Not so wimpy 305?

[SlapFish]

Even my dad doesn't know the answer to this one.  The guy I got my truck from says the original 305 in the truck died, so he threw in a supposedly identical one from an F-body...I forget whether it was a Camaro or Firebird.  I noticed however, now that the engine runs super smooth, that it runs differently than a truck should.  I read these forums and people complain about their 305's, but mine feels quite powerful.  Do you guys know whether or not the F-body 305s were tuned any differently or had different cams or what?

[TRUCK6DRIVER]

The F-bodies ran 58 cc chamber heads. Most of the truck engines ran either 70 or 60 cc heads. The cam shaft was different also. The 305, when done right, will run quite well. I had a Monte Carlo SS that ran 8.70's in the eighth mile with over 135,000 miles on it. In 94 when I did this, a stock camaro with a LT1 350 would only run 9.30's. The key is do not think BIG when adding after market parts. Big cams, carbs and exhaust will kill a small bore engine. Use small tube headers, mild cams and no larger than 2 1/4" exhaust. A small bore needs some back pressure to build torque. It will never be as strong as a build 350 but they can be performers.

RH

[jo3y1nf4nt3]

rebuilding the 305

[SUX2BU99]

The F bodies came with a few different variations of the 305 though. Sounds like you may have snagged a High Output one from an 83 or 84 F-body. These were rated at 190 HP.

[87swb]

i have a 305 TBI in my 87 short-wide 2wd and it's got some power. it has headers and 2 1/4 inch pipes. it's not a bad motor and they're hard to blow up.