im looking to do a motor swap in my 86IROC i can get a 1970 350 outta a Chevy impala i know there 250HP stock the thing is the motor hasnt been run in 20yrs or so and when it was in a car it burned oil will a rebuild fix the oil burning problem? if a rebuild wont theres no point in me using this motor and putting it in my car

 

You will need to inspect all of the parts of the 350 to see if it is useable, a complete teardown.

 

A fresh rebuild would be in order and should not be a problem for any good Shop, if I were you I'd look at some Catalogs like Competition Products and purchase one of the 350 cast or hyperutectic piston kits or upgrade to a 383 stroker kit that will include: new pistons, reconditioned rods, resurfaced crank, rings, Main & Rod bearings with gaskets for as little as $700.00 bucks with your block and you can sell your 350 crank to offset some of the costs! Good luck with it and keep us posted.

 

Its most likely saveable but it wont be for pennies it will be an investment!

 

It depends why it was burning oil, as to how much machining, if any, you will need on certain area's of the block. Things that really make a engine block or core not worth it are spun bearings, cylinders that won't clean up when bored or honed - depending on what your trying to do- and cracks in the block.

 

Go big block they go in easy,special order the headers,you will not have ac
but who cares when you have all the power you will ever need.i used a 454
found on craigslist that was in a pickup had it pulled and sent to machine shop,while it was being done 700r4 also found on craigslist to transmission shop for building,then hired a guy to install them.it went like clock work.i think in the end you will spend about the same on a small block or a big block,its all about how much or how little you have to spend on the setup.just get everything you can power steering,ac,alternator,serpintene belt ect grab the whole setup,plus the big block looks coolier under the hood of a thirdgen,they dont get hot,they dont bottom out,i was told its 150 pounds heavier then the 350.handling is the same.and did i say they haul ***,so think about it. look on your local craigslist or junk yard,some of the junk yards will install motors and trannys in the winter they are slow and need to make some cash.well good luck anyway on your car in which ever way you go.i know the guy who did it made several trips to the junk yard for bolts.that was the only slowdown in the show.

 

Bring someone with you who knows about engines and trannys,they can hear and see things we might not see or hear.
Try to find it in a running car or truck,dont buy something just sitting on the ground,unless you have alot of money to spend.im not saying people tell fibs about what they are selling you.bring someone with you its worth it.

 

personally id look for a roller cam late 350.i don't know if 1986 is one or two piece crankshaft seal.

 

I was going to say that the LS donor vehicles are becoming more and more available.That the first gen 350's almost don't make sense.That I have some buyers remorse in building a roller good guys crank(Howards forged) 383.So let's just keep this one between the two of us.Everyone else-no looking,cover your eyes.