Getting ready for a swap!!!!



Ok picked up a 350 let me know if it seems to an ok one.
Came out of a 78-79 el camino


casting number on block reads 3970010
heads 333882

The block has already been bored .30 and crank has been turned .10 over
came with a new cam .470/.470, 286/296, 221/229, 108LS ,Has all new pistons & rings , lifters ,the rings are already on the pistons how do I tell if the rings have been gapped? he said they were but I wanna know myself , It was already torn apart block has been hot tanked and heads have been done with bigger valves,I asked if he would knock a 150.00 off the price if I take it as is and I put it all together ( I want the exp..) this will be my 1st rebuild ever ,I do have people I can consult with if I get into a jam but I wanted to give this a try myself. The guy was asking 600 for the engine if he assembled it , So he knocked 150.00 off for me to assemble myself. Maybe that was wrong or stupid of me,but Like I said I want the exp..

NOW TO get BUSY!

 

The block is fine, the heads are garbage. If you want to know if the rings have been gapped, you'll have to measure them.

 

Wow, you shoulda went & found a later model engine for less money in still running form... Almost any newer model is gonna have better flowing heads & a roller cam. But since you already bought it, just throw it together for expirience & beat on that motor til it dies...

 

Well I tried finding 1 but everytime I went to pick it up it was already sold, I needed to get this car back on the road asap so after looking at 6 motors, I decided on this 1, hopefully it will last for quite sometime.



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Yeah I guess I will have to take them back off the pistons and recheck them, was hopeing there was a way too look at them, I will have to go and get a caliper and bore measuring tool , and double check the measurements, whats wrong with these heads?

 

They're lightweight crack-prone, huge-chambered low-compression smoggers.

 

Would my heads off the 305 be better to use?

 

Yes, unless they're TBI heads.

 

An '86 wouldn't have TBI heads, if it's the original engine. It should have 416 castings, if original or original replacement, which are pretty doggone good heads.

The only issue is compression ratio, which is a function of head chamber volume, piston relief/dish volume, and "quench" (distance between the crown of the piston and the head, which is the combination of how far down in the hole the pistons are and the compressed height of the head gasket - 0.040" is ideal). Excessive quench distance will lead to detonation even if it lowers the compression ratio. You might want to get a depth mic and check that before you take anything apart.

 

Would those 305 heads work with the upgraded cam? cam specs are .470/.470, 286/296, 221/229, 108LS

and also is this gasket set any good? http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

Also while I'am waiting on parts to arrive, and I'am trying to figure out What headers should I run I don't have have much $$ left so I was thinking about cheap set that will allow me to use The factory Y-pipe, if possiable,so I don't have to change too much, I'am also going to be getting rid of the catalytic converter so I need to fill that gap also.
any way I'am at a stand still untill my other parts arrive and I'am still thinking about taking those 305 heads to machine shop to get cleaned and see what work needs to be done to them.

 

Just a quick question! Will this Balancer work with my setup? http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

 

Doesn't exist.

The gaskets are fine. The damper may be, just depends upon which front cover you have. Some engines had the 8" damper, so the timing tab wouldn't be in the right place. If that's the case, just buy a bolt-on timing tab.

 

Thanks five7kid
were getting a new dress up kit for the engine and it has the bolt on tab, the damper off the old 305 just doesnt look in great shape. and what I read from the Father & Son 1st Car Swap Project, that there was some disscussion on the 305 to 350 damper. ( btw thats a great read LOOOONG but great stuff)
I'am doing this project with a kid (friend of my son)that bought this camaro from me last year, so not my son but were going at it together.