87 Vette heads on 305??
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 769
Likes: 0
From: Granbury TX
87 Vette heads on 305??
I rebuilt my 87, L98 last year using TPiS Big mouth intake, large tubes, headers, aftermarket heads and all the usual goodies. Recently, my tired old pickup needed an overhaul. It's a 305 small block. Just for the fun of it, I'm toying with the idea of putting all the corvette parts left over from my car, on the 305. I'm refurbishing the old Corvette heads and got to wondering about the gasket fit. Laying a 305 head gasket onto the vette head I see that the metal o-ring in the gasket protrudes slightly into the combustion chamber at a few spots. Looks like it may still seal ok, but that made me wonder if the 350 gaskets would be better even if they give more chamber voluum to deal with. Any suggestions on head gasket selection??
I'll get a junkyard harness and computer setup.
It'll look slick with all the tpi plenium, tubes and aluminum heads in the place of the old grease-ball that was under the hood before.
Anyone who has done something like this before, Please provide any info you think I need. The 305 is not factory rooler cam equiped. Any cam suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks again
I'll get a junkyard harness and computer setup.
It'll look slick with all the tpi plenium, tubes and aluminum heads in the place of the old grease-ball that was under the hood before.
Anyone who has done something like this before, Please provide any info you think I need. The 305 is not factory rooler cam equiped. Any cam suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks again
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 14,130
Likes: 7
Cruise-In II Veteran
While it can probably be done,try and get a 350 block and do it right.I know thats probably not what you wanted to hear,but its cheap enough to do,and in junk yards everywhere.
Just my few cents.
Just my few cents.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 250
Likes: 1
I have seen 1.94 heads on 305's. I have seen the block ground-out a hair at the top of the cylinder to clear the valves. 350/5.7L head gaskets are a must.
If you do this with the 305, I'd be interested in buying and/or trading(or both) for the large-tube TPIS runners. They would be a bit much on the 305.
I have an extra set of stock runners and many other tpi parts. I also have a 'Painless Wiring' harness for installing a TPI setup in a non-TPI car (or Truck). It has the features for use with a 700R4 with lock-up converter (If you want to go with that, TOO). The Painless Wiring harness alone costs several hundred dollars and will save you a bunch of work. Check their website.
PM Me if interested in trading/selling the TPIS large tube H**D**S (I mean runners).
Thanks, Take Care and Good Luck, -John
If you do this with the 305, I'd be interested in buying and/or trading(or both) for the large-tube TPIS runners. They would be a bit much on the 305.
I have an extra set of stock runners and many other tpi parts. I also have a 'Painless Wiring' harness for installing a TPI setup in a non-TPI car (or Truck). It has the features for use with a 700R4 with lock-up converter (If you want to go with that, TOO). The Painless Wiring harness alone costs several hundred dollars and will save you a bunch of work. Check their website.
PM Me if interested in trading/selling the TPIS large tube H**D**S (I mean runners).
Thanks, Take Care and Good Luck, -John
Last edited by Johns87; May 27, 2008 at 11:44 PM. Reason: I meant runners where I stated 'headers'!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
cam
use an 85 or early 86 cam, those blocks didn't have roller cams either. and I just happen to have an extra one for $75
Just remember, the TPI factory cams don't have fuel pump cams, so if halfway through the project you decide to stick a carb on it, the cam won't pump any fuel.
Just remember, the TPI factory cams don't have fuel pump cams, so if halfway through the project you decide to stick a carb on it, the cam won't pump any fuel.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 769
Likes: 0
From: Granbury TX
Wow! Thanks for the great response guys.
The 87 L98 aluminum heads has 1.94" intakes and 1.5" exhaust valves. By placing the 305 head gasket on the head, valve clearence looks marginal. I wll look at that more closely. I am wondering how agressive a cam to go with. I've seen .050 durations like 204 I, 216 E. Since all my prevous experiance has been with 350's or bigger engines, these durations sound anemic, but then again, I have no idea what the stock specs are like.
The 87 L98 aluminum heads has 1.94" intakes and 1.5" exhaust valves. By placing the 305 head gasket on the head, valve clearence looks marginal. I wll look at that more closely. I am wondering how agressive a cam to go with. I've seen .050 durations like 204 I, 216 E. Since all my prevous experiance has been with 350's or bigger engines, these durations sound anemic, but then again, I have no idea what the stock specs are like.
Last edited by Strike3; Jun 1, 2008 at 09:51 AM.
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Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,162
Likes: 555
From: Glenbeulah Wi
The vette heads will work fine on a 305, the valves will not hit the cylinder bore and the 58cc heads should give a compression boost or keep it the same (depending on the original head size). Use a 350 head gasket with the heads so the gasket does not hang into the combustion chamber. As far as cams go pick something like a ZZ-4 for a nice streetable combination.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 769
Likes: 0
From: Granbury TX
I appreciate your comments on the 305 I'm building for my pick-up. You sound like you know what your talking about as there are no words in your text like, "may be" or "might" or "I think", etc.. I just wanted to thank you for providing a straight answer and restoring my confidence in the project. I'm putting in a stroker crank so it will be running 335 cubes. This is just a "for the fun of it" kinda of project. Not out to win any races or set records.
I believe the ZZ4 cam is like 218/224 or something like that. I've noticed all the cams listed for 305's much shorter duraton. I'll probably call COMP or Crane this next week and get their inputs.
Thanks again!
Bill Pike (Strike3)
I believe the ZZ4 cam is like 218/224 or something like that. I've noticed all the cams listed for 305's much shorter duraton. I'll probably call COMP or Crane this next week and get their inputs.
Thanks again!
Bill Pike (Strike3)
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio TX
Strike3
Make sure you talk to the cam companies and tell them the cam is specifically going into a 305. Even a small cam for a 350 will cause you alot of problems. Especially vacuum issues (idling, power brakes, shift points for auto trans, etc)
Make sure you talk to the cam companies and tell them the cam is specifically going into a 305. Even a small cam for a 350 will cause you alot of problems. Especially vacuum issues (idling, power brakes, shift points for auto trans, etc)
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio TX
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,162
Likes: 555
From: Glenbeulah Wi
I appreciate your comments on the 305 I'm building for my pick-up. You sound like you know what your talking about as there are no words in your text like, "may be" or "might" or "I think", etc.. I just wanted to thank you for providing a straight answer and restoring my confidence in the project. I'm putting in a stroker crank so it will be running 335 cubes. This is just a "for the fun of it" kinda of project. Not out to win any races or set records.
I believe the ZZ4 cam is like 218/224 or something like that. I've noticed all the cams listed for 305's much shorter duraton. I'll probably call COMP or Crane this next week and get their inputs.
Thanks again!
Bill Pike (Strike3)
I believe the ZZ4 cam is like 218/224 or something like that. I've noticed all the cams listed for 305's much shorter duraton. I'll probably call COMP or Crane this next week and get their inputs.
Thanks again!
Bill Pike (Strike3)
FYI, I used to run a 305 TPI with vette heads and ZZ-4 cam it idled well with the stock tune and made good power (Mid 13's at 101 MPH in a 5 speed Firebird)
