Alright, I've been around both enough to come to a few conclusions. I have heard so much from the Gm boys about there puky 305s that its about enough make me sick. Now maybe my original 302 in my 85 F150 (actually an 86 since it was a MPFI 302) just happen to be a hot one but compared to the 305s I've driven and been around it's like comparing top fuel dragster to a VW beatle. I'm not quite sure shy but how come the 305 was such a dog, I mean even the later ones in 94 or so weren't much better than its predisessor.

The part that really blows me away was at one time (not sure of the year) Gm had a 302 that was an absulute animal, heck it made the 350s, 351s, and 360s look like six cylinders. So why did Gm cut the heart out of the 305???? I mean even the HOs that were put in the Monte Carlos and Comaros weren't exactly lighting the world on fire.

A buddy of mine had a Camaor (I think it was an 89') and my ol 85 F150 with twice the miles and twice the weight could walk all over him once we got moving. He had the advantage off the line since he had posi and 265s on the rear and I had a one wheel wonder that didn't knwo the meaning of traction. but once we were up to around 15mph I would just eat him for lunch, I mean WTF, I was bigger, heavier, and a lot less aero dynamic and It was barely a challenge.

Anybody else notice this or was my ol 302 just one of the so called "hot ones"?????

 

This comparison has been done, and redone to death. For every person who thinks the 302 is better, there's another person who thinks the 305 is better. Even some Ford guys hate the 302 for some reason (not me). Have you ever driven a car with the Chevy 302? It wasn't quite what you make it sound like. There were hot 350, 351C, 340 Mopar, and even 302 Boss that the 302 Chevy couldn't quite hang with.

 

1968 was the first year for the chebby 302, the wanted a 5.0l for the Iroc races. THe 307 chebby was a decent engine. Good power and reliable too. My dad never understood why they went to the 305 either. It was a gutless wonder (unless you have a TPI model), and you either got a good one (lasted well over 200k miles) or a bad one (smoked at 20k miles, and blown up by 100k).

 

See what I mean? I never liked the 307. I had a low mileage 71 C-10, and that was the most gutless, breaking down junk pile I ever owned. At least it looked good. I've heard from several other people who agreed with you, and LIKED the 307. Like they say, everyone is entitled to their opinion (I cleaned it up a little).

 

I'm happy for that

 

I know this has been beat to death but I had just came from a buddies house whom insisted that the 305 was such a supioror engine yet he has no explanation why my old 85 pickup walks all over his comaro, his only regesion was he thinks that we need eaqual gears. I think the fact that a 5 year older, heavier, brick of a front end pickup whooped on him is a lot more than a few gear sets. I have 3.5???s (seems to have slipped my mind and I 'm to lazy to go look) and his are like 2 sets higher. His comaro weighs at least 1500lb less than my pickup, I think that more than makes up for the gears!!!!

The chevy 302 I had a ride in a few years ago was a hotrod, now the guy that owned it claimed it to be restored back to original and maybe he was feeding me a line but it went like a raped ape non the less. No matter how you look at it I still think they cut the heart out of the 305. the 307 and 302 were both a lot peppier engines. IMHO, I also thought for about 20 years of the 350 they had done the same, heck untill the vortec series arrive the tuned port 350s and there predesesors were kind of dogs. when the vortec series arived it awaked them quite abit which gm was in definite need of, although in the early to mid 90s I didn't think the 351 was any to powerful, I always thought they were kind of marginally better than the 302.

 

No question here, the 302 is king.

 

I think they are both dogs! lol. No, but I've hooked trucks with both engines and dragged them. But what I think is better about the 302 is the aftermarket they have going. They have tons of aftermarket performence parts for cheap. plus they last long on average. I do have a good friend with a early 80's c/k with a 305 that has 276,000 miles on it and burns 1 quart between oil changes. Not bad if you ask me. But it has no power.

My buddy had a mid 80's carbed 305 in his blazer w/ 3.55's 6" lift & 33's and that thing couldn't get out of its own way, i mean you literally had to put the pedal to the metal just to get that thing to get anywere. I'm talking my 88 f150 with a 300 and 3.08's ate that thing alive in a race, and it's no were near "mildy quick".

 

well the 302 has a shorter stroke and a bigger bore...better for higher rpm power. 302 has a longer stroke and a smaller bore, lower rpm power.

 

OK......Now I'm confused. lol

 

heh, my bad. i was eating and typing...the 305 has a longer stroke/smaller bore...

 

That seems legit since my ol 85 with an auto wouldn't shift out untill nearly 5600 rpms and wasn't fast untill over 3000rpms. It kinda awoke me after I put a tack in the first time I stomped on it. heck it would run 3k at 70 in OD and a hair over 4k rpms in 3rd at 70. and een after 145000 hard miles it still runs pretty good other than the leaky rear main.

 

I had 305 in my 64 & 83 gmc stepside. The one in my 64 was a dog it was a 77 motor. In my 83 I had a holley dbl pumper on it and a maifold. Really nothing but it was OK. Nothing special, it was reliable though except for the three clutches I put in it. But the f-150 my father had w/302 would smoke me and it lasted about 140000 miles and is still running. My truck was lighter also. I had a shortbed stepside, his f-150 longbed with cap.

 

Ok here is my opinion. As they are stock a 302 is good for a midsized car and a 305 is good for a boat anchor. I am not referring to all chevy motors as boat anchors but the 305 definately is. Built a 302 can be developed for just about any purpose you want, 305 still a boat anchor. As far as the old chevy 302s I have no experience so I will refrain from comment.

 

I've had bolth. Stock to stock, neither is anything to write home about. The one good thing I can say about the 305 in my 92 GMC is that it isn't half bad on gas(probably more to do with the 5 speed than anything) Power is OK, but, the thing does like to rev, mind you the tach only goes to 5000... LOL