I have a couple of dead cyls in my 305, so it looks like either a rebuild or a replace, so might as well get a 350. Being on a very low-buck budget, I was thinking of a remanned 350 LB. My biggest problem is that I dont have the facilities to build up the 350 prior to install or for the actual swap.
Which brings up my 3rd option... selling the car. Its an 86 IROC, t-tops, with a good ext but only a fair int. I really love the car, but it is becoming a money pit. Could it be reasonably justified investing another 1500-2000 in it? If I let my emotions dictate that answer it would be yes, but at what point does it become counter-productive?
Any suggestions? TIA
James

 

The ~240 HP GM Goodwrench 350 is about $1400 (may be able to find it for less, but with shipping & taxes, you'll pay at least that much). Install would probably be in the $400-$500 range by a dealer. There are a couple of minor issue to consider (flexplate, for instance), but it's fairly straight-forward.

If you sold your car as-is for $1000, together with the $2000 for the 350 & install, you could buy a $3000 car. The question you have to ask yourself is, "Can I buy a car as good as mine would be with the new engine for $3000?" That's the "head" question.

Then, if you've got the nerve, try to answer this question: "Would I be able to buy a car for $3000 that I would like as much as my current car with a 350 in it?" That's the "heart" question.

It becomes counter-productive when you mess up your tranny with the 350's power and have to spend another $1200 to fix it... JK, that's not likely unless your tranny is on its last leg now, anyway.

 

Where would one go to buy a Long Block 350 w/ Vortec heads and Vortec TBI manifold and Smog friendly for a good price?

....by the way, I was quoted $700 for an engine swap by a local mechanic. And another thing to remember is that a GM performance motor will usually come with a 50K mile warrenty regardless if a dealer or local shop installs it.

 

Around here (San Francisco Bay Area) engine installs run over $1000.
That's one of the reasons I do everything myself.
-Rich-