Hey guys, ive been looking into a 1985 Camaro Iroc z28 with a 305 5speed rated at about 190hp. It'd be a project car for me and my brother, first car, and we have a 68 350 laying around that we used to have in our 68 SS, wich got replaced with a 427. I was woundering if their are any complications with putting an older motor into a newer car? Their both carb motors, and were both run with manuals, so should this be a typical small block swap we can do at our place, or are we looking at something a little more complicated?

 

The heads might not have the acceciory bolt holes for the setup on the 85. And the t5 isent very strong.

 

these are questions i have as well. the block is 350 produced from 69-early 80's. the casting number is 3970010. i have very limited info about this motor aside from it having a high rise intake headers and a 383 stroker kit.
I currently have a stock 91 rs with teh 305. I am apprehensive b/c the 350 has a different belt set up than the 305 whereas the 305 has the serpentine ans the 350 has 3 belts i think... and am really clueless about how to shortcut all the wiring and relays where it wont be an issue. basically i am under the impresion that i will end up having to avoid connecting as much electrical as possible. does anyone have anythign they can add to this or advice??

 

Just a typical small block swap. The blocks are the same externally, and if the heads have the accessory bolt holes you can just bolt all the accessories and associated belts from the 305 onto the 350.

 

yeah, they actually have all the accesories on the 350, but its more of a question of how to actually wire everything when set up or if i would even need to. so the 350 and the 305 shoudl have the same accesory holes externally, that is grea, i would love to be able to cary over the serpentine instead of three belts you know. thanks for your help and please keep the thoughts and comments coming.

 

How to wire what? The block doesn't have any wiring. Only the stuff bolted on to it does, but that will all be swapped from the 305.

 

I think he means that his 350 already has brackets and accessories on it, just has to 'modify' the wiring for the different locations of parts like the alternator... correct?

 

I don't know. Not if he's talking about moving the serpentine setup.

 

actually you are both right. the a/c compressor is on the oposite side compared ot my 305 etc......im sorry for not beingclear, my biggest concern is that my 305 has many many sensors as compared to the 350. will this even matter. how do get the ac compressor on the 350 to the opposite side of th eblock and things of that nature along with the trouble of multiple belts as compared to wanting ti use a serpentine set up on the 350.

 

Don't worry about it. Unbolt everything from the 350 and throw it in the trash. Then take everything from 305 and install it in the same place on the 350. That includes sensors, brackets, accessories, etc.

 

well damn i did nto think that it would be quite that easy of a solution. i thought that i would have to be making alot of trips to the parts store trying to figure out how to get my compressor on the other side of the block. i know that all of the accessories are interchangeable but i did not realize that the belt set up was going to be that easy.

 

It'll work as long as you've got the accessory bolt holes in the heads.

 

well i dont have the motor in front of me at the moment but i will definately check into that and even if i dont i am sure there are some aftermarket supplies in order ot do that though huh? i hope tracking down a new ac/compressor and alternator wont be that big of a deal and since it was such a popular block it shouldnt be. i am in the process of trying o track down a few more casting numbers so i can see what vehicle exactly it came out of before all the extra work wasput into it.

 

What car it came out of doesn't mean much.

 

you have been extremely helpful an dover the course of my experiences i hope you will continue ot be so....ecspecially during the swap lol!!

 

If you are just moving all the sensors over because you plan to keep fuel injection on the 350, then you will need to change the knock sensor. The 350 uses a different one than the 305, although it looks the same and goes in the same spot. You want one for a '87 5.7 TPI engine to use in your 350.

 

well hopefully, ill be able to get away with using as little of the ecm and any electrical sensors etc.. as possible. i am curious ot know if ill need a 3 way regulator for the 350 or not. i plan on taking my time with this but, would like to have a heads up on wether or not i will need one and if i do need one maybe you can recommend a few to me.

 

As little of the ECM as possible? Computer control is an all or nothing thing.

 

it was late at night when i was typing. i misphrased myself. i want to use as little electronics and sensors, relays, as possible. as far as the ecm i understand it is an all or nothing aspect with it. but what about the 3 way fuel regulator?

 

If your 91 is the TBI 305, you probably want to put the tbi unit from a 350 on to replace it. you can still use the computer in your car and everything bolt and plugs right in. but the 350 tbi has bigger components for more fuel delivery. you can find them on early 90's trucks and such at a junkyard

 

well i just did a very simular swap in my 88 ta i put a 69 corvette engine in and it does have the same casting number as that one, the only problems i ran into was if ur going to run the stock manifolds then u cant use a oil dipstick cuz the stock ones down pipe to the y goes right where the dipstick is and it wont let u use it. i need to get headers or the stock mannys that were on a stock vette. Or someone else on here can help me out here.