Technical If you found a cheap 305 SBC....

I wanted opinions on a dilemma. I have a 283 with a good short block, that needs rebuilt heads. I found a set of rebuilt 305 heads for $100. I also found a rebuilt long block 305 for $350! I know everyone hates the 305, but for just some fun cruising in a 20's coupe it may be okay? What would you guys do?

 

Walk away.

 

It may not have all the horse in the world...but for those of us who have the shallower pockets they will get you in a hotrod....my two cents


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I just can't continue with this 305 VS 283 stuff. Price out the parts at rebuild time. A Good running engine is just that; why does it have to be a 350, or a 327, ,or a 283 anyways??? Work with what you have! Remember what "hot-rodding" was about!
I am Butch/56sedandelivery.

 

I like the bore/stroke ratio of a 283 for a light car better. The 305 heads have bigger valves than the 283 with small CC chambers. They are supposed to work great for 283s. I'd keep the 305 heads and put them on the 283.

 

I'd run it.

 

^^^^what gimpy said^^^^

 

I had a 1989 centerbolt roller 305 in my Model A, for many years.

I ground off anything cast-in that indicated what it was, tossed on valve cover adapters, and dressed it old.

With a short water pump, reproduction Corvette finned valve covers, and a front-fill manifold, nobody ever guessed what it was.

I put some swap meet headers, and a decent cam in it, and it got up and went pretty good.

 

I'd never look for a 305 to build, but, if I wanted a good reliable engine that ran...and was rebuilt for 350$...I'd be all over it.

 

For a driver a 305 has enough torque and will not guzzle fuel like a 350 does. The 350 in my OT 83 3/4 ton has two rod bearings that took a crap. I have a good 305 that will be put in there. I will simply sell the 350 block, It will bring good money and sell quickly because its a 4 bolt main block. A 283 is a great engine and small chamber 305 heads make it better. But its short stroke cuts down on Torque.

 

if it's a fresh motor..that cheap fun...in a light car...

 

Me thinks that people are confusing the 305 with the late 60's early 70's 307 now that was a POS !

Cam/Intake/Carb... RUN IT ! will last a long time and cheap. Are they a power house NO... can they be had cheap YES.

In a little light car your driving for next to nothing on a shoe string budget...….

 

If anyone wants to diss you or tell you that you shouldn't have used that 305, simply tell them to buy you their engine of choice and you will provide the labor to install it in your car. I bet they will then stfu!

 

Run it like gimpy said.
Tell the naysayers it's a stroker 427 sbc.
They'll never know.

 

If the 305 heads have 1.94 valves for sure.
A rebuilt long block for $350, definately a good deal, depends on what you wanna do with it.

 

Run the 305, it seems like the cheapest way to go. Then, as time and money allow, go thru the 283. Happy Motoring!

 

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a 305. Look how long Chevy made them. If you can pick it up for a good price and it runs good, go for it. Piss on what everyone else thinks, it’s still a Small Block Chevrolet and it will run fine.


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Gimpy and just Gary have the right idea.

If anyone asks what engine you have, just tell them it’s a sbc, and don’t elaborate.

 

For that price, why the hell not !!

Keep the 283 for a future project, buy that 305 and run the pants off it!!!

Let’s see.... “traditional engine” no, nope.

Cheap, easy to run, reliable, lots of parts availability.... the list goes on and on

 

Think of it this way. What do you spend on machine work for a rebuild ? Parts, assembly and time? Cell phone bill ? Eating out in a two month period? Probably the best deal for an engine rebuilt your going to have a chance at. Buy it. Run it. You can always change it in the future if you get a hankering too.

 

way back i recall a hamber did a write up on running 305's , i did a quick search and didnt find it . maybe you will have better luck ? anyway , i found a low mile 305/200r4 from a 85 caprice on ebay for super cheap . cleaned it up ,ran an eddy 4 barrel and dual exhaust and put it in a 64 nova wagon . car ran excellent for over a decade ,i did absolutely nothing to it but oil changes . it had decent acceleration ,cruised at 2000rpm @70 and on one road trip did a best of 27mpg, averaged 18-20 mpg daily driving . did tow car duty for a vintage funny car and got a shit ton of attention at the races . no one ever knew it was a 305 and if anyone asked i told them it was a 305 , no shame here . a well tuned cared for 305 will run just as good if not better than some other "pick a displacement " small block

 

I'd take a borescope and check the bores...if they're OK, I'd buy it in a minute.

 

Absofreakinlutely.

 

"She's not jive, my 305." Buy it drive it, save the $$ to impress someone else, somewhere else. And as for the 307, it was very good engine too. Read fat hack's magnum opus on them.

 

Have had both engines, I would rebuild the 283. HRP

 

ahhhh ........fat hack . thanks ,i couldnt remember who did that up

 

I was just talking to Swade41 about this... I wanted to have a good backup motor in case something happened to my current one so I could still cruise and then plan and build what I wanted...I have a 283 short block I picked up but I'd grab that 305 ASAP..

 

I originally ran an inexpensive 305/200R4 combo in my roadster. Put a lot of miles on it with no issues. Use the 305 and eventually rebuild the 283. The 305 with have more torque than the 283 anyway. Nothing to be ashamed of here.
r


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Ran a 305 with a cam and some upgrades in a 40 coupe for a while. No problems,never heated up,good gas mileage and it was fine, Not super fast but very nice daily driver. It made many long distance trips with no issues.

 

First and foremost a 305 isn’t a crap motor it was what it was designed for. It will be fine in a light car I’ve got one in an a coupe it is plenty quick and excellent gas mileage.