well i dont post much but i would like all of your input on this. i have a 1984 trans am with a stock 305 h.o. 4 barrel carb. with the cowl induction system. i blew the radiator when i first got it but i have since replace the radiator water pump timing chain and sprockets and ignition mod. the motor has 124000 miles on it now i was wondering should i rebuild the motor or replace it im not looking to race this thing just daily driver and cruising around town. i just want it stock. i dont have much experience or cash so i will be doing this a little at a time. i just want yalls thoughts on this.

thanks in advance
phil
84 t/a
305 ho carb.
700r4 tranny
t tops

 

If you want to go stock and do not want to be bothered with details go with a GM goodwrench crate engine. The swap should be fairly strait foward since you are not doing any mods.

 

Other than the cooling problems which you've fixed, what's wrong with it? Simply having 124k miles on it doesn't define needing a rebuild (that's what mine had on it 4 years ago).

The L69 was a decent performer for a street car. Put in a Goodwrench 350, and your performance increase would be somewhere in the neighborhood of "zero".

You need to define what you're trying to fix before you start spending money.

 

Just leave it the way it is. 124k isn't all that much for an SBC (there are ppl with 300k+).Just take care of it and don't beat it to death an it will be fine for a lot longer.

 

How well does the motor actually run? I've seen sbc's dead at very low miles (like mine when I got it) because they weren't taken care of, and some that have lasted well over 300k miles.

If it already runs good and has good compression (minimum 120psi) then I see no reason to rebuild it. It may be a good idea to have the carb rebuilt, but not the whole engine.

I still don't really understand what the question was though...

 

well the main thing thats wrong with my 84 is the tranny needs rebuilt 2 and 3 gear feels like i driving through mud until i get to about 45 mph then it acts normal except it surges not bad but it does. as far as the motor i changed the fuel pump last year. i have a lot of things that are disconnected when i got it. the two sensors on the thermostat housing are broke. the fan relay has been rigged to run all the time. and the carb need to be rebuilt or replaced cause i have to pump it alot before i can start it someone told me that the automatic choke is messed up and the only engine error codes it has are that the o2 sensor is running rich. i have a new o2 sensor but i havent changed it cause i worried that ill break the thread in the housing. ive heard that happens sometimes with the o2 sensor. my original question was should i rebuild the 305 or replace it but i didnt want any mods i just wanted it stock. i have no need for all that speed the stock speed is good for me.

thanks
phil