 for 1000 it was rebuit and runs but never put into a car. I was just owndeirng do u think i would be better off buying this motor or working my 305? Also will a 1973 corvette 350 motor mount right into my 1979 camaro or will it need to be fabed to fit, if so what kind of fabrication are we tlaking about?

 

the best advice i can give would be to not do anything out of your range. if your not comfortable doing a 350 swap, and changing all nessacary components, just mod the 305....

 

i am not afriad to do the swap and the motor comes with everything needed to preform the swap. I jsut didnt know working on a 3 k budget if the 1k lose for the motor would set me back to far?

 

It's a no brainer. Go with the 350. It should fit pretty easily, but I would assume you will have some small problems. Still, they should be solveable.

 

From what i understand, there is three spots that the motor can sit on and that one of these is for the 350. I am expecting a pretty simple swap with only minor complications??? Any one have any heads up to look out for? Only 3 more weeks and ill have all the money issues squared away!

 

You should be able to do a 350 for 2500. I did mine 2 years ago in my 86. Only problems I had was I needed to put my 86 soloniod on a 70's starter and change the flywheel.

350 block 250.00
Powerhouse racing 350 engine kit(upgrade from the 150.00 dollar kit) 240.00 (upgraded to speed pro edelbrock performer grind, and speed pro skirted pistons).
Napa engine shop work 525.00 ( had to do 2 blocks, the first block from the junkyard did not clean up in the #1 cyl.)
Clevite 77 main and rod bearings(did not like the ones in the kit) about 100.00.
Engine paint, oil, new sparkplugs 60.00.
Total=$1175

This stuff I had on my 305
Jegs re-conditoned 625 edlebrock performer 180.00
Edelbrock perfomer intake 105.00
Headman headers 100.00
Headman y pipe 100.00
accel coil and ignition module 120.00
Total= $605

Grand total= $1780.00

I did all the gasket matching and porting/polishing myself since I worked in a foundry and had access to all the tools, but die grinders and reamers, flutes and abrasive rolls are not that expensive either.

Has 290 HP and 385 FT

Not the best, but way better than a 155 HP 305, small block is good enuff to go to 400 HP I would say if I ever wanted to upgrade