305 OR 350?

[83MALIBU]

I AM GETTING READY TO BUILD ANOTHER S10 FOR A DAILY DRIVER. IT IS GOING TO HAVE A TURBO350 TRANS WITH A LOCKUP, FOR BETTER MILEAGE. I WAS LOOKING AT PUTTING A 305 IN IT , BUT HAVE\'NT DECIDED YET. DOES THE 305 HAVE BETTER FUEL ECONOMY WITH THIS TRANS SETUP? WILL I HAVE COOLING PROBLEMS WTIH THE 350 ? I AM ALSO RUNNING AC AND POWER STEERING. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRICIATED.

[IceQueen]

you want fuel millage your really gonna need to go with an overdrive trans... but yeah a 305 will give you a bit more fuel millage and a lot less HP.. so its a questionable act.

[Mike]

Fuel mileage will be nearly the same either way, the transmission is where you need to consider an option. Like she said, overdrive will help. I had a 305 in my s10 for awhile, switched to a 350 and didn\'t have anything changes temp wise, I am using the Corvette radiator sold here.

[wild85]

I have a 86 carbed 305 in my truck with 3:73 gears and I regret not putting a 350 in in the first place because right now although it is freezing here I am getting 13 mpg with an overdrive transmission. I am going to be swapping a gm 350 Ho crate engine in once my truck is fully detailed which I should have done to start. If you want gas mileage stay with a 4.3, it has similar performance to a 305, but if you want power, go with the 350 and overdrive transmission.

[4more]

the best way to save gas is have a light foot and dont work the engine to hard i have seen a lot of 1 ton trucks get better milage with a bigger engine because they dont have to work so hard to pull there load ect good luck

[83MALIBU]

THANKS FOR ALL OF THE INFO. EITHER ENGINE WILL HAVE TO BE BETTER THAN THE 2.8 I HAVE NOW.

[IceQueen]

well unfortunatly gas powered v8\'s need more gas to run you want fuel efficency drop a diesel in your truck a 6.5 it is a v8 still but there gas millage is way better. or go with a natural gas setup with your gasoline v8.