i have finally saved up a bit of dough and ready to trash my oil buring LG4 305 for a 350. Now i am looking at just getting one from a wrecker for pretty cheap. they uasually give a 90 day warrenty so it should be alright. Now say i grab a 350, outa some truck or something from the early 80's. what type of horsepower should i generally see? i mean i know some of the older 350's only put out like 180HP, which isn't too off from my 305. everyone says to pop in a 350, but allot of the older carburated ones that i would be looking at, probably aren't much over 200HP right? i guess torque would increase quite a bit though, that just common sense almost.. any feedback related to this would be great. pretty much what i should look for in a 350 from a wrecker..
BTW- i want to keep the old 4 barrel carb goin..

 

I would try and obtain a 87-95 truck engine. Roller provisions and they make 210hp straight up.

 

thats a good idea, and was actually thinking about that. only probably is how easy or what kind of difficuties would i run into when i change my current car, which is a carb, to a fuel injection motor? i guess when you say get that kind of engine from the wrecker, all the computer stuff should be on the engine still.. but is there any other factors i should take into account? or is it pretty straight up if the computer stuff is still with the engine..

 

In your situation, I'd recommend getting the older block. The main reason is the rear main on the crank. You'll have to change the flywheel/flexplate for the newer style crank. If you kept the newr heads, you'd either need a new intake manifold, or have to modify yours to work.

Then there's the roller cam. If you want a roller cam, then buy a kit for the older blocks. They're MUCH stronger and consistant than that paper thin retainer that GM used.

There are advantages to the newer blocks though. Less leaks from the rear main seal, and from the valve cover gaskets. But that's it. They're not any stronger, lighter, faster, or prettier than the 2 pc. rear main seal blocks, or the older heads.

AJ

 

so if i was just going to replace my chev 305 with a chev 350, and stay with the carb setup, that would be farly simple right? just going from carb to carb.. is there any little things i should watch out for? or is it mearly take out drop in situation..?
thanks boys

 

i just bought an 82 z28 that had the swap done..it has a performer intake, but still the qjet carb on it, fireball cam, headers to stock exhaust.. i just had it dyno'd at 184 rwhp...but it was running EXTREMELY lean at peak hp...i think with just a better tuned carb and 3" exhaust, i should get over 200 rwhp easily... i have another complete 350 that i am going to have the heads ported on have the intake ported as well, and hope to see another couple horses out of that.

and dont forget the juice, its an easy add-on and the 350 is a strong enough block to handle it (although, buying a used one without rebuilding, you may think against that).

Andy in AZ

 

good call