Is a 305 engine any good?

[Motorhead350]

I was on Ebay and found a K5 Blazer being parted out and the guy is selling a 70,000 mile 305 engine for $275. First off are these engines any good? Second will this engine work with a Turbo 400 transmission? The engine is complete from the oil pan to the air filter. Seems like a good buy, but I want to be sure.

The 65 Chevy is set up for a 350 so how hard would it be to make a 305 go in? Opinions please!

Thanks.

[justbob]

Same block so no difference. Way underpowered, you'll hate it. But they do last a long while and hold up if not abused. My firend put in a H.O. 305 in his 69 camaro years back and it was a very powerful little engine, but for the most part their all crap.

[Motorhead350]

I just want a runner, I don't care about power.

[justbob]

My step dad had a blazer exact same as yours but with a 305 and a 4 sp stick(1st was only a granny) and it was a dog.

[Black_Noise]

underpowered +1

it will be like having the power of a V-6, with the mileage of a v-8

[Raudermaster]

Yea, probably not your best option Dom. A 302 'Stang will walk all over a 305 powered F body.

[Black_Noise]

keep looking for a 350 or bigger

[justbob]

I know your not wanting above average h.p. Dom but you do want it to respond at 1/4 throttle especially if your planning a/c. The 350 would be a perfect driver, my last Z28 was an '80 model with only 180 h.p.350 but still fun in a little camaro.

[Spectragod]

I'd still be looking for a 350, I had a 305 in my 86 C10, it was a pooch, never gave me any problems, then again, a Pinto could beat me out of a light.

[Joe Walsh]

A 305 makes an EXCELLENT boat anchor!

(They were great snacks for my 85 GT...I can't count the number of sad IROC-Z driver's who watched helplessly.....:(.....as their 305 turd got annihilated by a little 302 Ford.)

[jfclancy]

A co worker of mine had a 305 HIPO in a Monte Carlo drove it for over 450,000 miles had to park it when the tranny gave out engine still works...

Of course the rest of the ride was falling apart but engine still ran.

Joe Clancy

:beer::beer::beer:

[fastblackmerc]

Maybe you should post this on a forum where people really know what they are talking about.

Like this one : www.chevyk5blazer.com

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

I have a 305 in my Trans am, that I built from like 3 different engines, just as a temporary means to move the car around while I'm spending money on the other cars. The car has a 700R4 and 3.42 rear gears, and a computer controlled quadrajet. You can lay down rubber with the car, and with a shift kit, it spins the tires 1-2 at full throttle. It is a slow car for sure, I bet it would run a 16.00 1/4 mile, but for a piece of crap, it has sufficient low end grunt to get moving. It has more than enough low end but nothing above 4,000 rpms. It will get over 20 mpg on the highway. I got the engine for $100 with a trans. When I replace it with the EFI 327 from the Camaro, I am going to be giving the 305 away. I re ringed it and put new bearings in it and it runs like a champ. For a piece of crap motor.

[Motorhead350]

Vic when are you parting with that engine?

Jim I am on www.CK5.com, but I like to get as many opinions as possible that is why I posted here and so far it's working.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

No planned time frame so I don't want to give an answer and have you waiting for it. Sounds like you need something now. You can get 305s for almost free because they are so common and so crappy. They are all over the place. It has the smallest bore of any small block chevy ever made, so its power potential is extremely limited.

[O's Fan Rich]

I'd still be looking for a 350, I had a 305 in my 86 C10, it was a pooch, never gave me any problems, then again, a Pinto could beat me out of a light.

That was you? Ha... small world.

[O's Fan Rich]

No planned time frame so I don't want to give an answer and have you waiting for it. Sounds like you need something now. You can get 305s for almost free because they are so common and so crappy. They are all over the place. It has the smallest bore of any small block chevy ever made, so its power potential is extremely limited.

Chevy also made a 267 v-8 'V8 Monza's had them.... woof.

[Pops]

That platform was a 265 in the mid 50s and then went to a 283.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

Smallest BORE not overall CID. The 305 has such a small bore that it gets a different head gasket than all of the other 4" bore chevies. Smaller than the 265, smaller than the 283.

[O's Fan Rich]

That platform was a 265 in the mid 50s and then went to a 283.

Yes, the 265!
Frankly, I'd put a straight 6 in before a 305....

[Breadfan]

You still don't wanna use the 350 you got huh?

305 will work it's a reliable lo-po motor, don't expect much from it. But...you can probably get a running 350 for that price, right?

[SILVERSURFER03]

350 350 350 stay away from 305

[QTRHRSE]

its not the same block as a 350, but everyting should bolt-up.

a 350 is 327 block...

i could be wrong but i dont think a 305 has a 4" bore.

[JAYSILVER04]

I have a 305 in my 82 El Camino. 194K miles and still runs smooth. My grandfather bought the car new and had to have a valve job every three to four years. It has NO power, but is bullit proof! I will eventually go to a 350 when money allows, til then, I'm driving this one until it dies!!

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

The 305 is 3.7x bore. All of the other SBC's are 4". The 305s are so underpowered from the factory (many of them were the 140 hp. LG4 CCC Qjet application, or the equally weak 170 hp TBI) that they will last forever. You can get 250k miles out of a 305 easy (I guess kinda like how an SOHC 4.6 will go that many miles, it's not making enough power to really break anything).

[larryo340]

Chevy also made a 267 v-8 'V8 Monza's had them.... woof.
My friend had one of those V8 Monza's along time ago. Even in that tiny car the 267 was a dog, and don't even ask about changing spark plugs it would have been easier to pull the heads :rolleyes:

[Motorhead350]

I just want something that will last. I would love to have a straight six for the original factory look, but this truck is already set up for a 350, 327, 305 exc. I don't care about power at all, just something cheap that will run on 87 and not have to worry about it. 350s are all over the place, but the demand is higher than a 305, so I figured why not?

Vic I am in no rush for an engine. If it was free I'd want it now don't get me wrong, but I'm not planning on actually buying an engine for at least 4-6 weeks.

[justbob]

I did a straight six three speed stick to 350 four speed swap once in my 78 chevy step side and if i remember right the mounts are the same. However the chevy 250 straight six is complete crap. The ford 4.9 straight six is the one (actually a couple) that were some of my best engines auto and manual.

[Joe Walsh]

Maybe you should post this on a forum where people really know what they are talking about.

Like this one : www.chevyk5blazer.com

^^^^^^^^^^^ AMEN! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


Hey! Now that's a great idea for Dom!
Go over to the Chevy/Blazer boards and post all your questions on those websites!

[Motorhead350]

^^^^^^^^^^^ AMEN! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


Hey! Now that's a great idea for Dom!
Go over to the Chevy/Blazer boards and post all your questions on those websites!

See my other responce Joe.

This one is actually better.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

4-6 weeks is faster than I move. Even free, it would not be worth the drive or shipping to come get it. You can go get a 305 for $125 from a pick and pull locally. You'd spend more than that on gas to come get what I have.

And I disagree about this site being a good place for chevy questions. Plain and simple, it isn't. I am on forums for the 2nd and 3rd gen F bodies, and I ask all my F body questions there. Most people on this board do not have any interest or tolerance for GM stuff, so posting about GM stuff is not only going to give you skewed opinions, but also generate ill feelings from the natives.

[Joe Walsh]

4-6 weeks is faster than I move. Even free, it would not be worth the drive or shipping to come get it. You can go get a 305 for $125 from a pick and pull locally. You'd spend more than that on gas to come get what I have.

And I disagree about this site being a good place for chevy questions. Plain and simple, it isn't. I am on forums for the 2nd and 3rd gen F bodies, and I ask all my F body questions there. Most people on this board do not have any interest or tolerance for GM stuff, so posting about GM stuff is not only going to give you skewed opinions, but also generate ill feelings from the natives.

I have lots of tolerance and respect for GM products.
I think that the new G8s, GTOs, and Cadillacs are cool and the Z06 Vette is incredible.
I love the old school hardware too! Chevy II, Novas, Chevelles, Impalas...
I do think that the 305 V8 is a piece of *****...just like Ford's small bore 255 CID V8 from 1980 & 1981.

But, as you said, this is a Marauder website and most members are here because of their interest in Marauders and its' 4.6 DOHC V8.

I just can't imagine going over to a GM board and posting questions about my Marauder and it's engine.
I think that my main gripe is the continous and never ending NUMBER of threads (like this one)that flood this website.

There...I'm done venting...now for some coffee!

[fastblackmerc]

I have lots of tolerance and respect for GM products.
I think that the new G8s, GTOs, and Cadillacs are cool and the Z06 Vette is incredible.
I love the old school hardware too! Chevy II, Novas, Chevelles, Impalas...
I do think that the 305 V8 is a piece of *****...just like Ford's small bore 255 CID V8 from 1980 & 1981.

But, as you said, this is a Marauder website and most members are here because of their interest in Marauders and its' 4.6 DOHC V8.

I just can't imagine going over to a GM board and posting questions about my Marauder and it's engine.
I think that my main gripe is the continous and never ending NUMBER of threads (like this one)that flood this website.

There...I'm done venting...now for some coffee!

I agree..... post about exploding chili, who gives a chit... If no one responds maybe he'll go away.....

[Breadfan]

So the end result is this - DONT BOTHER WITH THIS 305.

Again why not use the 350 you have in your garage, it's free b/c you already have it, you're not gonna break anything heck if you're worried just retard the timing or change out the intake.

At anyrate I think $275 for a 305 is a bad deal. Even if you don't wanna use your 350 you can probably find a stock 350 for $275, they were in so many things...

Just put out an ad that you'll pay $25 to remove junk cars or something, you'll find an old car or truck with a 350 betcha it'd run.

[justbob]

Dom, keep up on your posts, you make my life a little less dull. There is a description of who wrote each thread and uninterested parties don't have to read.