Better way to go
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 501
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From: McMinnville, TN
Better way to go
I have an 84 Camaro SC, 305, cc4bbl, Headman Headers. Everything else is stock, including auto transmission. A friend of mine has an old 350 block in his shed. Assuming that it (a) will fit in my car, and (b) is worth rebuilding, would it be better/more cost effective to rebuild my stock 305, or to obtain the 350 block and rebuild that? Also, if I swapped in the 350, would I have to put in a new tranny? I am not building for a strip car; it is more a daily driver/street machine.
Member
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 110
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From: tornado alley USA
Well assuming that your 305 is in decent shape, it makes a great deal of sense to get the 350 block, provided the block is sound hasn't been bored too much or is cracked (find out why it's just sitting there,) Is it a complete engine or just the block? The 305 is a decent motor but the 350 has a larger selection of hi performance parts at often lower prices than for the 305. The biggest advantage is that you can still drive your car daily and build the 350 when cash and time allows, and when it's ready pull the 305 and swap in the 350. BTW it will fit in your car assuming it's a 350 chevy
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 43,187
Likes: 42
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
350. Don't spend any machine shop money on a 305 block. It just gets too expensive to justify.
Typically, it is beneficial to upgrade the heads to some aftermarket types. World S/R Torquers are a good choice.
Your tranny will fit & work. Click on Pro-Built Automatics above for kits to improve it.
Since you've already got headers, you're on the right track. Everything else should fit, the carb will be fine with tuning. Hope you've improved the air cleaner as well.
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82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R4, 2300 stall TC. Ported World 305 heads, Crane PowerMax 2050 cam. ZZ3/4 intake, oil pump, pan & baffle. Accel HEI SuperCoil & module. Hooker 2055 headers, 3" Catco cat & 3" catback w/dual-opposite Flowmaster 80. 2.93 limited slip. Spohn SFCs waiting to be installed. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily year-round driver. Best ET, speed TBD...
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. '66 396, 9.7:1 forged TRWs, Weiand Action+, Holley 750VS w/4150 conversion, 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 @ 700 RPM in D. Best 15.02/95.06 @ 5800' Bandimere (corrected 13.93/102.4 @ sea level).
Typically, it is beneficial to upgrade the heads to some aftermarket types. World S/R Torquers are a good choice.
Your tranny will fit & work. Click on Pro-Built Automatics above for kits to improve it.
Since you've already got headers, you're on the right track. Everything else should fit, the carb will be fine with tuning. Hope you've improved the air cleaner as well.
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82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R4, 2300 stall TC. Ported World 305 heads, Crane PowerMax 2050 cam. ZZ3/4 intake, oil pump, pan & baffle. Accel HEI SuperCoil & module. Hooker 2055 headers, 3" Catco cat & 3" catback w/dual-opposite Flowmaster 80. 2.93 limited slip. Spohn SFCs waiting to be installed. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily year-round driver. Best ET, speed TBD...
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. '66 396, 9.7:1 forged TRWs, Weiand Action+, Holley 750VS w/4150 conversion, 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 @ 700 RPM in D. Best 15.02/95.06 @ 5800' Bandimere (corrected 13.93/102.4 @ sea level).
Supreme Member
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,686
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From: Naperville, il usa
350.... if its in good shape, build it up...
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91 FireBird 305 V-8
Edelbrock Catback, Custom Alarm. Fourth Gen Console. i have six cupholders. all for starbucks!
Go|)Created The Earth, And Then Turned Up The Bass.
Here's My Audio Install!
"Honda's FOR ME TO POOP ON!" -Triumph...
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91 FireBird 305 V-8
Edelbrock Catback, Custom Alarm. Fourth Gen Console. i have six cupholders. all for starbucks!
Go|)Created The Earth, And Then Turned Up The Bass.
Here's My Audio Install!
"Honda's FOR ME TO POOP ON!" -Triumph... Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 43,187
Likes: 42
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
By "just the block", do you mean bare, as in no crank, rods, or pistons?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 501
Likes: 0
From: McMinnville, TN
Just the block as in no heads, intake manifold, exhaust manifolds, possibly no timing chain. It has been awhile since I have looked at it. Hopefully, he will be home this weekend and I can talk to him about it.