I have an chance to swap my 305 (120,00 miles) for a newly rebuilt performance 350...complete with perf cam, carb, headers, and install at garage for $2,000.00...

Should I do this? Will the 700R trans and Berlinetta (1986 8-cyl, carb)
handle this?

What issues am I looking at?

any help would be greatly appreciated, and I must decide before Mar 8...

 

Issues - exactly what engine you'd be getting. The majority of factory 350 heads are junk - worse than your current 305 heads. They'll probably tell you they're "202 heads", which means they have 2.02" intake valves - doesn't matter if they're early smog or truck heads, which they probably are. And, what cam? Probably a basic off-the-shelf RV grind - pretty lame. What block/crank? 1- or 2-piece rear main seal?

You'd need more than headers, you'll need complete exhaust. Putting in a 350 with headers and attaching them to the stock '86 305 carb exhaust borders on criminal.

The carb will most likely be an Edelbrock or Holley. Neither is designed for the TH700R-4 throttle cable, so you need a "corrector bracket" that bolts on the carb throttle arm. If it's an Edelbrock, I'd say ditch it.

My recommendation, regardless, is to keep the original carb and distributor system. They'll handle a 350 just fine (as mine does every day). An aftermarket spreadbore intake like the Edelbrock Performer would be fine, most likely the one on this "performance 350" is not spreadbore (but it might be). Again, depends upon what has been put into this 350, like the cam.

The transmission will handle a 350, but upgrades will make it more likely to live - check the Transmission and Drivetrain forum for info on that topic.

 

Thankyou 57Kid...you seem to always be there when I need your invaluable
advice...I knew I'd have to complete the exhaust...which takes me back to
a note from you explaining that dual exhaust on a 305 is pretty useless...
Now I'm thinking..."to dual or not to dual"

I will definitely check out the "new" carb and have printed out your advice to
show my mechanic...I was told it was a "racing cam", on a "four bolt" 350,
apparently quite hard to find...Yes, I'm a little nervous!

 

If I do this swap, I was going to sell the 305 with 118,000 miles on it...the garage said
they would just scrap it...It never burnt oil...the carb is messed up and that's all thats
wrong with it as far as I know...if I do sell it, what should I ask (I'd like to re-coup tome
cash!)

 

Find out exactly what cam is in it, exactly what heads are on it, and exactly what intake is on it. Nothing from your description so far sounds at all rare. 4-bolt main 350's are as common as a cold. "Racing cam" can mean anything the seller wants it to mean.

Figure on about $20-30 for your 305.

Oh, that's what you'll pay to have someone haul it off. . .

The heads are the only thing worth anything off the 305. Otherwise, it's what known as "iron and aluminum".