305 vs. 350 mileage, performance, reliability

Hello all,

Well, to be honest, I'm contemplating getting my first Chevy Truck. I've been a Ford man for the last twenty years, there's nothing wrong with them, but Chevy's seem to be more abundant and cheaper to fix and surely more consistent in how they are made.

Anyway, given my financial situation I'm looking to buy an older 4x4 90-96 probably and am curious about the 305/350's. Regardless of the gear ratios, which one gets better gas mileage? In the real world!!! I've heard the 305 was a dog...

How the reliability and performance of the two motors?

The last 305 I had was in two 1979 Camaro's...I'm not wanting to use them as a basis for my evaluation ;)

Thanks for any help,
Rick

Hello all,

Well, to be honest, I'm contemplating getting my first Chevy Truck. I've been a Ford man for the last twenty years, there's nothing wrong with them, but Chevy's seem to be more abundant and cheaper to fix and surely more consistent in how they are made.

Anyway, given my financial situation I'm looking to buy an older 4x4 90-96 probably and am curious about the 305/350's. Regardless of the gear ratios, which one gets better gas mileage? In the real world!!! I've heard the 305 was a dog...

How the reliability and performance of the two motors?

The last 305 I had was in two 1979 Camaro's...I'm not wanting to use them as a basis for my evaluation ;)

Thanks for any help,
Rick
Cannot tell you about the 305 I have a 98 5.7 good motor. The vortec came out in 96 so if you can get the vortec. Why? about 50 more horse power and it has more torque and has better gas mileage. So my suggestion is 96 and up.

Cannot tell you about the 305 I have a 98 5.7 good motor. The vortec came out in 96 so if you can get the vortec. Why? about 50 more horse power and it has more torque and has better gas mileage. So my suggestion is 96 and up.

The Vortec has more power (although driving the two, there doesn't seem to be a big difference), but I will put my 1992 350 TBI up against any Vortec in gas mileage! Its a 4WD and it gets 18 mpg just driving it to work and on short trips (about 60 mile round trips).

As for teh 305 vs. 350, well my uncle had a couple 305s (one was a 95, one was a 96), and they both got bad gas mileage when compared to a 350, and of course had nowhere near the power as the 350 (even the Vortec 305s are rated with more HP then my TBI 350, but I have drove a Vortec 305 before and it doesn'teven compare to my TBI 350).

I would reccomend a 350 for sure (especially if you get a pre-96, the TBI 305s do'nt have much power, but the Vortec 305s are OK). You won't be dissappointed with a 350. They have more power AND get better gas mileage then the 351s Ford offered for those years.

Get the 350, the 305 is a gas hog and weak, I actually get better gas mileage out of a lifted 4x4 with a 350 than my brother's shortbox 2wd 305.

I am not sure of the driving habbit diferences or maybey the body styles but the most fuel efficient 350 i ever owned is sitting out on my lawn it gets an awesome 13 mpg ita a 98 2wd i have run a few 87 4x4s with 305s and never got worse than 19 in the city or highway my recent is a full rebuild its an 87 on a 79 1 ton frame true 1 ton dana 60 front 14 bolt full floater rear with an nv 4500 and im sorry off roaders but i swapped the 205 in favor of the 208 cause it dont blow apart when i put in 4wd at over 70 mph i get 21 city and 24 highway with a 1 ton and its the most versital vehical i have ever owned and uses no oil so dump on them all you want with over 569000 miles on my k3500 i will consider the 305 one of the best engines ever made my 350 dosent leave town it does have alot more power ill give it that but i dont see it worth the extra cost maybey cause i have a heavy foot but my 305 acomodates my 100 mph trips using no oil and getting 21 mpg doing it in a 1 ton will my 350 vortech gets me only 13 to 14 but i guell its all driving habbits

I am not sure of the driving habbit diferences or maybey the body styles but the most fuel efficient 350 i ever owned is sitting out on my lawn it gets an awesome 13 mpg ita a 98 2wd i have run a few 87 4x4s with 305s and never got worse than 19 in the city or highway my recent is a full rebuild its an 87 on a 79 1 ton frame true 1 ton dana 60 front 14 bolt full floater rear with an nv 4500 and im sorry off roaders but i swapped the 205 in favor of the 208 cause it dont blow apart when i put in 4wd at over 70 mph i get 21 city and 24 highway with a 1 ton and its the most versital vehical i have ever owned and uses no oil so dump on them all you want with over 569000 miles on my k3500 i will consider the 305 one of the best engines ever made my 350 dosent leave town it does have alot more power ill give it that but i dont see it worth the extra cost maybey cause i have a heavy foot but my 305 acomodates my 100 mph trips using no oil and getting 21 mpg doing it in a 1 ton will my 350 vortech gets me only 13 to 14 but i guell its all driving habbits

Welcome to AF.
And thanks for your info and input.

But always check the date on a post and if it if old let the old dogs stay old.
Good Luck
MT