Ok so the previous owner had a combo of edelbrock 1406 carb a msd coil and the stock computer controlled distributor. After doing some reading I see this is a bad idea because once you get rid of the computer controlled carb you need to get rid of computer controlled distributor to have proper controlled timing and better mpg. And I see the common suggestion is to get a vacuum hei distributor . The car was running before but I'm assuming was under performing given what I seen in the forums. So my questions are 1) what brand/ model distributor does anyone suggest to go with the current set up. And 2) am I going to need a torque converter lock up switch after I make this move. It's the original 305 engine and 700r4 trans but I'm unsure of what upgrades if any may have been done to them.

 

Any GM HEI vacuum advance distributor will suffice. Also, you will need to get a Torque converter lockup kit, TCI sells them and you can find them on Summit racing's web site. If you don't get one you'll burn up your transmission.

Pretty sure yours was a factory TBI set up and it probably stopped working for some reason and so they just took it off. You might be better served to find a working TBI unit and intake and put it back on.

 

Ok I'll probably end up getting the kit. What about when I swap to a carbed 350 . The block I'm building wouldn't have been hooked up to the ECM at all ether would this have lead to the same problem? Basically would I still have had to get and install the lock up kit.

 

The ECm doesn't care about the block, it only cares about the Distributor, carb/tbi/TPi unit, o2 sensor and knock sensor.

Once you disconnect the ECM, you must go with a vacuum dizzy, carb and lockup kit.

When I did my engine swap, I changed heads and intake to go with my new 350, but left my Factory Qjet in place along with all the other electronics. The only thing I had to change was the Knock sensor to a 350 sensor from the 305.

 

To get the transmission to shift properly, you also need a geometry corrector bracket for the throttle valve cable that bolts to the carb throttle arm.

 

is that in conjunction with the lock up kit? im doing the same thing

 

Yea a lot of people suggest the lock up kit. When u get rid or the use of the ECM it's not going to tell the tranny to lock up in 4th gear overdrive I believe. If u google do I need a lock up kit for my 700r4 ull c lots of different opinions on this. Basically if it's not locking up your revving a lil bit higher when you would be in 4th gear (mostly higway) over revving is then burning up the tranny fluid which then decreases the life of the fluid and possibly the transmission it's self. Where u see the difference in opinions is how much it's actually doing this. But all said monster transmission sells a lock up kit for the 700r4 that's all external and not that hard to put on

 

I wouldnt trust anything they sell.


There is a sticky on here that is very simple to follow that works great on how to wire your own lockup circuit. Simple and effective.

And not having a working lockup will not burn up the transmission. It will only help it run alittle cooler and about 100 rpm lower. Which will help your transmission last longer.