I'm trying to build it stock so I can go back to work. Only have 1 car in the family when we need 2 car's. My wife is supporting me right now. She has been working overtime for last 3 month's. so I can get the car fixed. I Will have around $1500.00 to fix my 305 or the 350 having hard time tryin to figure out what to do been rackin my brain for the last 3 month's. What do you guy's think,need HELP

 

CamaroSpeed,

I saw some reference to this problem on your other thread....
IMPO - You don't have near enough money availalble to do a 383 500 HP Motor. Probably not enough to even think about it.

Since you need transportation so bad go to a reputable J.Yard and get a 305 motor for about $150. Many good yards will offer a 30 to 90 day warranty. Change the oil and drop it in the hole. Even with a J.Yard motor your gonna end up spending $400 after renting a lift, oil, filter, plugs, anti-freeze etc., etc., etc.

Save the pennies as fast as you can and start building your DREAM MOTOR on the side as time and money permits.

Just my personal opinion......

Sincerely,
Kurt

 

That's for the future right now. I'm trying to build it stock so I can go back to work. Only have 1 car in the family when we need 2 car's. My wife is supporting me right now. She has been working overtime for last 3 month's. so I can get the car fixed. I Will have around $1500.00 to fix my 305 or the 350 having hard time tryin to figure out what to do been rackin my brain for the last 3 month's. What do you guy's think,need HELP. so you don't think that's enough to rebuild either motor

 

NO....

We just did a swap and spend almost as much on "STUFF" as we did on machine work. The way I see it you have two options.

Option #1
Go cheap as hell and get the car back on the road so you can go to work and give the bride a bit of a break on the O.T. - Probably a $500 proposition MAX!

Option #2
Build a professional job on whatever motor you want to install in there. You need an ABSOLUTE MINIMUM of $2500 in your pocket to do a decent job and provide for any problems that could arise during the process. I believe you said this car was a TPI? Well if you change motor size you've got to purchase new injectors, computer issues, knock sensor, prom, etc etc. this sucker will be SITTING in the Driveway or Garage for a while before it runs correctly and it will eat up CASH FAST!

IMPO - Grab a J.Yard 305 and build the 350 or 383 (or whatever you're dreaming of) on the side.

Sincerely,
Kurt

 

O.K. The 305 the cheap way. will let u Know what it cost me.

 

If you created a rod knock by crossing spark plug wires, most likely you wiped out some bearings. If you wiped out some bearings, most likely you got the crank. It can probably be rebuilt, it's just what it would cost to do it.

I have two 305 shortblocks in the garage, one with good block, pistons & rings, one with good crank & bearings. The bad part is Texas is a little too far away to consider such parts in Colorado.

Like Kurt said, you should be able to find a running 305 in the JY. You should look for an '87-later block, because you would be able to put your cam, lifters, and valve train in it. And your heads, of course, all of which would basically make it an LB9 again.

 

Most likely you didn't do anything to the rods themselves. If you want the good crank & bearings, I'll let them go for the cost of shipping. I'd guess around $50-60. Then you'd need gaskets and such to get it back together, assuming nothing happened to the rings or cylinder walls.

 

Yes iI would like them. zip is 75043 let me now o.k.

 

CamaroSpeed,

If you don't get together with Five7Kid and take him up on his very generous offer you're CRAZY! With the parts he's offered (for the cost of shipping) you should be able to get up and running for well under the $500 I mentioned in the previous post.

While you are waiting for the parts to arrive, get yourself a Chilton's Manual (if you don't already have one), find a quiet corner of your home, and read the engine rebuilding section 10 times (MINIMUM). Take a note of anything you don't understand completely.

Before you start putting anything together post ALL of your questions, no matter how dumb you may think the questions are. No one will bust your chops for asking ANY question. Tons of the TGO guys will spend their time helping you with the answers (myself included). My son and I asked many dumb questions on TGO and today our '82 Z-28 runs very well.

There will be a SMALL list of relatively inexpensive parts & supplies you will need like a complete Gasket Kit ($50+/-), Oil Pump ($25 +/-), etc. Let's worry about that list of items AFTER you have finished your reading!!

Sincerely,
Kurt

EDIT: Spelling mistakes....

 

find a 4 door car that is reliable, easy on the insurance and gas mileage (4 banger) that wont take much maintenance right off the bat (brakes, tires, tune up, obvious problems) for about 1500. That gets you back on the road right away, your wife gets a break, you have a reliable car,and you can keep the camaro down as a side project instead of sucking up funds w/ the extra insurance costs and gas mileage.


Maybe this only makes sense to me?

You can think it through, but know that it is exactly what I did when my 305 spun bearings.

 

If you have some place to keep the Camaro that won't get the law, landlord, or neighbors upset, that's a sound approach. When you get ready to put the Camaro back on the road, you'll have something to sell to take the wife on a nice date as well.

 

I will be tearing it down on the 1st of the month. then I will order the part's and put it back together hopefuly by the secound week of sept.

 

Insurance only cost me 300.00 a year