hello


i just purchased an 88 camaro yesterday. it is in ruff shape. currently the engine is blown and tranny is missing. i have been looking for awhile for one and just decided this was the one.

it originally came with a 305 and auto trans. i have thought some about it and i am looking to just get it to run and drive right now.

my thoughts are as follows. this will be my first build of this magnitude so any advice is great.

engine

i am thinking a 96-99 vortec block from the junk yard. ( i figure i may be able to get the block and heads together)

send block to machine shop and have it bored and cleaned up .30 over.
heads also cleaned up and surfaced.

rering kit with .30 over rings and pistons. new crank,rod and cam bearings.

clean up the vortec heads and put some new valve springs in them.

new comp cams cam with lifters.

vortec intake manifold and holly carb.

transmission

turbo 350 non lock up.

rebuld kit and auto manual kit.

the plans for the car are to drive it and enjoy v8 t-tops on summer days and race it on the weekends at the local drag strip. wont be my primary car. the plans for the trans and motor are kind of the cheap way to get it to run quick and somewhat strong.

i am currently working on a 383 that eventually will find its way into this car but its about a year or so out before its complete. (school project)

any thoughts or advice would be great.

 

If you are going to do all that you are only $170 away from putting a stroker crank in and having a 383 now

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ESP-103523750/

Buy a junkyard engine put new rings (hone ) and bearings only in it or go all out
Little point spending $$ on a fully rebuilt 30 over 350 when you can have a 383 for not much more

 

i just went back and looked at the kit i was looking at. it is a rering kit but does not include pistons. the kit i was looking at is 200.00 for the kit. uses stock pistons. i mixed it up by looking at a kit that did come with pistons and was .30 over bore that kit is much more expensive.

i am looking for a cheap 350 just to get this car running. the 383 im working on is the end all motor but will take alot of time and money to complete. as everyone knows the heads alone on a build like that eclipse the cost of the entire motor i am looking to throw together here.

that being said is it not advisable to rering a junk yard block with out boring it just with a light hone from say a hand hone to clean the glaze off. i would think this would be the cheapest route.

 

Dont just clean the heads. Have them checked out, valve job, cut the guides, and install screw in studs.

Yes it is worth it, and it is not that expensive.

I understand wanting to get it running. I also understand wanting to put together a more expensive motor down the road. Just remember, you are going to be spending money now that you will be spending the same money down the road for. You might want to just get a running 96-99 5.7, dont touch it and put it in.

 

The issues I've seen with '96-'99 Vortec engines involve the crank bearings, not the bore/pistons. I'd have to agree with the other two, it doesn't make sense to bore out a temporary engine. Rering, turn the crank & install new bearings, even work over the heads, but save the pistons/boring coin for the 383. I've run and seen plenty of JY engines that didn't have any more work done to them than that.

 

Why even fool with a rering? If this is just temporary, put it in as is. If you are worried, pull the pan, put in new bearings, install a new oil pump, then button it all back up.

 

yeah i thought it would be a fun project. the more i think about it i have plenty of other projects to worry about to get this car on the road. im gonna find a running 96-99 engine and just do the carb swap and the intake for the vortec heads. t
thanks guys