I need some help from some of the experts out there. I need to know what years and models of cars, had a 5.7L Motor that could quite possibly be the simplest drop and rock. The car had a 305 that blew sky high. I am gonna tear everything out. My buddy is giving me his slightly used edelbrock 750, and says that I need a 350 because it is too much carb for a 305. Cash is extremely tigh due to a recent layoff. I was cleared by the wife to spend no more than $500. 200 is gone to a motor from a junkyard. and 100 to vacuum advance distributor, and 160 to a new intake for the buddies carb (stock is spread bore, and his carb is square bore). I am going to make the entire engine a mechanical engine. No electronics. Please I am needing an answer ASAP. If the car does run within the next month, landlord is gonna make me get rid of it. Need the cheapest and quickest solution. Thanks

 

Any 350 from '80+ except Vortec ('96+ ) and LTX engines)

Buying a engine to suit a free carb ( and then needing to buy a intake ) is not wisest move for someone with no $$$.
Would be better spending $500 on a complete running 350 from a junkyard with carb and dist already on it

In any case you should not be paying more than $50 for a used square bore (Holley ) intake
Look on CL or eBay
Intakes like this take both style carbs
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SBC-A...Q5fAccessories

 

Assuming this is the '85 Camaro:

The "direct" bolt-ins would be from '75 to '85. (You could use '68-'74, but they wouldn't have hardened exhaust valves and seats for unleaded gas). '86 would need a different flexplate. '87-up would need either a different intake manifold, or your current one modified.

You don't need a different carb. The one on the 305 will be fine on a 350. Spending $260 of a $500 budget for an intake and distributor that you wouldn't need if you keep what you've got doesn't make a lick of sense to me.

Keeping the computer stuff is the quickest and least expensive solution. I simply don't understand the phobia over it.

 

The reason that I am swapping intake and distributor is the car came to me with a long installed, minus the heads. All of the wiring and vaccum hoses are either missing or damaged. Plus I have never worked on one of these cars with factory setup. I have installed a race motor in an 87 monte carlo SS rolling chassis before though. So rather than waste $100 on tylenol for the headaches it will give me, i just looking to change the entire setup to a mechanical engine. Not going for performance at all. Just need it to start and run. Later, I will be going with an LSX and T-56. debating on ls1, or ls7. but that is a couple years down the line. I will be back from afghanistan by then. Thanks to all of your help. To see exactly what I am dealing with, click here. http://s1181.photobucket.com/albums/x438/Chevy_Mattox/

 

You said, "The car had a 305 that blew sky high." You didn't say parts were missing. It helps to have complete information (such as the photos).

FWIW, it won't be emissions-legal with any carb but the stock computer carb. A later EFI system (such as the LS1) would be legal if done properly.