Hello,
On my 87 El Camino SS, it has a 305 with the below mods. I have an Edelbrock performer plus cam #3702 specs are
Specifications:
* Advertised duration: 244 intake/264 exhaust
* Duration at .050 in.: 194 intake/214 exhaust
* Gross valve lift: 398 in. intake/442 in. exhaust
* Lobe separation: 112 degrees
* RPM range: Idle to 5,500
* Designed for optimum torque from low end to the mid range.
* Smooth idle for daily driven vehicles.
I also have a Edelbrock Performer #3706 Intake manifold, I bought these as a set as Edelbrock claimed it would put out in excess of 200hp(it the wekest feeling 200hp I've ever felt), I also have Thorley tri-Y headers, custom exhaust, flowmaster, and Carter street/strip fuel pump. Heads are stock, air intake is a dual intake, ZZ4 prom all else is stock. This still does not put out the HP I want, what other cam should I try?  Also, what about the heads,they are stock, should I "get a head job" or should I just save up and buy some new heads?  I need to keep this smog legal as I'm in CA, I would like it to have smooth idle but from there power should be there when I need it. I don't like getting beaten by wanna be rice rockets and out here there are alot of them! Also would head work help and if so what should I get done? I'm not looking to go 150mph but I would like decent gas milage when my foot's not in it but still be able to kick some butt when the need arises. Thanks for any and all help.


August  

Im in Texas so i dont know quite exactly the smog laws you have to deal with, but upon first examination, a 305 does not give you much to work with.  Im not trying to dog your car or anything, im just observing.  If that is what you have to deal with the pass smog laws, then such is life.  The heads on your  engine are choking the world oout of your airflow, even with a new cam.  The cam also is one of the smallest i have seen.  The edelbrock performer intake is a good one, but for everything else, i would talk to a local speed shop about a recommendation for a setup.  They hopefully would have enough experience with dealing with the laws that the could point you in the right direction.  If you are still not satisfied, you could build it how you want, throw caution into the wind as far as the smog laws are concerned, and try and find a place that will "pass" your car on the sniff test without actually running the test.  Being as that is illegal, you would have to be careful.  I hope this helps, if not, sorry to waste your time.  

That cam doesn't look any bigger than stock on the intake side.  And the heads are pretty low flow stock.  Many people have ported those heads to get decent flow and using cams with durations around 204 to 212 at .050 on the intake and lifts around .430 to .460 have easilly made the hp your looking for.

You might also look into 305 vortec heads and the vortec intake.  A lot of people use the 350 vortecs and I do believe they use them on 305s also.  But you will loose compression with them.  I beleive the 305 vortec heads have the smaller 58cc chamber and the same 350 port design.  so they should way outflow the regular 305 heads.  But they chamber itself doesn't have the heart shape.  Would be worth looking into any way.  Thirdgen.org is a good place to do searches on ways to build up 305s.  There are many members there making well over 200hp with pretty low buck set ups.

Guys,

 Thanks for the info, I was kinda thinking the same thing on the cam issue as well, I need to find a cam that will give me the increase in HP AND still be smog legal, do you think this is doable?  I'm debating wether it would be better to do a head job and keep the higher compression or go with the vortec or similar style heads?  What are your guy's thoughts?  Thanks again for the help.  Also on the first note, I like the idea about asking a local speed shop, unfortunatly where I'm at, there are not to many, none in my area, I'm looking in the neighboring cities.

August

Well you say you have an 87.  Does it have the roller cam block?  Those cam specs don't look like a roller but if it was I would suggest using an LT1 cam.  I have seen them sell on ebay for less than 50 bucks.  And a used roller is fine to use again as long as it is still within is it's specs.  Of course you would have to already have the roller lifters and spider in the block to make that a good deal.

As far as hydraulic flat tappets, the crane powermax 260 or comp cam xe256 should still keep you passing a sniffer test and up your power. 

I would feel more comfortable running the 64cc vortecs on a flat toped piston 305 to keep the compression above 9 to 1.  But the vortecs flow so much more than the stock 305 heads and the combustion chambers are so much more efficient in burning the fuel it would probably still be worth a decent increase with the stock dished pistons.

Nope, no roller cam block, it's a flat tappet.  As for the Comp cam xe256, how do that compare to the xe268?  So as I'm reading your reply, don't even bother with a head job on the stock heads, go directly to the vortec heads?  If I go with the vortec heads will it fit my performer intake and if so should I get a the heads worked on before I install them?  Thanks for the help.

August

you could try going to fuel injection like my son and i did with his 86 monte ss our 305 pushes out respectable horsepower and im pretty sure the tuneport will outperform your stock system emissions wise tuneports on ebay cost from 150-250 depending on how much is with it and its not so mind boggling tpi tech can get you in the computer, wiring fuel pump, high performance chip etc for about 600.00. our pushes out respectable power for the monte . we also added a good crane cam. 39nabbit

Hey AugustS(AUGUSTS2),

If you can afford it, go with a stock 350 block with a mild cam and the vortec heads. You'll be much happier than kicking around with the 305. the 350 will give that in the seat of your pants HP and torque you're looking for. Keep the cam duration to around no more than 230 degrees @.050 and you should get good out put and still be smog legal.  If the 305 is all you can afford to work with, stay with vortec heads(they're great out of the box) and stay with the same duration @.050.  the 350 just has a few more cubes and more future potential than the 305, for the same dollar outlay that's all. Good luck!!

I know everybody has been telling me the same thing, go with a 350, there is no substitue for cubic inches.  Eventually I'll go that route in the meantime I'll just make this one run ok.  The stuff I've been donig to it I should be able to bolt directly to the 350 when I get it.  The Vortec heads sound great I just don't know if they will bolt on to my engine and when I make the switch be able to bolt them onto the 350?  I have the 305 block where the bolt pattern go in in the middle bolts, is that the same on the Vortec's?  Thanks again for all the help and info.

August

As far as I know the vortec heads should work on either the 305 or the 350. Research there are alot of articles on adding a few horses to the 305. Do your homework to get the best nbang for your buck. Almost every major company that sells performance parts has some kind of tech line and should be able to help you bolt together a good engine within your budget. Remeber there is no such thing as a dumb question, questions are how we educate ourselves. I'm not sure about the bolt pattern on the vortecs?