Chevrolet 305-cubic inch V8Another relatively rare find under the hood of some lower-model 1979 Pontiac Firebirds is the 305-cubic inch V8 from Chevrolet. Chevrolet produced the LG3 version of its 305 from 1976 to 1980, and while it served as the power plant for late 1970s Chevy Camaros and Novas, it was occasionally called into duty for the Pontiac Firebird.In its most potent form, the Chevrolet 305 LG3 could produce up to 160 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque. However, the LG3 found in a 1979 Pontiac Firebird had a two-barrel carburetor and a low-octane-friendly 8.5:1 compression ratio good for only 145 horsepower.The following year saw the introduction of the four-barrel carburetor LG4 that bumped horsepower to a maximum of 170 with the same torque rating of 250 lb-ft that would remain in service until 1987. The highest output from a Chevy 305 comes from the L69 variant. The L69 305 delivers up to 190 horsepower and 240 ft-lb of torque thanks primarily to the higher 9.5:1 compression ratio.