305 sbc

As all of you car guys and girls may or may not know. The 305 small block chevy is known as the boat anchor motor that chevy produced for economy reasons. The small bore, long stroke design was made mainly for the low gas consumption for better fuel economy. Along with a low cfm 2 barrel carburetor, and extremely large catalytic converter, Chevrolet thought that the 305 was the way of the future for better fuel economy. Although it did get better fuel economy then its big brother, the 350 small block, it still was maybe getting 20 mpg highway. But back when using stock parts, by re-balancing them an using higher compression by milling the cylinder heads and/or milling the block. You were lucky to get over 400 hp with full racing applications. Since then engine technology has greatly advanced to amazing heights. Lightweight pistons, racing connecting rods, and racing crank, along with major advances in fuel delivery with high CFM carburetors, higher gph fuel pumps, and higher octane fuel. The ability to hit 400 hp is the thing of the past for the little 305 in natural aspiration form. Now if your talking forced induction, the only thing that will hold your back now a days is the block. Weather its supercharger, procharger, or turbo, boost is one of the easiest ways to get horsepower. My main preference is procharger, mainly because it helps keep the heat out of the engine bay, an helps keep the air charge cooler. Also that when you put an 18 psi pulley on, its going to be 18 psi. And it won't creep up, like most turbo setups can do. An when you get your car tuned to 18 psi. you know that, that tune is good for that psi setting. But any setup will net you your target horsepower. I've seen a 3rd gen camaro with a 305 sbc bored to 315 ci, with an F-1C procharger bolted to it. I couldn't find out the psi, but he was at 658 rear wheel horsepower, pretty good numbers out of a little 305 small block. So the 305 sbc is becoming a very stout motor in not only the muscle car community, but the rat rod and tuning community as well.