What's the going price on a good 305 engine these days ?

[PeteJr]

Replacing my old 305 (1983 GMC)
Anyone know about what I can get for it as a good running engine?
The 305 sprint car class is pretty popular now around here.

 

[Strick]

They are not highly sought after. I've read in several forums here where the members are not fond of them. I have had great service from the few 305's that I've owned. I just posted last week in one of these forums where I'd purchased a piece of an old farm truck that had a runner in it. I'm now putting that 305 in a '79 C10. We'll see how it goes. It's a Goodwrench 305 replacement from sometime back. If the dirt trackers are running those in your area you may be able to get a few Franklins for it.

Strickland

 

[CheemsK1500]

I sent a rusted out suburban that I robbed a transmission and body panels from to the scrap yard three years ago. It still had a running 305 in it when I sent it off. I tried giving it away, but no one wanted it except for the meth-billys that only wanted it for the $20 in drug money they would get at metal recycling center.

 

[SquareRoot]

305 you say?

 

[CheemsK1500]

It's fun to pick on the 305, but it still serves its purpose and is reliable as any other Chevy small block. Just don't expect to win too many drag races or tow a massive trailer at a decent speed.

 

[Vbb199]

Duplicate

 

[Vbb199]

They are not highly sought after. I've read in several forums here where the members are not fond of them. I have had great service from the few 305's that I've owned. I just posted last week in one of these forums where I'd purchased a piece of an old farm truck that had a runner in it. I'm now putting that 305 in a '79 C10. We'll see how it goes. It's a Goodwrench 305 replacement from sometime back. If the dirt trackers are running those in your area you may be able to get a few Franklins for it.

Strickland

79 c10 you say?



305?

 

[SirRobyn0]

It's fun to pick on the 305, but it still serves its purpose and is reliable as any other Chevy small block. Just don't expect to win too many drag races or tow a massive trailer at a decent speed.

Ya, I pretty much agree with this. I've owned both 350's and now for the last 5 years a 305. The 305 is a perfectly capable motor, and can be every bit as reliable as a 350. I think for me the biggest thing is it seems to be more finicky about timing and stuff like that. With that said if my truck needed a new motor I'd be likely to put a rebuilt 350 in it, but if I was tight on cash and someone had an add out for a good running 305 and could prove it was a decent motor, then yea sure I'd go for it. @PeteJr you might just have to start an ad higher than you think it's worth and drop the price down until someone bites.

 

[Strick]

79 c10 you say?

It's actually a Big 10 454 truck that I bought earlier in the year. It ran great with a new fuel pump, filter, hoses and fuel. Unfortunately the good gas ran out and the old gas seized the pushrods and caused me to rebuild the engine. The 454 is going in my dad's old '79 C20 Crew now.

Strickland

 

[rpcraft]

There is no such thing really as a good 305. All jokes aside, I would imagine most anyone listing one somewhere is doing so because it was replaced, and chances are that means it is tired, or not functioning to their liking. LS swap guys are going to probably be doing so because its worn, same for someone moving on to a 350 or big block. I would not seek out a 305 without the plan to rebuild to some degree and frankly at that point, find a 350 and put vortec heads on it. You will get way more motor than a 5.0 will ever be. It just makes sense unless someone says hey here take this for free, and it happens to be a 305. Then it might be worth it, but probably not entirely.

 

[CheemsK1500]

I like to tell Ford guys that I my GMC has a 5.0 in it too. I'm technically not lying...

I think what kills the desirability of a 305 is the availability of 350 SBCs, 5.7 Vortecs and various LS options. There is just too many other relatively inexpensive engines in circulation for most people to consider getting another or switching to a 305.

 

[Grit dog]

Replacing my old 305 (1983 GMC)
Anyone know about what I can get for it as a good running engine?
The 305 sprint car class is pretty popular now around here.

Idk about sprint car classes, but that motor is worth about 3x as much if you sell it "prior" to removing it. IMO.
IE if you can be ready to yank it out and sell it with the ability to start and drive it first, that's 1000% better than "it ran when I pulled it."

 

[TotalyHucked]

Even hearing it run before it's pulled and it being 150% healthy, I wouldn't give more than about $500 for one. And that's full dressed/carb/accessories/everything. Most 305s around here go for about $1-200.

 

[Grit dog]

The local market can affect it as well. Not too long ago someone from Cali basically couldn’t find a decent price small block (used) to dump into his square. Around here, there’s 10 of them on CL every day.

The other thing, aside from being the lowest power example of a small block making it less attractive whether in reality or simply bragging rights, is “most “ folks that are wanting or needing a small block are not just trying to keep a 30-50 year old beater car or truck on the road for cheap, since most of the “beaters” are now newer than that. So the market is limited for an old A to B engine. Unless it has some power, is pretty, or both.

 

[PeteJr]

Good info folks. I appreciate the feedback.

I know it's not the "desirable" engine, but for what they were intended, they did pretty good.
During that period of time, everyone was anal about pollution so they loaded up the engines with as much crap as possible.

Gonna check with my sprint car guys. As long as the block is fine (which it was the last 5 years I drove the truck) they'll rebuild it anyway.

Thanks everyone..........