ive been reading about the lb9 for this year being.. not that great. i know the cam is different but what else is the problem with this motor?


i got a engine from and donor car so i want to know before i swap

From what I've read the '86 LB9 used a smaller(shorter duration)cam when combined with the automatic in '86 and '87.Otherwise I believe the compression ratio and everything else is the same as the manual version.

The main problem, and the reason it's a bad choice, is its DISPLACEMENT (more specifically, the lack of it)...

Factory cams are ALL lame. It's about pointless to argue about which one is lamer since no one in his right mind would run one, if performance is even dimly remotely an issue. ESPECIALLY if, as would be the case in an 86 motor, it's a flat tappet. It comes out and goes in the trash, period.

If you've just got the motor and you're going to just put it in as is, it hardly matters. It is what it is and you've got what you've got and presently you'll know in detail how "good" or "bad" it is.

I hope you didn't actually pay money for a 305?

right now i have the 2.8 v6 and couldnt even imagine a worse motor...

it has less mileage than my v6 and and i got the engine+wiring, transmission, and posi rear(2.77?any good?), ws6 suspension

the motor is looks alittle dirty(has oil leaks) and the balancer is shot but it ran alright in the donor car

performance is somewhat of an issue but aslong as i can smoke the tires every once in awhile i'll be fine


did i get screwed? or is this motor going to be decent?

Well, the 305 LB9 isn't the most powerful motor out there, but I mean, with a few mods it can be pretty quick. Not like having the 350 or a 383 Stroker, though.