engine swap
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Joined: Jun 2001
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From: CT
Car: 85 Trans Am WS6
Engine: 305HO L69
Transmission: T5
engine swap
i currently have a 305 4bbl in my camaro, but i want to put a bigger engine in. i want it built up pretty good. i have a limited budget, so i was wondering what the cheapest way to go was. would it be better to get a 350 and build that up, or start with something bigger?
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 43,187
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From: Littleton, CO USA
Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: L92/LQ4 (both w/4" stroke)
Transmission: 4L80E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
You didn't give much information about what you currently have, but check this post out for what you'll get with the entry-level new factory 350 https://www.thirdgen.org/messgboard/...ML/001288.html
"Cheap" and "fast" are often mutually exclusive. Usually, you start with what you have and build it up. Since you're starting with a 305, getting a crate engine does make some sense, rather than buying basically a core engine and having it rebuilt custom. But, either way will work out.
Bigger than a 350 starts getting into the area of complications, like externally balanced flywheels and mini-starters. That, and "limited budget", certainly don't mix well.
If about $4500 is the limit of your budget, and you have an auto tranny, GM already did everything for you in an emissions-legal package called the HO 350 Conversion, p/n 10185077, with the ZZ4 350 engine. You just put it in according to the instruction book, and you've got a 13-second screamer in one shot.
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82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R4. 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/'87 LB9 block, ZZ3 cam and intake, World 305 heads, Hooker headers & y-pipe, 3" Catco cat & 3" cat-back).
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. '66 396, 9.7 CR forged TRWs, Weiand Action+, Edelbrock 1901 Q-Jet, GK 270 cam, Magnum rockers, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" Hedders & 3" Warlocks, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & Trans-Scat shift kit, MegaShifter, 3.08 8.2" 10-bolt w/Powertrax, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Idles smooth @ 600 RPM in D. Best 15.02/95.06 @ 5800' Bandimere (corrected 13.93/102.4 @ sea level).
"Cheap" and "fast" are often mutually exclusive. Usually, you start with what you have and build it up. Since you're starting with a 305, getting a crate engine does make some sense, rather than buying basically a core engine and having it rebuilt custom. But, either way will work out.
Bigger than a 350 starts getting into the area of complications, like externally balanced flywheels and mini-starters. That, and "limited budget", certainly don't mix well.
If about $4500 is the limit of your budget, and you have an auto tranny, GM already did everything for you in an emissions-legal package called the HO 350 Conversion, p/n 10185077, with the ZZ4 350 engine. You just put it in according to the instruction book, and you've got a 13-second screamer in one shot.
------------------
82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R4. 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/'87 LB9 block, ZZ3 cam and intake, World 305 heads, Hooker headers & y-pipe, 3" Catco cat & 3" cat-back).
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. '66 396, 9.7 CR forged TRWs, Weiand Action+, Edelbrock 1901 Q-Jet, GK 270 cam, Magnum rockers, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" Hedders & 3" Warlocks, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & Trans-Scat shift kit, MegaShifter, 3.08 8.2" 10-bolt w/Powertrax, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Idles smooth @ 600 RPM in D. Best 15.02/95.06 @ 5800' Bandimere (corrected 13.93/102.4 @ sea level).
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