What do you guys think is the better Engin My self personally the 302 is way better

 

Ford vs. Chevy arguments and dependablity aside, it depends on what you're doing with it. Being a life-long Chevy guy I was never really fond of 305's. Just didn't think it was enough displacement and most of them were crippled by "not-as-good-as-a-350" heads. The 305 has such a small bore that they are limited on maximum possible valve size and therefore can't breathe that well at high RPMS. I've always though that the 302 v 305 argument was kind of comparing apples to oranges. The 302 is a short-stroke large-bore engine and the 305 is a long-stroke small-bore engine. Theoretically, all things being equal, the 302 should wind higher and quicker, and very likely make more high RPM horsepower. The 305 should have more bottom end torque. I'd think that should make the 305 a better truck motor and the 302 better in a relatively light car (like a Mustang). I see this comparison all of the time and don't really think it a fair one. A buildup of a 350 and 351 would be a better comparison as they are both 4" bores, with a 3.48" stroke on the 350 and 3.5" on the 351. If someone wanted to do a REALLY fair Ford v Chevy comparison, the thing to do would be to build a Chevy 302 and Ford 302. Then you'd have the exact same bore and stroke. Both can be fitted with 1.94/1.50 valves, same cam profile, headers,compression, intake and carb specs and use each's best factory available head castings. Then everything would be as fair as possible. I think the Chevy might have a slight edge. Not prejudice, I just think most stock Chevy heads are better than most stock Ford ones. Engines don't know their brand name and if the heads were ported to the same port volume I believe you'd see virtually identical HP/torque numbers and curves. Personally, I think there's no replacement for displacement and I think a Chevy truck should have a 350(or larger) and a Ford should have a 351(or larger) if possible. Given all of that I think the 305 would be a better truck motor. No offense!

 

Thats a very good anwser. Ive driven both thay were both very good but the 302 in my opinion is better becus of Power and MPG The 305 I Exp was a 1984 GMC 1500 Shortbed 2wd after installing an open element air filter and a racing cam and throttle body it was still sloe feeling and it got 8-MPG it also had a holly Carb on it. The 302 I exp was a 1993 F-150 It was a good engin It had close to 450,000 Miles on it when I sold it back in 2000 It had good power and ones gas MPG and it was stock. There both good though as you said thay can both be fitted with 1.94/1.50 Valves both were good though in my oppinon. I was just more fond of the 302.

Just my personal oppinon..............

 

I think Ford builds a more dependable truck, but there are lemons and champions in any brand. My 94 I6 has 219,000 miles and still runs great/no smoke/passes emissions with flying colors. I've driven it like I stole it from day 1. My dad's 82 I6 had busted pistons/rings and had to be bored .030" at 130,000.
On the Chevy side, my brother-in-law's 78 Chevy 305 had 2 transmissions, a rearend and numerous engine repairs by 80,000. He never towed or hauled anything substantial with it. A friend of mine had the same year truck with the same engine/transmission. It had over 350,000 when he sold it. In that time he had replaced a water pump once and the starter twice. Routinely hauled overloaded hay wagons etc. I'm not brand loyal any more. If it works for you, run it. If it doesn't, lose it.

 

I think the fact that the 302 had such a long production life with Ford speaks for itself....whereas Chevy dropped the 305 in the late 80s/early 90's....

The torque produced by the production roller EFI 5.0 liter was in the 350's range!!!

it doesn't get any better than that!!!

 

^ Didn't they run the 305 until the '99 silverado came out? I don't know because I don't really keep track of Chevys but they put them in the trucks for a while at least. What is with all these Chevy/Ford comparisons? I think this is about the 3rd one I've seen in the last month.

 

The 302 and 305 make simular power but the 302 is alot lighter.

 

umm, what?

 

Chevy had a long streak of cams going flat in the 305's back in the late 80's. My dad had one as did about 5 or 6 of his friends. I think the longest one lastest was 35K before a few of the lobes were completely flat. I will say after we replaced the cam with a little bit larger one, that 305 woudl really run good. Of course, maybe I was just used to how it ran with the flat cam!!!

JJ

 

The 305 weighs in at 550 pounds and the 302 weighs in at 460 pounds according to "Practiacal Engine Swaping by John Thawley 1976". Although the newer 302s that use aluminum water pumps, intakes, ect weigh less; around 425 pounds.

A fellow called Dave Williams has a website that has engine weights on it. He rates the 305 at 575 pounds and the 302 at 460 pounds. He also mentiones that late model 5.0s are lighter yet. His website is: www.team.net/sol/tech/engine.html

Taking off weight is as good as adding horsepower especially from the front end. Yes, the 302 is lighter which makes it my choice.

umm, what?
Clayton

 

The 305 did go vortec in like 96 and was touted as "having as much power as a tbi 350" which it probably did, I havent driven and vortec 305's so i cant say, the tbi 305's i have seen prove to be reliable and long lasting its just not a hot rod I guess, I havent seen many fail to do the job they were assigned to do because of a lack of power, often the 700r4 trans was the first thing to die in so equipped trucks, also the 305 was roller cam just like the 302

I will also say while the 302 is a great motor and I prefer them I have seen alot more 302 that have had major mechanical failures like rods cranks or pistons break than I have seen 305's but the SBC has always been known for being very strong internally

I like the 302 better and the 302 has powered alot more cars than the 305 would have have ever drempt too, but the 302 hasnt outnumbered the SBC by any far cry

I think having a manual tranny helps the 302 last longer also, Im buying a Mark 7 next month 65k mile 5.0 HO, converting it to mass air will be my first mod

 

While not really all that powerful, my friend gas a 305 in an 98 caprice. We beat that car unmercifully, but she keeps on running. Have gone through a couple 200R4's, but it always runs. personally, I think both the 305 and 302 are better suited to cars, as the 300 6 can out hual a 302 any day, and if chevy would have kept the 292 6, it would have been a better truck engine than the 305.

 

I also think that the place for both motors is definitely in a car. 302s are a little more snorty than a 305, but neither really have the low end power needed to pull a half ton pickup. Many times the gas mileage is about the same as it would be with the large V8. As far as reliability, they both have some problems. Some 302s need to be replaced with relatively low mileage and 305s have the cam problems. The 305 will probably get better gas mileage than the 302. My 302 can get 16 mpg in the right conditions but normally manages 13 mpg. My friend has a carbed 305 that could get 17 mpg easily. A Vortec 305 could probably not smoke a 350 tbi even if it is rated similarly. Vortec motors were very overrated. My dad has a pickup with a 350 tbi and a 350 vortec. The tbi makes much better gas mileage and seems to have as much power as the Vortec. The tbi has higher gears which would help the fuel economy, but 17mpg compared to 11 speaks for itself.