Finally found a guy who will do an engine swap for me, and another guy in a big boneyard who will keep an eye out for a 350 to replace my L03.

My preference is to keep everything as close as possible to what I have now, meaning rather not go with headers, nor mess with any internals, nor screw around with a carb. I suppose TPI would be OK, but from reading the boards, I'm leery of what work would need to be done.

My L03 runs fine, but I want more power. I don't have the time nor the shop nor the tools to build the 305 into what I want it to be.

I want to buy the engine, have as many external parts swapped over from the old one as I can, and have it dropped in.

I don't need 300+ HP, though that would be great.

Presuming I can find a good motor, which one (s) from which cars would be the easiest swap? Bear in mind that my "new" engine will probably come from a whole (wrecked) car, which means I can specify getting the ECM and whatever else I'll need out of the wreck.

The mechanic is an animal. He will probably do this job in one day, but he's no tuner. I'm looking for "easy out, easy in".

By the way, emissions MAY be an issue, prefer to be able to pass the tailpipe sniffer (NY doesn't do visuals---or at least none of the places I've been to do them).

Your experience is appreciated here.:hail:

 

Easiest swap would be a TBI 350 from a truck or Caprice.

 

Did a swap like that in a chevy van. 88-94 I think are the years... if it's a truck motor, get a later one (it'll have a roller cam). They're all pretty much the same otherwise.

Reuse your valve covers just to be sure, as van ones are different. If you can, get the 350 fuel injectors, or else the work will be for naught. Everything else is a direct swap, ECM and all don't need to be changed... unless you feel paranoid about it and want it changed.

Keep it tuned up with a new o2 sensor and fresh spark plugs, and you'll have no problem passing a sniffer.

If you want it to go even better, consider a gear change. Tell your yard man to look out for a 90-92 v6 camaro/firebird. They all have 3.42's, and you can order a posi unit from SLP for $99 that will bolt right in.