OCC engine

Is this 305 worth keeping, or should i just scrap it? I was thinking about using it in my 70 c10 stepside instead of a Big Block. Thought it might be good for this little truck.
I'd probably keep the TBI, and try to find a wiring harness.

Any thoughts?

Stock 170hp engine. Set of headers and open air filter would boost it up a little,
Beats a 305 from the 80's with 145hp.
Light truck, doesn't take much to get it going. Even if you didn't keep the TBI, put an HEI distributor in it, swap the intake for a regular carb one, hog out the middle bolt holes and cut some metal spacers at an angle to give you the 90* bolts needed for the heads, slap on a carb and drive it, requires 0 wiring harness.

You'd also have to set the timing at 6* or 4* BTDC, instead of the 0* from the factory.

Nah, i've had enough of carbs, the TBI works nice, and the truck is light so it should run good. And i'll keep the 700r4 thats behind it, or i have a t400 also.

The engine runs nice, needs a tune up, starts everytime.

My OCC had 110k on it it's 305 burned a ton of oil, if it were me I'd scrap it.

95brmw wrote:

My OCC had 110k on it it's 305 burned a ton of oil, if it were me I'd scrap it.

He said this one didn't burn any, but then again, i haven't driven it.

I'd say keep it...any small block Chevy in good running condition is worth keeping in my eyes if you have vehicles needing an engine.

My brother's old '89 TBI Caprice ran excellent, but the drivetrain went to the scrapper with the body, felt bad about that.

I would set it up with the TBI 5.0, and if later you feel it is not enough, or is no good. You can replace it with a TBI 350 with a engine and a matching prom chip.

I got TBI 305 in my 91 FWB.... bullet proof so far, ran to texas n back no issue, and I beat the shit out of it. No leaks , im at 120k miles with it.

History shows this is not a good topic to bring up...


Keep it, toss it in the truck so you can drive it. It's still a SBC and it'll push that truck around fine until you build a BBC if thats what you'd rather. Not to mention the mileage a TBI 305 will get with a 700R4 compared to big block and a turbo 400...Oh yeah!

This is probably bunk, but my dad always told me the cams in 305s were junk and to never get a vehicle with a 305. Again that is a blanket statement so I have always felt it dubious.

That could be true for the older 305s, but I'm not sure...I know the TBI 305s use roller cams, possibly even the carb'd ones with the center bolt valve covers used in the 87-88 models?

That is probably the case. Did all SBCs go with roller cams/single rear main in 1987?

The TBI's did, i know the 305 in my 88 GMC had a roller cam.

As far as I was always told on FSC, from the factory the car TBIs had roller cams put in them, but the truck ones did not. However, some of the trucks came with blocks that had provisions for the roller cam to be installed in them, and some didn't...

Mine did. Don't know why, had 30k miles on it when i got it.