LE9 305 w ESC Performance upgrades '86 k5 Blazer

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mcarlo86

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Location
ND
First Name
Brian
Truck Year
1990
Truck Model
Suburban
Engine Size
350
The restrictions in a 305 are it's awful bore size coupled with it's diminutive size with low compression, and you severely need compression @ 7,000'.
Not the heads which are normally just fine to boost compression on a 350, (unless you have the worst versions).
The cam is sometimes smaller than a 350 cam specs, but not always, and the 305 needs a very small cam to help to not lose compression - especially in a truck! But a BETTER cam always helps, Isky and Comp both make some very good tiny cams ( most truck 350's need these also).(A cam is down the list about 4th)
Add a K&N air filter to your stock airbox, but it will be expensive

Long tube headers always bring extra power and a mileage boost if you free up the remainder of the exhaust. A higher flowing single pipe system can be better than duals when done correctly with a hi-flow Y-pipe and low restriction muffler, (A mandrel bent 2.5" system). This would be priority one!

Set a new stock 350 installed with better exhaust and you'd likely gain mileage and definitely feel like double the power. And I'd use new/good 305 heads on that 350, 1.84 valves and all!!
Actually the ESC 305's had a pretty high compression ratio of around 9.5:1 or something in that neighborhood. They could do that and still run low octane pump gas because the ESC would retard the timing when it sensed spark knock/pinging.
 

Ricko1966

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kansas
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Rick
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
c20
Engine Size
350
They had high compression,decent heads,a 4 barrel and a 929 cam,there's not much you can do to them,on a budget to make any real difference. You can make them substantially worse by messing with them.
 

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