another 305 to 350 - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

1A Dan · 05-30-2009, 08:44 PM

Its taking longer to get started then I hoped, but things are now starting to move along. As I had posted a few weeks back, I got myself an 87 TA that was in need of a new motor. When you work with car guys, that's a pretty easy problem to solve. While the process has really just begun, I thought I'd take some notes along the way.

The engine is a relatively stock carbed 350 out of a 72-74 Corvette. Since this is supposed to be a temporary setup (dreams of a newer 5.3 or 6.0 have been dancing through my head, planning to take place next summer), I'm only planning on changing out some gaskets and giving it a fresh spray of paint. The motor has been rebuilt once and did run when it was pulled from its previous home, so just keeping it simple.

The car's currently a computer controlled carb setup and most likely staying as such. I may decide to take it back a bit more to the basics and ditch the computer (got a distributor and qjet with the motor), but would have to deal with the 700r4 lockup issue. Emissions are not much of an issue around here since they only do a safety inspection on cars built in 1995 and older. No question that I'll at least have a cat; everything else is up in the air.

Since I don't have much progress done on the project, why not just throw up some pics?

more to come over the next couple weeks. promise. oh, and always up for suggestions, input, and feedback.

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five7kid · 06-01-2009, 04:57 PM

The computer q-jet is the perfect system for that mild 350. You'll either need a different intake, or modify the center two mount bolt holes on each side of the intake, but otherwise it doesn't make any sense to spend money on a different carb and distributor.

What did you have planned for the exhaust? Headers, cat back?

1A Dan · 06-01-2009, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by five7kid

The computer q-jet is the perfect system for that mild 350. You'll either need a different intake, or modify the center two mount bolt holes on each side of the intake, but otherwise it doesn't make any sense to spend money on a different carb and distributor.

What did you have planned for the exhaust? Headers, cat back?

The intake is where I'm scratching my head right now. The motor came with a basic performer on it, but no egr. if I use that one, I'm gonna have a check engine light on. Or I can use the stock piece with a bit of work. We'll see over the next couple weeks which way I go

the motor came with a distributor and a qjet to begin with, so i have a spare non-cc setup in worst case scenario.

exhaust work will be relatively minimal. Staying stock to the cat, will upgrade to a 3" catback in the near future. not feeling like dropping any money that can't be used on the next motor swap. would like to get a new rear for the car, not much of a drum brake fan....

1A Dan · 06-13-2009, 04:30 PM

just a little update. cleaned up the driver side head (gunk, etc), installed new head gasket (nothing wrong with original, but cheap insurance), bolted down and painted up. Should be done with the other side tomorrow. Really taking my time with this only because its not my daily driver, but looking forward to hopefully doing the engine swap within the next 3-4 weeks.

big fan of understated engine colors, so just hit the block and heads with a cast paint while the valve covers, timing cover, and oil pan will get a flat black. I like un-assuming

1A Dan · 08-15-2009, 05:25 PM

long over due update. Still doing work little by little, getting closer to the finish line. here's what she looks like now. just waiting for the oil filter adapter to arrive (who takes this off? really?) so I can prime everything and then set the valve lash cold. Since its been sitting so long, I'm being extra cautious about rotating the crank.

kkingsrulee · 08-15-2009, 09:47 PM

I really like the block, heads, and lifter valley. But not the valve covers so much. The gray just doesn't look that good to me.

1A Dan · 08-15-2009, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kkingsrulee

I really like the block, heads, and lifter valley. But not the valve covers so much. The gray just doesn't look that good to me.

Thanks for the input. The valve covers, timing cover, and oil pan are "supposed" to be flat black, but apparently the rattle can is a little off. I'm just not a fan of chrome and would rather the engine kinda seems like part of the car instead of something under the hood shouting "look at me". I do have some of the black krinkle paint, may try that on some pieces.

Stephen 87 IROC · 08-15-2009, 11:07 PM

Fancy engine colors are only for an engine that you can actually see. The intake and heads on my engine are aluminum so they're not painted. I have a front motor plate and large tube headers so there's very little of the block that can be actually seen so I painted it semi-gloss black.

The lifter valley and behind the timing chain cover was painted with gloss white. 3 coats of Tremclad rust paint and painted with a 1" foam brush. It seals the metal and aids in returning the oil back into the pan faster.

There's very little chrome under my hood.

1A Dan · 08-16-2009, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen 87 IROC

Fancy engine colors are only for an engine that you can actually see. The intake and heads on my engine are aluminum so they're not painted. I have a front motor plate and large tube headers so there's very little of the block that can be actually seen so I painted it semi-gloss black.

The lifter valley and behind the timing chain cover was painted with gloss white. 3 coats of Tremclad rust paint and painted with a 1" foam brush. It seals the metal and aids in returning the oil back into the pan faster.

There's very little chrome under my hood.

i have heard of people painting the valley for better oil travel. definitely interesting, but makes a lot of sense (smoother surface, easier to glide across)

1A Dan · 09-07-2009, 07:10 PM

looks like I'll be abandoning this project......

new things to come....