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'85 El Camino, 305->350 swap, questions

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Old 02-24-2007, 10:03 PM
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'85 El Camino, 305->350 swap, questions

Hey all,

I apologize it's not a Camaro, but I was told this would be the place to ask these questions...

I've got a friend with an '85 El Camino with a 305. Needs a new engine, told her if she's getting a new engine might as well do a 350 instead of putting a dumb 305 back in there.

Let me say I am very mechanically inclined, but my experience is with SB Fords (5.0, 351W's), and the LT1 (94-97), so I don't know much about regulare ole Chevy's...but I can turn a wrench.

I have been told that everything will swap over from this 305 to the 350, including carb, intake, exhaust, accessories & brackets etc. This is true?

I was planning on getting an Autozone engine, as she isn't looking for anything special, but I was talked out of it by multiple people including those who work there, and was reccomended to get this engine:
http://www.sdpc2000.com/catalog/130/...ate-Engine.htm

What do you think about that one?

What do I do about a balancer and the flexplate? It doesn't look like it comes with a balancer, so which do I need? Will the 305 flexplate swap right over and maintain the correct balance?


There also seems to be an abundance of vac lines and crap, what all can I elminate without effecting emissions or anything? Tons of junk.

Old 02-24-2007, 10:11 PM
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Yeehaw!

Old 02-24-2007, 10:24 PM
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Car: 83 z28
Engine: boat anchor 305 (ex CFI)
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 10 bolt
Yes, every accessory off of the 305 will fit on the 350. It should be a drop in deal. You will have to get a new balancer though, the 305 one is too small. As for the flywheel, I don't remember if you need to swap them or not.

Cheers!!

Last edited by klause83z28; 02-24-2007 at 10:28 PM.
Old 02-24-2007, 11:55 PM
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Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: LS1/LQ4
Transmission: 4L60E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
This one http://www.sdpc2000.com/catalog/120/...ate-Engine.htm is slightly better.

Everything will swap over, including the flexplate.
Old 02-25-2007, 01:22 AM
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Well the POS is out. Time to clean up the tools and all the tranny fluid in my hair. BBIAB, I'll check out that link soon!

Old 02-25-2007, 03:12 AM
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Originally Posted by five7kid
This one http://www.sdpc2000.com/catalog/120/...ate-Engine.htm is slightly better.

Everything will swap over, including the flexplate.
Agreed, looks like a better engine, but too much for these purposes it looks like...

$1749 + tax ($144.29) I assume being in Texas + shipping ($135) comes out to $2028, she wanted to try and do the whole thing for under $2K (which would be easy to do w/ the Autzone engine ,but it turns out it's a crap engine.

The other engine is $1439 + tax ($118) + $100 core + shipping ($135) = $1792. Woops, I told her she could get an engine for about $1100. My bad.
Old 02-25-2007, 08:08 AM
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Car: 1989 camaro rs
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: 700r
she can get a good working used engine , looking for an lb9 out of a camaro , there out there =)
Old 02-26-2007, 06:54 PM
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I ordered that first engine that was $1459, should be here on Wednesday. Can't figure out what to do about exhaust. Want to run some long-tube headers, but duals won't clear the stock crossmember.

Also want to see what I can eliminate as far as emissions crap that doesn't need to be there that will still allow the engine to pass if it needs to.
Old 02-26-2007, 10:12 PM
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Car: 1987 IROC-Z Camaro
Engine: 5.7 350 TPI - SLP Runners, AFPR, MSD Goodies
Transmission: 700R4 - Shift Kit, Corvette Servo
Axle/Gears: BW 9 bolt, 3.27s
I built a 406 for 2500 bucks.
150 bucks for junkyard 400
machine work 450 bucks
cast rebuild kit using stock rods, 30thou over 400 bucks
250 for 9.5:1 compression pistons
Dart Iron eagle heads 600
Speedpro cam 214/225 .443/.465 11lsa 120 bucks
harlan sharp rr's 1.6 200
Edel victor jr intake
holley 650dp off a 68' 350 z28 150 off ebay w/rebuild kit
holley air cleaner 30 bucks
flowtech headers 150
exhaust shop custom y pipe 150
3in mandrel bent exhaust 280

Runs deep 12's with a 3200 stall, 700r4 and 4.11's, runs high 12's with 3.23s

I want to get me a G body. I spotted a 78' Mailbu for sale locally. 2 door, original paint, old lady car. Perfect to cut up and race.

Last edited by 87TPI350KID; 02-26-2007 at 10:14 PM. Reason: g body
Old 02-26-2007, 11:38 PM
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Car: 83 z28
Engine: boat anchor 305 (ex CFI)
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 10 bolt
Originally Posted by Dave88LX
Can't figure out what to do about exhaust. Want to run some long-tube headers, but duals won't clear the stock crossmember.

That's ok, nothing a torch and mig welder can't handle. My brother and I did that for his monte, and created a double hump crossmember for nothing more than the price of the electricity. If I can remember, I will snag a pic and send it to you. It's not pretty, but it's reinforced, double hump, and cheap. The long tubes we used were hedman 68290. I would have gotten the ones specificly for the G body, but, they only have sh!tty 1 1/2 primaries and the ones he has now are the normal 1 5/8.


cheers!!!
Old 02-27-2007, 12:06 PM
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Awesome. I have access to a friend that can weld for me, and we have a plasma torch too. If you could find a pic that would be awesome!
Old 03-01-2007, 12:00 PM
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