305 tbi to a 350 tbi/5 speed. take 2

[tacoma man.]

alright guys, ive been busy. i have torn my rs down the whole front end is off right now. there is nothing wrong with the 305 in my car. just that it is pushing 167,000 well taken care of miles. now i have a 350 that i could put in this car, i have the computer to use the prom out of as well.
now, this engine has 300 hp, i have been told that it would damage my factory t-5 transmission. i dont race this car, its just a car that i drive on sundays or go to the mall in on saturday nights. i just want to have more that just 190-200 hp. i took my car over to a speed shop, i had the heads to the 350 redone and i used the rs to go and get them. the guy that waited on me asked what was under the hood of my car and i told him. he laughed and said those 305's from 86-90 are pieces of sh*t
i said how would you know, he said i have one i looked at his car and i could see why he said what he had said. my car is a caddy compared to his car. i had never seen a rusted out 3rd gen before. i got to see one that day. i think he was just jelous. any way im thinking of dropping her
a fresh 350 in. what do you all think will it destroy my 5 speed. what i dont understand is most corvettes in the late 80's were 5 speed with 350's. what would be the difference. i appreciate your alls help.

[SMOKEY818]

well if you have any doubts just rebuild the tranny so it could handle the extra hp, i think it would hold but who knows how many miles that tranny has, it might work perfect with the 305 but might not hold up to a new 350, i would rather just rebuild the tranny that way you don't have to do it twice

[LT1 Kayker]

what is in the 350 for 300hp? Im looking to swap a 350 into my truck but i have no idea where to start. I know a place to get one, im just wondering what you did to it or any suggestions.

EDIT: omg i really need to read the whole post haha sorry. What kind of heads and other parts did you use? lotsa money?

[tacoma man.]

the engine originaly came out of an 94 silverado z71, my buddy had wrecked the pick up and decided to drop the engine in his 92 rs. before that he went all through the motor putting in high performance parts,
this engine only has 178 miles on it. he was rear ended and his car was totaled out. so he sold me the engine for 1600, he had it dyno'ed it had 307 rwhp on the dyno at 4500 rpm. im not sure what king of high performance parts he used but it can really cook the tires, and it also sounded good. as an upgrade i took the heads and had them ported and polished. this was the only thing that wasnt done to the engine. so i might gain more ponies from that.

[DaMoNe6969]

well.. word is that Chev didnt put the T5 in the 350's cuz it couldnt handle the torque.. But thats according to strict manufacturing standards..

If it were a stock 350, Ide say just get a good Aftermarket clutch and go with it.. But if that engine is 300+hp and you've got an under rated trans with 170000 miles on it, it'l probably only take a couple good launches before your pullin' chunks of metal out of your tranny pan..

Time for maybe a T56? Talk to a tranny shop about gettin your T5 built up.. Better to take care of it while your engine is out rather than 3 weeks later

[89IROC&RS]

well the T5 has generally been accepted as being too weak for performance engines, especially ones above 305cid. youd have to talk to a tranny speciallist to find out how much power they can be built to handle. generally speaking you will want to upgrade to the T56 but im not a trans guy, so i cant really say.

[4onFloor]

sounds like you dont drive the car that hard, so i think you'll be ok. i wouldn't drop the clutch too many times tho...

[tacoma man.]

i will have it checked

[DaMoNe6969]

Originally Posted by 4onFloor

sounds like you dont drive the car that hard, so i think you'll be ok. i wouldn't drop the clutch too many times tho...

I would agree with you had he been using a stock 350ci.. But seeing as how it is a high performance 350 (310+ hp after the p&p) Ide say one good sidestep and that tranny will be in peices.. And if he gramma's it, might last a month

as I said, better now than later

[tacoma man.]

well what if i just beef up my 305? maybe try and sqeeze 230-240 hp is that possible?

[DaMoNe6969]

yeah 240hp out of a 305 is very much possible.. Shit i think stock, the TPI 305 had 215hp..

[tacoma man.]

yeah, mines a tbi, 190 hp. it runs like a scalded dog,everyone says its because of the 5 speed tranny putting the power to the pavement better that the automatic. it feels like it has 215 hp.

[Chevyracincamaro]

anyone that has been here long enough knows that a 305 can kick it, per 92RS. if you have a 350 just sittin around, it seems to me that would be too much of a waste. i would suggest getting a t56 swap, there are lots of sites that tell you everything you need to know to do it...

[tacoma man.]

a t-56 is hard to come by in a salvage yard. i got on a waiting list for one at a near by junk yard when i try to get one for ridge runner. still havnt heard anything. and if i could find me one right now i couldnt afford it. my starter is going out on my tacoma and i cant even afford to get that rebuilt. i will have to put it on hold for now.

[DaMoNe6969]

Originally Posted by tacoma man.

my starter is going out on my tacoma and i cant even afford to get that rebuilt

a little off topic, but ive successfully rebuilt a few starters before by myself and its costed a lot less than having it rebuilt.. And so far they've all out lasted any starter ive taken in to get rebuilt..

Just pick up a starter rebuild kit from an automotive store, and buy a new starter solonoid if it needs one