One of these days I know it's gonna have to happen. My Formula has got almost 200,000 on it and have only had it since 165,000. I want to be able to know exactly what I'm going to do when it does happen and got thinking.

How much more is it to put in a 350 than to rebuild a 305? With school, I can't really afford to spend more than I need to so I'd have to be practical about it. I know you get "more bang for you buck" with a 350 but I'm shooting more for reliability than performance, but don't want to go lower than what I already have. If I DID decide to put in a 350, what would be the best to put in on a budget and wouldn't I have to rebuild that?

 

You can get a junkyard light truck 350 anywhere from about $250 (basically a rebuildable core) to $750 (ready to run with warranty).

Depending upon exactly what your 305 needs: if just a valve job, maybe $400; also needs rings/bearings, another $300-$500. If it need a full rebuild - valve job, cylinders bored, new pistons and rings, crank turned, new crank and cam bearings, oil pump and gaskets - you can easily be looking at $1000-$1500.

You can buy a GM replacement 350 crate engine that will basically bolt in place of your 305 for about $1900-$2000.

Two of my brothers bought an engine from this outfit. Since freight will probably be more than the core charge, add those two to the price.

On the other hand, your 305 could reasonably be expected to go another 100k miles with basic maintenance.

 

it sure would help if ur were doing all the work urself.u could rebuild the motor anywhere between 700 to about 1200.depending on how far u want to go with it.thats with getting everything machined.new bearings rings and gaskets.stock bore of course.but thats all u doing the work,except for the machining.but if u know how to use a hone and plastigauge u could save alot.i did a 305ho out of a 85 about 4 years ago,new bearings rings and gaskets i think it only cost about 200-250 for the rebuild and the car srill runs great.

 

A 350 crate for $2,000? That's awesome. I just don't know if I'd be able to do it because I don't understand the PROM stuff and other things I'd have to worry about with a 305 to 350 swap.

 

put a old school carburated motor in,if u go that route u wouldnt have to mess with all the wiring except for the alternator and distributor.plugging everything in is not hard everything has its own plug so u cannot mess anything up,the only thing u could do is forget to plug something in.u could use some paint markers so u could mark them to help with knowing where they go.and if u wanted to go with the computer u could buy a block with crank and pistons,then use ur heads and intake and everything else and that would save u some money.get your heads done,new valves and milled will only cost you about 150.i had a set done at a shop it cost me 70 a head.do some shopping around and see what u find!

 

Hmmmm...not sure I'd wanna go with a carb. I like EFI

 

thats why i said that u can get a new block and use ur heads intake and all that so u could still have ur efi