327 SB OK ...350 SB ...OK....427...OK

305...BEST USED TO HOLD YOUR BOAT STILL IN THE WATER WHILE YOU FISH..........OR YOUR LOCAL SCRAP YARD

My arguement is not that a 4"/+ bore couldnt make power. Yours was that sub 4" bores prevented an engine from making power. Would I build a 3.88 bore Pontiac 350 over a 350 chevy with the 4" bore today? You bet I would because I know they can make power regardless of its small bore.

"Oh but a 420hp 350 is a big deal?!"

No, I don't think it is. 

Based on my trap speeds, I'm guessing the 350 in my Chevelle is close to 600hp at the crank.  I don't think that's a big deal either. 

IMO, when you begin to push over 2hp/ci then it starts to get interesting.

My only point has been... why invest $cratch in a 305 when you'd get a bigger bang for the same amount of money if used on a mill with a larger bore. 

I have no issue with that arguement when your using $/HP logic as long as you dont have an engine to start with.

Yea, go tell that to the 16 year old who is knocking off other kids on the block with his 305 because thats all he had to work with.

Cmon JC, HP/$ at a low is 30$-40$ per gain over stock these days. Out of the box heads some are better some are worse, 30HP increase easy $900 complete. Granted we can move down to a vortec head, lets just say $20/hp and figure that into your double HP which would come out to 700hp which comes out to 550hp over stock and that costs $11,000 at a cheap price of $20/HP. What 16 year old is going to have that kind of cash lying around? Can you build a 700HP small block for $20/HP and keep it together?

"Yours was that sub 4" bores prevented an engine from making power."

LOL.  Finally, you're correct about something. 

Without a 4" bore, one's cylinder head options are very limited on the small Chevy.  Small valve heads don't allow for the small-block to reach its potential. 

All performance heads have at minimum 2.02/1.60" valves.  On a core of less than 4" the only way to use these types of heads is to either notch the cylinder walls or run a low lift bumpstick.

Really... bone up on the sbc then we can have a productive, intelligent discussion. 

Oh my gosh, you have to notch a bore. Boy, thats real hard!

Here is your nearly 2HP/CID with a sub 4" bore. Take the blinders off.

http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles/672hp_pontiac_350s/

I thought we were discussing small Chevys?? 

LOL.  Have you ever notched a cylinder wall?  Ever heard of the "unshrouding the valves?"

C ya.

An engine does not know what brand it is.

Yes I have and it is not rocket science.

In the world of small Chevys... anything less than 4" is inferior.  You're trying to make wine from water - and looking a little foolish Sparky.   

i cant see the real relevance of the pontiac 350. yes it has the small bore BUT it also has an extra 45 CUIN over the 305 so i think it becomes a mute point in this discussion/arguement  heres my take:yes the 305 can make respectable power BUT  the 350 will make more power easier since it is simply a larger more efficent air pump with more aftermarket choices.   have fun

I may sound like a fool but you just showed your hand, the bore on a LS1 Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeevy 350 is 3.90 inches. My friend races SCCA and he certainly isnt shaking in his boots from Gen1,2 style 350s.

The Pontiac 350 has a very similar bore stroke ratio as the 305. On the LS1, it has the same exact bore stroke ratio as the 305. That is how they are relevant.

like i said earlier it may be the same bore but they have an advantage of cubic inches which can not be ignored

Good find, that proves that the bore can hold...though that is STILL bigger than a 305's bore.  The only problem relating that to a 305 is cylinder head choice.  Gen III cylinder heads are head and shoulders above any 305 head that is available.  Its also above most typical 350 heads.  

But I'm still curious as to how any of my mods were big bore specific?  You still haven't told me that.