IROC 305s vs 350s

[Iron]

There is an 85 IROC I am interested in buying, and I've read that the best IROC 350 is the 91-92 rated at 245 horsepower(87-88 350s are apparently only 10 more horses than the 305s at 225), and the 85s 305 is a 215 hp. I originally wanted a 350 but this 305 is $3500(Canadian) compared to the other expensive ones. It's also the hard to find standard that i want. So what can you tell me about buying the cheaper 305 versus waiting and buying a more expensive later modelled 350 performance-wise? Would the 30 more horsepower rating be worth it?Do the 350s offer quite a bit more torque?
Just wondering, thanks!
This is the car

[Morley]

Originally Posted by Iron

There is an 85 IROC I am interested in buying, It's also the hard to find standard that i want. So what can you tell me about buying the cheaper 305 versus waiting and buying a more expensive later modelled 350 performance-wise? This is the car

Well, I can tell you that the 1985 TPI's did NOt come with a manual trans. If it is a manual and an original car then it is a 305 carbed engine...190 HP max.

[CamarosRsweet94]

If it were me I would definately stick it out to find a 350. I personally feel that the 350 is a much stronger engine all around than the 305.

[Dober89]

Wait it out man. I bought my 89 a year and a half ago for 3500 cdn. Its got a 350 in it. The only 305s I would look at are the later ones with manual trannys. If you check the specs they are only like 10 hp behind the 350 with dual cats. They lack a bit of torque, but they also have taller rearend gears and the 5 spd over a 4.

The main difference between the two is that the 305 is limited for upgrades and most people would replace it with a 350. If you have a 305 5 spd car, and put a 350 in it, your going to bust the 5 spd in no time unless you go real easy on it.

[tuske427]

Originally Posted by Dober89

Wait it out man. I bought my 89 a year and a half ago for 3500 cdn. Its got a 350 in it. The only 305s I would look at are the later ones with manual trannys. If you check the specs they are only like 10 hp behind the 350 with dual cats. They lack a bit of torque, but they also have taller rearend gears and the 5 spd over a 4.

The main difference between the two is that the 305 is limited for upgrades and most people would replace it with a 350. If you have a 305 5 spd car, and put a 350 in it, your going to bust the 5 spd in no time unless you go real easy on it.

Hi:

Yeah, the IROC 350 never came with a manual. In fact, GM never sold a 3rd Gen F-Body with a 350 and a manual. (they did build 2 of them once, but were factory "one offs" and were rumored to be crushed) The 5 speeds that came with the 305 could be destroyed by the 305, so forget it in a 350. don't waste your time. If you want a Manual 350 car, build it yourself. Do yourself a favor and start with a good, straight body. If the car available is clean and cheap, then get it and build it. It's a lot easier to swap an engine than it is to repair quarter panels and weld floor pans. There are enough aftermarket companies that offer engines, computer contorls, wiring kits, etc that upgrading to a 350 is no longer a hassle. And virtually all of the parts will bolt right up! They even sell kits now that will let you install the LS1 engine in your 3rd gen car. I'll be doing this to my '84 Trans Am soon enough... I hope this is helpful.