305 cam selection etc.
 

Hi

I am rebuilding my 305 marine engine. I have 416 heads (that I will pocket port) and valve relief pistons. The CR is approx 9.2. I have stainless marine exhaust and a weiand 8004 intake.

I wonder which cam I should choose for this engine. I have thought about comp cams xm256h...

I want as much power as I can get from the old 305 (I live in Norway, so 350's are rather expensive, so for the moment I will stick with the 305). This is an inboard/outboard installation with a VP outdrive. This outdrive has cone shift, so I will not mess up my lower unit if I have to have a bit higher idle speed.

Another thing: is the 8004 intake any good in my app, or should I get another one?

Thanks,
Stian

Anyone that can help me out there? Would appreciate it :)

i hate to say it but you are not gonna ever be happy with a 305 in my opinion you will never be happy with it. i have tried 305s in cars and theyjust dont have the power. a 350 would be a good solution but a 350 with a 383 kit would not cost too much and build a ton of power. like i said its my opinion

Ditto, 383 stroker. All of your accessories should work. If you are going with aftermaket cam you will need new exhaust to avoid reversion.

thin he has stainless exhust right? and that intake will help also. i think a budget 383 would not cost too much

Yes, if I lived in the states a 383 would be what I would have gone for. Here it is far between 350 blocks, and the import taxes are very high (I think it is like $20 per horse, plus 25% sales tax....) plus the fright from the states cost almost as much as the engine, so I am going to run the 305, at least this season. Just so you can get a picture, a new standard mercruiser cost about $40-50K here.

I hope that I will be able to get hold of a decent used 350 block and stroke it before next season.

Anyways I am stuck with the 305 for now, and I want to do the best out of it.

Gotta love socialism. Government "needs" to keep you in line for your own good.

Depending on the year, you could probably upgrade to a roller for fairly cheap. I have a XE264HR sitting around that I would like to get rid of. Same duration at 050 as the one you mentioned. It is ground on a 110, but at that duration reversion shouldn't be an issue.

Obama's vision for America

It is a 2 pc. block, so I guess I need a lot of stuff to upgrade it to a roller. Do you just have the cam, or the whole retrofit package?

I just have the cam, but it is for an 87 and up OEM roller block. You do not have the provision for the cam retainer and I don't know what would be involved in making it work in an older block.

you can convert a older block to a roller if you can get that spider retainer piece and weld a few bolts into the lifter valley then find some roller lifters from a gm 3.1? i did this a few years back for next to nothing using salvage yard parts. the small block lifters will not work because of the height of the lifter inside of the lifter guide for it is not correct.