305

[bassnsx]

i have a caprice, first of all, so i dont care about going fast. i just want it to sound cool. i dont like cars that run smooth. i want it to sound like its barely running. i was told that if i change the cam it will give me the sputtering uneven running im looking for. would the cam be the only factor affecting how it runs like that, or would i have to go all out with performance crap and actually have to spend lots of money?

[Hopper111]

why want a motor that sounds like crap? also, a lot of your sound comes from the exhaust system you have...

keep this in mind...for performance that is...STOCK SUCKS.

Im not into the whole "show no go" thing...thats boring to me.

[bassnsx]

because im not driving a race car. because im talking about the car that i need every day. im not going to tear the whole thing apart to end up with a really ugly big car that has a lot of power to go 30 mph to and from school and work. im a 17 year old kid, not a race car driver. i can only afford one part at a time, both money and time wise. i just figure, if im gonna have a v8 i might as well make it sound the way i like, because i feel thats the coolest part about it. it looks like shit (especially after i hit that mailbox and took all the hubcaps off), so whats wrong with making it sound like shit.

[Hopper111]

i'm a 17 year old kid too so i know about money shortage...I just have a job.

Also, having one of those loping cams is going to change your gas milage...if your hurt for money now, double your gas consumtion and then try it

[bassnsx]

double?? it gets like low 20's mpg as it is now. and i have a job! i just have no money because i have...expenses. and i just replaced my transmission. tell me more of this...loping cam. is that all i need for that "crappy" sound? that wont affect anything else? what are some good ones? how much do they cost? oh and do you know if i can fit cat back dual exhaust under there? theres a torsion bar thing going across the middle of the car that looks like it could be in the way.

[firebird45331]

it's not just as simple as replacing a cam. Replace the cam and you'll need lifters. then valve springs. To really get a good sound you'll need headers and an exhaust that'll open it up.

[81 cabellero]

alright, 305 is a funny topic but i built the crap out of one and i know what you are looking for and will suggest parts for you. Now spending a tonne of money on the 305 is a waste as some would say.....the old saying goes bigger is better, so everyone should be running a 496" donovan block right.....no. Budget and practicallity come into play. i built a 305 stroker, the specs are in this site somewhere, im not going to post the numbers yet, till i video it......now camshaft is where you will acheive the desired sound everyone loves at idle. In keeping with this, you also dont want to have to change springs etc, but an aluminum intake and headers are going to be a must, parts are cheap, buy used if you have to, except for the camshaft and lifters always use top quality brand names, never skimp on engine internals, bad things can happen. Now for a good streetable cam that has that famous rumpity idle i would go no bigger than say a comp cams 268H.......this is a very friendly camshaft on the stock valvetrain, only other mods would be a good set of anti-pump up lifters. And because you have small cubes the cam will be a little more radical than say in a 350 or 400, this is due to a lower vacuum signal in smaller cubed engines. stay with a 600 vacuum sec. carb and a manifold of your choice, no single planes for a mild set up like yours........put this cam and lifters in and you will be happy with it and will wake it up a bit, i took mine to the extreme, and am amazed as the same with my friends on the little motor, but chassis dyno video will be linked to this site in a bit. good luck with the motor and happy hotrodding.

[FMXhellraiser]

Headers and true dual exhaust. That is all. Wanna make it sound good then that is all you need. Wanna make it sound good and not boring like every other guys flowmaster on the corner? Go glasspacks, they are cheap and loud.

[Matt167]

the crappy sound you may like will make your car run like a dog. the " big " cams are designed to run in the rpm's way up high, like 4500-6500 RPM, give or take, that is just an example, not only that but the bigger cams require more compression, now your 305 has a 9.5:1 compression ratio, if you buy the cam on the end of that list in say a summit magazine ( it would be the biggest cam they offer ) it is going to require somewhere around 12:1 compression for it to run correctly and actully be efficent in the RPM's it is desighned for, shure it would run but it would have no power, specially being you probably have 3.08 gears and would turn 4500 rpm's max on the street, not to mention not enough compression for it to be efficent. on top of that, you have power brakes, and that requires vacume, big cams don't give much vacume at all, you would need a vacume canister or maby even a vacume pump just to run them. Trust me, you don't want the huge cam. with the 9.5:1 compression, you could get a decent sized cam that will gain you a little lope and it will work good, just get a cam that comes in probably no later than 2k, cause it is a daily driver.

[FMXhellraiser]

For a cam get something simple like a Edelbrock Peformer series cam. That is a basic one step bigger type of cam and will work fine. After your headers, etc if you want more power then an Edelbrock RPM intake manifold and carb would help a lot.

[firebird45331]

i agree dual exhaust with a decent pair of mufflers will make a difference in sound it's not going to make it sound much different. The difference between a H.O. 5.0 and a standard 5.0 is basically the camshaft and there's a whole lot of difference between the sound of a say 86 mustang GT and a Bronco. Both with 5.0's both with dual exhaust.

[bassnsx]

thats a lot of replies...cool. most of you seem to know what im looking for, thanks for all the info. i think if i get the slightly loped cam..whatever you call it...it shouldnt affect the gas mileage a whole lot i hope...and the headers...and exhaust...my dads 68 ford has cherry bombs on it, i like them. they were really cheap and i think they make his mostly stock motor sound pretty good. i dont think i can fit true dual exhaust under my car though without ground clearance issues. all i need now is money.

[FMXhellraiser]

Cherry bombs are nice and cheap. Good deal. Just save your money and you will be all set!

[firebird77clone]

ok.. I hear, ya, most of the other replies didn't. Probably because my favorite engine is a 305, and I build them to drive to work, not drive on the track. Also, I am probably closer to 17 than they are..

To get the lope ( lope is the word for that lumpy idle sound you want ) put in a bigger camshaft. don't go above .454 lift and you won't have any problems. I'd recomend a .454 lift intake and exhaust, with a 290 duration, intake and exhaust. I think Comp cam has that one. It is in my firebird, and I really like it. Fuel economy is good, about 18 MPG @ 80 MPH. To install the cam, you'll have to either yank the motor, else pull the radiator, and all the front metal. the cam is long, and you need some room to work it out. You'll also have to get a gasket kit, as you will be pulling the intake and timing chain cover. Would be a really good idea to replace the timing chain at least... pretty cheap and since you are in there... under $15. You can accentuate the lope by fine tuning your timing and idle speed. Something to consider... when you have it really loping ( thubba-tub -thub- thubba ) it will tend to kill out in sudden stops and such. You can compensate for that by throwing it into neutral.

Some other parts to consider, without breaking the bank..

get a performance timing gear set, and set it for your prefrence, low end torque, stock, or top end. under $50. Do it when you do the cam.

long tube headers. Will give you low end torque, fuel economy, and they sound great. under $100.

cherry bombs ( glasspacks ) will give you that awesome idle resonance, and still keep you legal, and they are cheaper than flowmasters. See if you can convince a buddy in auto shop at school to do the exhaust mods for ya.

good luck, and above all... keep it streetable.

[techinspector1]

"it will tend to kill out in sudden stops and such. You can compensate for that by throwing it into neutral."

Yeeaaahhh buddy, that'll make the car a real pleasure to drive.