Ok, I got the motor pulled out of my '89 RS. I was gonna run the numbers on the back of the block and get some info on what the motor was in originally, but then I saw the one little number that scraps my plans. Instead of saying 5.7, it said 5.0. Damn that sucks. I hate liars. The guy I bought it from said it was a 350 for sure. I guess buyer beware.

Now I am trying to decide what to do. I could build up the 305 in my 91 RS. I could buy a rebuilt 350 and put in it, or I could just save all my money and put it towards the 396 for my Firebird. What do you guys think I should do? Oh, my goal for my 91 is low 13's, high 12's depending on cost.
Any suggestions will help.

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89 RS parts car

Daily driver 91 RS auto LO3 63k

New project- 89 Formula 350 WS6
383 or 400 to come!

 

Wow, that's weird... and for some reason I always thought used car salesmen had absolutely the most sterling reputation among all professions, second only perhaps to lawyers, for incorruptible integrity and total honesty about their wares... I'm disappointed now, I think I'm losing faith in the fundamental goodness of the human race...

Well enough sarcasm. I guess that's a classsic object lesson in why you should never ever believe a single word out of the mouth of someone selling a used car, or even a new one, if you can't independently verify it with your own eyes. Meanwhile, run the actual block casting number, and see what the block really is; it's the one and only thing you can count on never telling you a lie. It won't tell you the displacement, but it will tell you the bore diameter with complete cetainty.

But of course, the previous owner might have been the victim of one of those "mistakes" in engine identification too. Funny how rare it is though that somebody ever posts on this site about being told that a motor was a 305 but it turns out to be a 350 instead.

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"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports

[This message has been edited by RB83L69 (edited September 02, 2001).]

 

Yeah, I bought it for $400 from this guy. He never registered the car and said the guy before him put the motor in. Looks to me to be the original 150,000 mile motor. The numbers on the bellhousing flange says it was made in 88, so that makes since.

I am thinking about selling my car to get a 91-92 Z28. I can't decide what to do!!

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89 RS parts car

Daily driver 91 RS auto LO3 63k

New project- 89 Formula 350 WS6
383 or 400 to come!

 

Yeah, I bought it for $400 from this guy. He never registered the car and said the guy before him put the motor in. Looks to me to be the original 150,000 mile motor. The numbers on the bellhousing flange says it was made in 88, so that makes since.

I am thinking about selling my 91 RS to get a 91-92 Z28. I can't decide what to do!!

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89 RS parts car

Daily driver 91 RS auto LO3 63k

New project- 89 Formula 350 WS6
383 or 400 to come!

 

Anybody have any advice? I'm checking out several options, an LO5, a 4-bolt GM shortblock then use an LT4 hot cam and ported and polished L98 heads off my firebird, or a junkyard truck engine. I dunno I just need a new goal.

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89 RS parts car

Daily driver 91 RS auto LO3 63k

New project- 89 Formula 350 WS6
383 or 400 to come!

 

Do you have something against doing a nice build up on that 305? They're good motors, not as potential as with a 350 granted, but still you can make it into a VERY respectable motor. Plus you would be able to get that car into the low 13's, dare I even say 12's, with that motor! Aluminum heads, diff intake, cam, not to mention a stout bottom, (titanium) and then run Nitrous! Say good bye to 99% of all cars on the street with that combo... Good luck!

 

I know that the 305 has potential as a sleeper motor, but I really don't have the extra money to pour into a 305 when I can get a 350 and get higher performance for less money.
I can also get a rebuilt short block with 4 bolt mains for about $575. I could port and polish the L98 heads off the firebird motor and then find a suitable cam. I don't know how well this would work--anybody know?

I am saving the big money for my firebird--I've decided on a small block 396 with superram probably with either a D1SC or the turbo setup Gale Banks has in the works.

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89 RS parts car

Daily driver 91 RS auto LO3 63k

New project- 89 Formula 350 WS6
383 or 400 to come!