Okay, so here is the deal. I have an 84 Camaro RS that is just in shambles and I am working on restoring it. Now the main thing that I am planning on doing is ripping the stock V6, 173 that has almost 300,000 miles on it out and dropping in the 305. I have been trying to research this for a while and figured that with as much as most of you know about the car, and engines, this would probably be one of the best places to get some solid answers.
I have been told by various people that I would have to change out the clutch, the rear differential and the transmission if I put the 305 in the car. I have also been told that the 10 bolt rear diff would be able to handle the increase in torque and hp. Now, I know that the tranny will need to be upgraded and that it's mostly a good idea to upgrade the clutch. As for the mounting brakets and everything else, I am pretty much lost. I have been tinkering with some things on the engine (i.e. starter, fuel pump and power steering pump and hose) but nothing this extensive. I am planning on doing all of the work myself, to save money and to gain the experience. Any tips on the above? If I need to go in to more detail, let me know, that was just a quick jot of what I am looking at doing to the engine... unfortunately there is a LOT more to do to it after that, but I am more worried about the mechanical first.

 

First, go get a Geo or something, to drive while working on the Camaro.
Second, no worries about the rear axle. Whatever you have will take a healthy 350.
And why go 305 when a 350 is the same deal but with better results? Did someone already give you a free, running 305? If you don't already have a 305, then go 350. I can tell you 3 different builds that'll each do 25+ mpg at 65 mph.
The best 350s are from '96-'98 C1500 pickups. Second best is any '87-'95 350, but with 081 heads swapped on. 081s were used on all '87 cars with 305s, and '88-'92 LB9 / T5 cars.
The '88-'92 RS 305 T5 is the one you want.

 

Got myself a good truck to drive while working on the camaro, not an issue there. I guess I really don't know why I wanted to go with the 305, I guess I figured it would take less money to get the different parts that I would no kidding have to change out (i.e. transmission and rear end). You think that the stock differential could handle the 350? Wouldn't there be the need for some modifications to the engine bay to fit a 350 in there? Another thing, the 350's out of the C1500 that you referenced weren't carbed were they? Like I said man, you really have to dumb it down for me when it comes to engines. Thanks for the quick reply though, at least now I am getting somewhere in the prep phase.

 

Read the V6 to V8 swap sticky in the top section of this forum. It answers your questions.

 

the '96-up Vortec 350s were injected, but there are plenty of carburetor intakes available. Don't let that stop you.

 

And as the sticky should say ( I have not read it, I don't need to ) 305s and 350s are the same shape, size and weight, on the outside.

 

Okay, so I read the sticky about the V6-V8 swaps. There are a few things that I understood, and then there were several that I didn't really get. I got that the 10" bolt should be able to handle the torque and the power that either a 305 or a 350 would put out.

Would the three builds that you are talking about, Atilla, be in your "Atilla's best builds" thread? That would really make things a bit easier on me if I could still get some resemblance of gas mileage. Where I like the idea of jamming the throttle down and taking off like a bat out of hell, I don't like watching the gas guage drop as quickly as the speedometer goes up, know what I mean?

 

My 2.8 thirdgens, my 305 GTA and my 350 IROC all get around the same mpg. In my opinion, 25 might be a bit optimistic unless you're running 2.73 gears and never get off the highway, but I can see 20 as being easily achievable with gears that don't suck. Just don't get stupid with the cam selection and run an overdrive transmission and you'll be fine.

To expand upon what Atilla said about using the 350... I couldn't agree more that a 350 is a much better choice than a 305. Like he said, they're very common and cheap, and when it comes time to do a rebuild, a 350 is actually cheaper to rebuild than a 305 because there is so much aftermarket support.

As for cylinder heads, I know there's some debate, but I wouldn't really bother with 081s when vortecs are so cheap and accessible. If you're on an ultra lean budget, the 081s and a conventional 4bbl intake would be a nice affordable option, but for not much more you can get the vortec heads and corresponding 4bbl intake.

 

First, make sure the car is worthwhile to bother spending the time/effort/money on. 3rd gens are still dime-a-dozen, so a cheap V8 car in decent condition thats already ok with CA emissions standards is usually easy to come by

 

No, the best builds thread is for people wanting the most HP for the least $$.

 

As a matter of fact, one combo was a non-lockup TH350, with 3.23:1 gears.
700R-4 with 2.73 is not gonna get great MPG no matter what engine you attach it to. It's just all wrong. For carb'd SBC,s you'll never suffer for stepping up to 3.08s. I've tried it enough times, with never a single exception.

 

That's a good point

 

Not that it makes a lot of difference, but we should also point out that there was no such thing as an "RS" in '84. The V6's came in Sport Coupes and Berlinettas. And, V6's either had 3.23 gears or 3.42 gears.

Of course, in cars these old, anything can be changed. My '82 Berlinetta #2, LG4 305, TH200C, should have had 3.23's, it had 2.73's. It got worse gas mileage than my Berlinetta #1 with ZZ4 350, TH700R-4, and 3.23 gears with twice the power and a heap more spunk.