My 1982 camaro with a 305 CFI has been sitting in a garage for 5 years now and I would like to get it back on the road. #6 cylinder rod broke and metal flakes were coming with the oil when it was drained.

Any chance this motor could be rebuilt, or should I just put a new motor in? If new motor, what should I go about replacing it with? At most I am willing to spend $5K but would like to try to keep it around $3K.

Thank you!

 

Welcome aboard thirdgen.org.

How do you know the rod is broken? Generally speaking, when a rod cuts loose, things get broken inside the block. Your best bet would be to assume the engine (at least the shortblock) is trash. I hauled a perfectly good '82 305 shortblock to the scrap yard about a year ago, couldn't find anybody who wanted it, didn't have space to keep it around until you showed up - sorry.

I see a couple of problems here: 1) Rebuilding a 305 is rarely a good idea. If you replace the engine, either get a good used 305, or get a 350; 2) the problem with the 350 idea is the CFI is limited on a 305, let alone a 350. Upgrading CFI is an exercise in futility. Yes, Vettes had them on 350's, but how many of them do you see around these days?

So, the easiest (and probably cheapest) is to find a good used 305 and install it in place of your current engine. If you are willing to scrap the CFI (and your username wouldn't lead to that conclusion), a 350/carb swap would be next. Last would be rebuilding or a rebuilt 305.

 

For what it would cost to fix the 305 and upgrade the fuel system to something that works you are better off getting a donor car that runs and swap over the entire engine and wiring.

For that matter you could get a newer Z/28 in pretty nice shape for $3000.

 

Why can't anyone on this board accept that some people don't want to ditch the crossfire? Why can't some people accept that others would want to keep their cars as close to stock as possible and not just drop in a 350? NOCARBZ28 didn't ask if he should switch to a carb and 350 so why does everyone automatically go that route??

That being said you would be better off finding a good running early 305. Depending on where you are I have one if you are interested.

 

I'd stick a 350 in,but keep and modify the crossfire-
takes quite a bit of work to modify the crossfire to run
real strong,but it can be done-the manifold runners are
the main problem,they also benefit from a fuel pump
upgrade/fuel pressure boost. Back in '94 i bought an'84
vette engine from a vette junkyard for $1200 and
installed in my z28,modified for a dramatic increase in
power the next year engine still going strong over 15
yrs later,so was a real good buy Could also find a good
305(LU5 is 9.5 CR BTW)or fix the engine in the car if it
isn't too bad.. lots of possibilitys....

 

Nothing was said one way or the other by the OP about either wanting to keep the Crossfire or not wanting a 350. Budget was mentioned.

Note my recommendations, in order, kept both the 305 and Crossfire.

 

Oh, that's the way to garner support. Bash other people for suggesting the smart thing to do and try to pawn off your used 305 that even you don't want to him.

Unless you have a very rare car like an 82 pace car rebuilding a broken 305 is a waste of money. Forged pistons for a 305 cost more than the entire rebuild kit for a 350. A rebuildable 350 core is cheap and will cost the same to machine as the 305 so in the end you get a better engine and more power.

Again unless you have a very rare car dumping a bunch of money and time into CFI is just dumb. There are much better and less expensive fuel injection systems out there.

Going backwards to a carburetor is not the way to go. The car is all ready set up for EFI so why not keep it that way.

 

Generally when you launch a rod it comes with a hole in your block. If you have metal flakes and not chunks, you probably just munched a main/rod bearing. If it's just bearing you can have the crank journals resurfaced and put a bearing kit into it. If you do tear into the bottom end definitely replace the oil pump and rings since they are also wear out items. Main problem will be getting all the metal out of the oiling system, vatting the block is the best way. That means tearing the whole engine down though and more money at a machine shop.

You should easily be able to find a used 305 pretty cheap. You can swap your valve train and top end into it. I know I gave away the 305 I took out of my 84Z.

There are machine shops in my area you can pick up rebuilt 305 short/long blocks with out spending a ton of money also. This would be your easiest route IMO.