I have a no frills 78 305 sitting in my Z parts car. The engine runs like a dream, just has no power. Since it runs good, was thinking of some better flowing heads (providing the casting #'s stink), better cam, headers and intake/carb. And lowering into my Iron Duke car in the next few months or so. I have no engine building experience, so rebuilding the 305 or building a 350 is out of the question. I'm on an EXTREMELY limited budget here. I have all the time in the world to get this swap done right, since I lack in the mechanics department. After reading thread after thread about how cheaper it is to build a 350 over a 305, is it still cheaper to go the 350 route? Was hoping in the next few years for a nice 350 crate. Like I said, have a nice Z parts car with all the time in the world and know exactly what I'm in for. I have some good money in my Iron Duke car and if I sold it, $ would be lost.

Brandon

 

Its not really that the 350 is cheaper to build, but that for the same money, a 350 will make more power than a 305.

 

In a sense a 350 would be cheaper to build.

Anyway, my 305 needs all the emission compents, new carb, intake, valve covers, dipstick/tube and various gaskets. I added up about $1000 for all the above (except emissions) + headers, cam and TPI heads. Should I waste my time on this engine or order a $500 305 from Thirdgen Resource?

Brandon

 

You've got more problems than that. Your '78 parts car will not have what it takes to put a V8 into a 3rd gen that came with a 4 cyl. You'd be better off finding a 3rd gen donor car with a decent V8 in it (either 305 or 350). It will have the engine, transmission, mounts, harnesses, ECM, etc., etc., etc., that you need for an emissions-legal swap.

Trying to piece it together would be a nightmare. You might be able to get all that from 3rd Gen Resource, but if you're missing just one thing, you'll be scrambling to find it.

I hope you plan on doing the swap work yourself, at least. Finding a shop willing to do this on the clock will be hard, at best, and very, very expensive.

 

Actually, it's a 83 Z28 parts car with a 78 305. Yes...I was going to do the swap myself.

Brandon

 

What I meant is, if you put $X into a 350, and $X into a 305, the 350 will give you more power than the 305 will.