A little more power for my TBI 305

[yellow400ex05]

I have a 1994 extended cab Chevy K2500 with 123k miles 3.73 gearing and its still stock and its last tune up was at 110k miles.

I'm looking for a little bit more acceleration and low end nothing major or over say, 500 bucks since I'm on a low budget right now as I am in high school. I will be adding just a Flowmaster 40 muffler soon and I did upgrade the air intake tube to one of those long tubes without the silencer box. Is it possible to get a mild cam that WON'T include any other modifying and that will improve exactly what I'm looking for without killing the fuel economy too much?

Also do you think another tune up would help any before doing anything else?
thanks.

[yellow400ex05]

bump.. anyone?

[SuperStepside]

Getting a cam would require a chip. No biggie but it will cost around $200. I would go with a throttle body spacer and injector spacer. After you get those on take off the choke collar in between your air cleaner and your throttle body.

[FordeatinZ71]

wow, a Wee-Oh-Five in a 3/4 ton extended cab 4x4?! i feel sorry for you. anyway, i would save money and bite the bullet...get a cam and a chip burned to match what you are doing to the motor...that will give you a real kick in the pants...

[yellow400ex05]

super stepside where can i find any of the things you mentioned?

[itcantbestephen]

Honestly, I would just save up and buy a 350. 305's can't stand up to alot of modifications very well. But, if you're dead set on keeping the 305, then a camp/chip would be your best bet.

[yellow400ex05]

Well its a light duty 3/4 ton truck. And I don't know a lot about cams or whats mild or not and where to find chips or anything so can anybody give me a clue on what I'm looking for..

also I really can't save up for a new 350 and that doesn't seem worth it to me since the TBI 350's have a whopping 15 horsepower more and about the same for torque difference. Plus this engine is well taken care of and has been run with Mobil 1 synthetic since 12k miles so I know its not all that tired and burns only a half quart in 4k miles. and plus I can put a cam and chip in this and get it prolly up to the TBI 350's power

just for kicks how much does a TBI 350 run price wise?

I got this off of wikipedia
L03 was the "low output" 305 in³/ 5.0L (compared to the 305 TPI LB9). It produced 170 hp (127 kW) and 255 lb·ft (346 N·m) of torque (185 HP @ 4,400 / 275 TQ @ 2,400 in 1993-1995 GM trucks).

the 350's were rated anywhere from 190 HP to like 210.

[itcantbestephen]

Even if the initial power gain from swapping in a TBI 350 isn't much, it opens up a whole new world of performance potential compared to the 305.

But since you're just looking for a little more power, you could also look into a full exhaust system. I'm thinking about getting long tube headers and a nice catback put on my truck some time soon.

[yellow400ex05]

yeah probably the only way I'd ever possibly get a 350 in my truck was if the current 5.0 blew even then I'd Prolly sell it and get another used truck but a 96-98.

[SuperStepside]

You can get both of the spacers on ebay.

Plus you can transfer the spacers to a 350 if you ever want to swap one in.

[Fast305]

Originally Posted by itcantbestephen

Honestly, I would just save up and buy a 350. 305's can't stand up to alot of modifications very well. But, if you're dead set on keeping the 305, then a camp/chip would be your best bet.

Actually you don't have a clue what you are talking about. The 305 is perfectly capable of making power, my 305 with very little done to it would be perfectly capable of running away and hiding from your 350 in a heavier vehicle. I WOULD NOT start with a cam, period. The L03 needs to be opened up first with full length headers and an exhaust. Then it needs to be tuned with a properly burned chip, the only way to get this RIGHT is DIY. Next you need to step up the stall and the gearing. Then you can cam it. If you just go out and cam it, the truck will lose ALL low-end torque, have a soggy mid-range and not gain anything up top. A set of 1.6:1 self aligning roller rockers will help the truck breath while maintaining the torque of the stock 305 which you need.

http://s243.photobucket.com/albums/f...t=101_1403.flv

[Nicklessig]

The 305 gets little respect from people. Thanks, Fast305, for all the info you've posted. It's given me a solid guideline for my own upgrades since I also just want a little more and can't save up for a 350. Besides, I like rooting for the underdog.

Yellow, check out more of Fast305's posts. You'll thank yourself.

[yellow400ex05]

yeah I always apppreciate the fact that someone out there appreciates the 305 like Fast305 everybody else is quick to judge and says haha just a little wimpy v8 which they are.... stock. and mine being a K2500 light duty or not doesn't help the cause. Thanks for the help everyone I know i make a lot of threads about performance but I'm just getting ideas on what to do.

[montess85]

you know what....I would just put some bolt-ons on the 305...headers....Intake....exhaust....Anything that will go on a 350 will bot on a 305....You can make desent power out of a 305...if you wanna make more than 400 then swap a 350...but if your not looking to go crazy just put some money into the 305...It will save you money.....check this article out

http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/te..._ii/index.html

TBI 305 in a camaro....they got that little thing to run pretty good...Plus if you do end up wanting more....most of the stuff can just be swapped over to the 350...

[FordeatinZ71]

oh trust me, i have respect for the 305. i know i didn't sound like i did in the above reply, but i do. heck, you want a beast from the factory? check out the 87-92 TPI 305 that came with the 5-speed manual. when you got the 5-speed with the TPI 305 in those years you got the L98 (TPI 350) cam and without the power-hungry 700R4 behind it that sucker HAULED.

305's are good motors, and you can get decent power out of them. just follow Fast305's advice, he is a very wise man when it comes to this subject...

[Nicklessig]

My biggest issue is living in Cali. Everything has to have a CARB #. Ideally, I'd like to run this: http://www.superchevy.com/tech/0501s...tor/index.html