1980 california corvette

[joskimad]

hi, im josh. i recently purchased an 80 california corvette,meaning the lg4 305.dark claret with doeskin leather. 71000, excellent shape and all original. as you all know this is a rare car,but a little underpowered as this engine is 10hp less than the 350 they used that year.i want to leave the car as original as possible but yet i want to "wake the ***** up" as they say. i replaced the mufflers with flowmasters and it sounds great,very throaty,but i would like some ideas on what i can do to increase hp without taking away from the originality.
thanks in advance. josh.

 

[BLACKDOG]

Hi Josh ... and WELCOME to the !!!

About a year after I got my 1980 (305), I started looking into the same things you are thinking about ... more HP from the 305 ... and after talking with numerous small block gurus all over the internet, the one common suggestion was to put the $$$ into a crate motor like the ZZ-4. Almost every one of them said it would be more cost-effective to go with a crate motor rather than try to get the same HP from the 305 !! I have Flowmasters on mine, and put on an Edelbrock intake, because I needed to and decided to just leave it as it is for now because, even with 105k miles on it, it still runs fine. When it finally gets tired, the ZZ-4 will be the way I go. It runs around $3700. In the meantime, I swapped out the TH350 for the 200-4R and really enjoy having the overdrive for cruising.
You are right as they are one of the lowest rated engines as far as HP goes, but, if your sounds like mine ... they'd never know it !! So, if HP is a MUST ... go with a crate. In the meantime, enjoy the !!

the DawG

 

[BLACKDOG]

Josh - forgot one option for you ... Edelbrock does have a package for the 305 (heads/intake/carb), but I never went as far as to see what HP gain it would give you over the stock 180 rating. I've also seen stroker kits for the 305, but didn't check them out either.

Oh - check out the Cruise-Fest that CAC is putting on in Auburn, Indiana, starting on May 20th !!!

 

[trent81]

Hey Josh,

First, welcom to the CAC!

Second, listen to the big BLACKDOG, he may be a little nuts (chases his tail alot):crazy but he does give sound advice.

Just don't listen to him about women he chases a lot of strays.

Trent81

 

[rgtrough]

Hey Josh, WELCOME! You have joined the best forum with which I have ever been associated. You are asking for alot. More hp, but keeping the car original. Don't let anyone tell you that it is not possible to build a hi pro 305. Matching intake, cam, carb, heads, and headers will do what you want and not cost all that much (relatively speaking). Horsepower ain't cheap. I have seen 700 hp 305's but now you're talking major money and knowledge. peace Bud

 

[BiggBrakefuelie]

Hi Josh, I purchased my Cali Vette after it already had been swapped out for a

350.I have kept my original carb,intake.It still has the Cali computer in it.The first one they ever made I believe.Eventually they put the same Computer monitering fuel/air into all 81s.
Personally I would swap out the 305 and have fun with your Corvette.I am not sure that even with the rarity of 305s that it will be a collector`s item.Just my view.