i found one of each and am wondering if those with experience with either could give your opinion on which one i should get

 

Is the 305 a tpi?

 

No carburated but the 350 is tpi

 

No brainer. Go 350 then. If it was a tpi 305 you would have a tougher decision to make

 

I'd take the 5-spd car.

Easier to change a 305 into a 350, than an auto car into a stick.

Matter of opinion though; you'll get plenty of valid points either way.

 

it depends on wether you want a TPI car or a carbed car, carbed has no limitations on building an engine, TPI does have limitations, if you just want a daily driver, then I would go TPI

 

Although the 350TPI sounds great to me, so does the 5speed!! They both have ups and downs. But as others have said if going to make a DD out of it go with the TPI, if going to street rod it go with the 5 speed. Although the tpi isnt a bad starting area either......... LOL it can go either way!!

 

Man, tough decision. In that case, an auto to manual swap may be easier to do. If you are going to stick w/ a carbed engine though, i may lean toward the 305. If you prefer TPI, it would be easier to swap a manual in than it would be to convert from carb to TPI. I guess it would also depend on the year of each car, miles, body condition, engine/trans condition of each, etc. I'd compare everything about the two, not just the engine/trans combo and decide. You dont wanna buy one w/ the driveline you like, but have to do a ton of body work or something like that.

 

Are the cars in similar cosmetic condition?
Engine and trans work is easy. Replacing/fixing worn out paint, trim and interior plastic parts is a PITA and not usually cheap.

Are you going to drive the car as-is?
If so, I think it's a toss up.

Will you ever want more power in either of them?
If so, then the carbed car is the hands down winner. You can put a much stouter long block underneath the carb and it will handle it. Not so with the TPI.

 

Get the nicer car.

I'd be leary of an LG4 car... it may be a 5 speed and thats cool but the LG4 is truly awful. Uprading that to something better will mean the 5 speed has to go too. Meh.

Im all about 305 TPI 5 speed cars... but LG4 cars are snore inducers for me. You can put a stealth ram or something under all the TPI parts if you really wanted, not that big of a deal. Just a matter of tuning it.

 

So i think i will go with the 350 tpi and swap in a t56 later on thanks everyone

 

Hold on a minute. If you're gonna swap to a T56 I'd go with the 5 speed car every time.

 

it wouldn't be worth changing to a t56 for a 305 tbi. he would have to change the engine TOO to make it worth it. he's a lot closer to where he wants to be with the 350 tPI, and then an eventual auto to manual swap