Thread: 305ci vs 350ci

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I had a 305, a 350, a 350 now I might be building a 305.

for a torqer engine in a fullsize pickup.
Would a 305ci SB put out much less torque then a 350ci SB?

Would the smaller engine avg better fuel mileage?

i would go with the 305 everybody and their brother has a 350 im not saying that i dont like them its just that every one's got one. go with the 305 you will be able to make all the torque you want the way i see it you can make anything fast its just how much money you want to spend. the 350 would be easier to get more power out of but you can do the same with the 305. i think that it is up to want to have in your truck they are both good motors. as for the 305 yes it will have less torque in stock form than the 350 (in stock form) but you can build the 305 to keep right up with with any 350 on the street and you can do the same with a 350 so its all up to what you want

I have a 305 in my chevy and have alot of torque. Type in 305 buildup on the computer and they can show what you can do with a 305.

I've had both in the same 85 Chevy K10 truck......noticeable difference in performance with the 350, gas mileage was within 1mpg of the same (350 was better) AND both motors cost about the same to build. Parts cost for either are essentially a wash so why go small? 45 cubic inches is 14.7% more.....yes, you can build the 305 to equal the 350 but you have to use a bigger xx and a higher yy and a hotter zz. Why not then put the xx, yy, and zz into a 350 and therefore beat the 305?

When deciding between a 305 and a 350, you have to think why does everybody use the 350? Because EVERYTHING about the 350 is better than the 305. The 350 will always make more hp and more torque than the 305. You shouldn't see much of a difference in fuel milages. The 350 will be cheaper to build, too, because there are more parts available.

yes, all in all the 350 is usually cheaper power. dollar for dollar the 350 will make more power, that being said, it doesnt mean a 305 cant perform.
they share the same stroke...if you use it as just a driver, not making the engine work hard, the 305 MAY get slightly better MPG.
by comparison, if the 305 has to struggle to pull a heavy load, while the 350 doesnt, the 350 will likely get better MPG.
as far as rebuilding cost. 350 is cheaper. a stock rebuild kit for a 350 is 158.00, while the same kit for the 305 is around 250-300. more people rebuild 350s....so mass production decreases costs.
Ive built a couple 305s..just to try it, & they both performed great, one ran 13.70s in my 3.08 geared GMC Caballero & pulled 14" of vacum..so obviously nothing radical.

I've been running the 305 in my '59 Ford truck for the last 6 years as everyday driving as a salesman. It's been a great engine with over a 100,000 miles. All this using the wrong heads and that's my problem I now have. I can't find the right heads. If I use the stock head with 1.84 valve, I'm told the "light casting" heads will crack. Let me know if you decide on using the 305 and what heads you plan to use

The only substitute for cubic inches is cubic $$$$$.

QED

heres what i tell rice boys after i've smoked them:
theres no replacement for displacement

Yeah I gotta agree with the no replacement for displacement. Put my vote solidly there. Nothin' wrong with a 305. You can make them plenty strong, but if you've got the choice pick the cubes. More easily attained power, both torque and ponies, and believe it or not, the engine kits are generally a little more expensive for a 305. You'll probably see better mileage with a 350 too. The better the power, the less the engine has to work to propel your ride.

I've got a siezed 350 that was rebuilt. so the heads should still be good. So if it is rebuildable. Thats the way to go.

I have 2 very used 305's I could rebuild. but I would have to get the heads rebuilt. that adds another $400 to the build.