I own an 84TA 4 bbl HO. I'm looking to replace the 305, but I want to keep the carb, electronics, and emissions equipment. I'm looking for a min. of 235hp and at least 300lbs torque. What would be a better idea, a 350, or a 327? Please keep in mind the use of the 305's carb and electronics. Thanks for any replies.

 

do you have an 700R4 or manual? You would be doing almost the exact thing I did with the 87 if you have an auto. I have a T5 in my new 3rd gen, so when I graduate college I will putting in a healthy 327, b/c I don't drag race, I road race, and I just want some more power with out having to put in a T56 to deal with it(I realize that a 327 can fry a T5 just as well as a 350, but I actually plan things out before I do them, so I'll be well within sane boundaries.. and I won't powershift it.)

that was a little off topic. The 87 was an LG4 car, when the little 305 made it's last little stroke, I put in a 350. I still used all the electronics(except emissions equipment, I don't live in an emissions county, so I didn't bother.)

I believe the intro of the 7th exhaust bolt hole in small blocks didn't happen until 87, so this may not be an issue for you. When I swapped motors, the motor I bought and rebuilt had the famed(as boat anchors) 882 heads, only 6 exhaust manifold bolts. So I bought a set of Headman headers, and have the manifolds up in my attic somewhere. Basically, it all depends on what you want to do. if you just want a new engine, it will be much much easier(and cheaper actually) to find a 350 and go with that. A combo that has worked on a few of the cars that have been on this board is as follows.

350, w/ emissions heads
Edelbrock Preformer Intake get the one with EGR if you want to keep everything intact.
Comp Cams 268H cam and lifter kit

that's what was in the 87, and it worked fine, the computer was happy, I was happy.. and I had enough torque to pull a house off it's foundation.

Anthony

 

You could reach those goals with a 305, but...

350's are a lot easier to find and cheaper to build than 327's. As much as I love them, the 327 is probably not a good choice for your stated objectives.

If you've got the bucks, the HO 350 Conversion gives you 355 HP with the carb, electronics and emissions equipment. Otherwise, most any 350 will get to 235 HP and your current control equipment will be fine. Only suggested upgrade would be exhaust - headers, y-pipe, cat & catback should all be replaced. You already have the dual snorkel air cleaner, correct?


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82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R. 2.93 limited slip. Cat-back from '91 GTA, Accel HEI SuperCoil. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily driver, work-in-progress (LG4 w/LB9 block, ZZ3 cam and intake, TBD heads, Hooker headers & y-pipe, 3" Catco cat).
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. 0.030 over 396, Weiand Action+, Edelbrock 1901 Q-Jet, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" headers, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & Trans-Scat shift kit, 3.08 8.2" 10-bolt w/Powertrax, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Best 15.1 @ 5800' Bandimere. Daily driver while Camaro was being put together.

 

I do have the 700R4. I do plan on having shorty headers attached to the block before I put it in the car, and I have plans for a cat back system later. If you mean the hood scoop, then I have a dual snorkel. If not, then I don't. The only thing I was wondering about was the fact that I heard that a 350 would make the car run lean if I use the old carb. If this is true, I was wondering if a chip can be made to correct this problem. Thanks for any replies.

 

What you were told about running lean does not apply to CC carb 350 combos. You should tune the secondaries, but that's SOP, right?

The 305 stuff will work fine on the 350 with the items mentioned.

Yes, I was talking about dual snorkel, not hood scoop.

 

What's a dual snorkel then? Thanks for the advice so far.

 

Dual snorkel has two "snorkels", or inlets on the air cleaner. A scoop-like inlet fastens to the front cross-bar - dual would have two of these.

The standard 305 only has one snorkel or inlet.

 

OK... I only have one snorkel then. That shouldn't matter though right?

 

If you can find a 327 thats what i would go with they rev higher "more hp" and get better mileage. whats more impressive a car that hauls A** up to 40 or a car that can pass you at 90? look at some info about these two engines and decide for your self. btw some 327's were factory with 350hp!

 

hey SSC that 350 horse 327 u r talkin about was a gross power rating, meaning it was running headers, and no accessories. it probably made more like 270 horse, which is still not too bad.

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86 IROCZ
T-Tops
700R4
305 TPI
3.23 gears
shift kit, manual TC switch, manual fan switch, flowmaster exhaust with edelbrock TES headers& hollow cat, gutted MAF.