Quote:
Originally Posted by Chief of the 60's
GM usually used the 305 in the stick cars. At the time, the 350 had more horse but the 305 had more torque. You couldn't get a 350 with a stick. Kind of like when you couldn't get a stick in the Olds powered T/A because the Pontiac had more torque. I'm guessing PMD was concerned about "off the line" bog complaints.
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With all due respect I believe you got this backwards. On paper the top rated 305 TPI and the 350 TPI horsepower rating difference was not nearly as great as one would think. The torque rating was where the greatest differences were. TPI was initially designed for the 305 to boost torque output with its long runner design but didn’t flow enough air to support airflow requirements of a 350. It was first used on the Corvette 350 only because GM couldn’t work out the issues with its Crossfire Fuel Injection. GM’s reasoning for not putting a 5 speed manual in 350 TPI F Bodies was they didn’t think the manual would withstand the 350’s significant increased torque rating. But we all can pretty much guess GM was protecting the Corvette from being beat by Pontiac’s lightweight Formula 350 which it pretty much did anyway until the ZR1 and the LT1 350 were introduced.