I have an 84 TA that has 3 cylinders that are around 30 lbs. the car starts and no smoke but can't be driven of course. we don't have a lot of money and need to do the cheapest yet still reliable route. I was told 500 to put one in and 1045 to rebuild somewhere else. 2200 total from the same guy to rebuild it himself and put it in. we really can't afford to spend that much but I really want this car running again so I can leave my 99 TA at home and not worry about getting it's paint messed up. dies anyone know where I could get a good engine rebuilt or new very cheap? which route shouldI go rebuild or replace? I've done work on the car before and taken the top of the engine apart not heads. I don't have the tools for that. I wish I could do it myself to save the money but can't. any advice? please?

 

The easy cheap way that I have found through many misadventures in blowing up old chevy engines is to get a reman from either a local parts store or online. Either road, you are looking at about $1000 out the door for a long block, toss your intake set up on there, bolt it in, and you've got a "quality" rebuilt engine. I prefer the local route, that way when you blow it up, you can get it warrantied But that's the cheapest way Ive found. Easy to do in the garage, most equipment rental places have cherry pickers (or most good friends). Shouldn't even cost much over $500 in labor if the guy is worth the cash you are paying him (unless it's a flat-rate mech, I think all-data has that job down as something rediculously close to 30 hours). Hope this helps,

 

thanks, do you think a reman engine from o'reily's is worth it? they told me $900 but a guy I talked to to enstall it said don't get those.can my intake on my 305 go on a 350? i'm still trying to learn as much as I can about these engines.I know a guy who builds hot rods but I don't know if he'll help us with the engine. I'll see if we can ask him. that'd save a lot. thanks

 

Don't rebuild your engine. That's simply a waste of money.

If the guy who offered to rebuild yours has a 350 laying around to rebuild, ask him if he'll do that for the same price he offered to rebuild your engine. He'll probably do it. Or, find a running used 350 to install.

Everything bolted onto your 305 will bolt on to a 350 (with some caveats regarding intake bolt pattern and rear main seal type - nothing big).