I'm researching cost effectiveness of replacing my bottom end. I'm not 100% sure, but I'm fairly sure that I've got some rod knock, and after the bearings, machining the crank, possibly boring out the cylinder walls .020 over to clean it up.... it'll start costing a lot, plus not be very time effective.

Now, I'm assuming that just going to a junkyard, grabbing a 350 block, and bottom end (crank, pistons, etc), take out my old 305, slap the top end on (obviously not as easy as that, but you get the idea), and I'll have a 350 w/ the same powerband and just a little more power for less than the cost of basically re-building my 305.


Am I correct in assuming that I could (in essence) put the new block and bottom end on, for less than the rebuild of my 305?

I plan to reuse as much as I possibly can (plus my brand new oil pump). Thanks in advanced

 

That is exactly what we are doing right now in my 97 Silverado pickup. Spun the main bearing, the whole bottom end looked pretty bad. After pricing everything out, we are going with a remanufactured NAPA 350 bottom end. Everything else will be the same, but we'll have a 350 with 350 power.

 

Sellman good buddy...

Everything from both the exterior and the top will bolt up fine. Don't bother with going .020" over on the cylinder walls. just go .030". It's a far more common size.

I would think about grabbing an extra set of 305 heads, just not the TBI ones, and porting and polishing them up. Have them cut for 1.96/1.6 valves blah blah....

Find me on AIM and we can talk