Hey everyone, I'm thinking about swapping my motor soon and I just wanted to know what would be better to have, a 305 or a 350. The 305 if kept will be rebuilt and the heads will be resurfaced. If this is done, will it be better to keep my 305 and just add mods to it, or would it be better to swap a 350. The reason I'm asking this question is because I've heard that keeping a 305 and just adding mods to it, would be easier to pass smog, and to also lower its et time.

 

If the 305 needs things like overbore, pistons, rings, and bearings, it makes more sense to get a 350 and build it up.

The 305 can be made quicker than it is, but anything you put in/on it would make a 350 quicker for the same money than a 305.

I maintain that I made my 305 quicker with what I did to it than it would have been for the same money spent buying, building, and installing a 350. But, that's only because I didn't spend any money on the shortblock (pistons, rings, bearings, etc.).

 

yeah, it does seem as it would be better to just get a 350, due to the power, however i think it would still be cheaper and you'd still get a good amount of power by adding to the 305 and in addition it would be cheaper. But if I did get a motor swap, does anyone know how much the labor would usually cost?

 

Labor for a swap wouldn't be any more than remove/install for a rebuild.

 

Just for old time's sake, here's my initial reaction after I did the mods. It didn't have the dual snorkel air cleaner, shift kit or subframe connectors at that time.

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...threadid=32656

 

It is no cheaper to build a 305 than a 350, so assuming you can get a 350 core for a decent price then that is the way to go.

 

A 305 is like the anemic little brother to the 350... and although intimidating, done right, an engine swap is a weekend of male bonding, tool throwing, and vulgarity with the payoff of more power, more noise, and being able to say that you did it. It's easier to swap an engine than to rebuild one. and if you look around to find a good donor, can cost much less.

 

350 it is then, thanks a lot you guys.