American84K5
1/2 ton status
check the suspension make sure its all tight...rust is always fun but common with 17+ trucks...
CK5
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Is the 305 Motor decent?
- Thread starter Eric W
- Start date
gravdigr
1/2 ton status
A 305 isn't a bad motor, but there's no replacement for displacement. I bought a 86 K5 last year. I live in the rust belt so you can guess the body condition. It was on 33s and had a 305 in it with 128k miles and a bent frame, I paid $800 for it as a decent K5 4x4 is so hard to find here. I also had to dump $400 into parts for emissions. I dunno what the gears are but it's a dog. I will say that the motor does run strong (no knocks, pinging, tapping, and it doesn't leak oil 
)and with taller gears (4.10) I'm sure it would be suficient. I have a 350 crate motor with under 10k miles sitting that I can put in. But this motor runs so well I hate to pull it. Even when it's 10 degrees outside I pump the gas once touch the key and it fires right up. It's just not a super powerful motor.
So really just run it and if you just can't tolerate the lack of power swap in a 350.
)and with taller gears (4.10) I'm sure it would be suficient. I have a 350 crate motor with under 10k miles sitting that I can put in. But this motor runs so well I hate to pull it. Even when it's 10 degrees outside I pump the gas once touch the key and it fires right up. It's just not a super powerful motor.So really just run it and if you just can't tolerate the lack of power swap in a 350.
beater_k20
Banned
for those of you looking to replace your 305 for more power, i think you're looking in the wrong place. regear it, a 305 has more than enough power to push a fullsize Chevy truck. for mud, more power would be good. but for a daily driver, or a trail rig, it should be more than adequate. 1/2 ton trucks are severly undergeared anyways. many of them came with a 700R4 and 2.73 gears, and in order to put the 700R4 where it is most likely to survive, you would need a 21" tire. 3.08s, which are also common would require a 23.5" tire. regearing will also likely increase your fuel milage as well, as the engine will be straining less to get the truck moving and maintaining speed.
84_Chevy_K10
Banned
I concur. A set of 4.56s goes a long way with a 305. They do have enough power to crawl and climb if geared correctly. If I had a 305 that ran ok I probably wouldn't remove it.
my 1984 came with a 305 that was taken out of an 87. all they did was take the
old carb and intake off the old 305 and install on the 87 305.
i have been driving it for amost 3 years with a lift and 35's , up and down
the highway. i have put almost 50,000 trouble free miles on it. and i can cruise
down the highway at what ever speed i want , and my gears are 3.73's.
she is no racer , but have no complaints either.
i do have a 350 in the rebuild works to install one day, but i am in no hurry.
old carb and intake off the old 305 and install on the 87 305.
i have been driving it for amost 3 years with a lift and 35's , up and down
the highway. i have put almost 50,000 trouble free miles on it. and i can cruise
down the highway at what ever speed i want , and my gears are 3.73's.
she is no racer , but have no complaints either.
i do have a 350 in the rebuild works to install one day, but i am in no hurry.
Ledzoso
Registered Member
Sounds like a really good deal to me.Don't worry about what the truck run's in the quater mile. Its not a race truck. and $1000 with that many miles? If you don't want it, look me up...I will buy it.
