I've been searching a lot of post's and I've found a lot of useful information so I apologize if my question is going to seem "repeated". Having admin'd other racing forums I hate it when people can't use a search feature.

So, having done some of that, I have not found anything addressing my "specific" situation as of yet and thought I would ask the questions.

What I have learned is that I do not want to sink $ into the 305. I have a laundry list of reasons why I have chosen to move up to a 350. I have an 84 HO in beautiful condition. The 305 is starting to blow blue smoke at me on startup so it's a "run it till it dies" scenario for that one.

My purpose for the car is 1) a DD and 2) looking good cruising with enough power to "play around" but doubt it will ever see any track time. Eventually plan on attending cruises in my older age...when it's more of an antique.

Now..my special situation is that I live in Oregon and I do not nor will not have to worry about emissions testing anytime soon. I can completely rip out all that EGR/Smog/yaddi yadda stuff and go with a crisp, clean carb'd setup. I would like advice on the most "stable" and budget friendly route to go to achieve this end.

Currently the 305 is all stock with the Qjet carb w/ elec choke. This is my wife's car so the elec choke is very nice for her but we may be able to get away without it. What I have bought for the 305 I am pretty sure will fit the 350.

-Edelbrock Performer Intake
-Edelbrock 2bbl Carb (the one you can replace the two jets in to tune, I forget the model # but it is the good that everyone uses for these). We have the option of going with current Q-jet carb or this one.
-Mallory Distributor/ignition system (from the piece that goes into the engine to the spark plug wires)

Yes...I am a noob At least on domestics

My play toy's have always been imports but I have seen the light in my later adult years hehehe.

So...what say you?

 

Easiest, cheapest and most "stable" is to just swap the L69 short block for 350 from a truck and keep everything else the same.

 

Is that the L31 I've read about on here as being the best bet?

 

Not necessarily. Usually the L31 is nabbed for its Vortec heads. The shortblock is basically the same as all '87-'99 Gen I 350's.

But, I think you're overthinking this. The blue smoke at startup is valve stem seals - they can be replaced in a few hours without removing the engine or even the heads. At worst you may have to pull the heads to have them gone through (valve guides, maybe, new seals, and grind the valves/seats).

If this is just for cruising and looks, I wouldn't bother with an engine swap at all. 305's are pretty tough birds, and multiple 100k's of miles out of them are more common than you might think. And for sure I wouldn't take off the factory q-jet for anything Edelbrock. The Performer intake is okay, but their carbs are not. It would be a downgrade of epic proportions.

If you want to remove some of the emissions stuff for a cleaner look, that's up to you (it's still illegal, even if Oregon isn't going to look every year or two). You can keep what the computer needs to run the ignition and carb and still have a clean underhood.

 

I hear what you are saying and that is definately an arguement to keep the 305, however, I have decided that a 350 SBC is where I want to go.

Right now, my plan is as suggested above....get a 350 SBC and put my current top end on it just as it is. The day may come 5, 6, 10 years down the road that I do in fact want to start putting some power into it and then I'll already have the 350 in place.

I'll acquire a decent 350, from a truck most likely and put my Edelbrock intake with the stock Q-jet carb for now. I guess I'll sell that Edelbrock carb if it's that crappy. This way with exception of the 350 SBC itself, the rest will all be the same.

Does that sound like I'm understanding everything right?

 

The Edelbrock Performer is similar enough to the L69 intake that it's not worth swapping.

 

Well...gosh. What's a guy to do that already has these parts sitting on shelf in his shop. Guess I can resell it all?

 

An idea I have would be to have the heads rebuilt to fix the valve/seal issues and I'd be that would extend this 305 another large chunk of time/mileage? What would something like that cost on average?

I could also go with something this? http://www.ebay.com/itm/1969-1985-GM...sories&vxp=mtr

and simply copy and paste the intake up as it is currently? (I do realize I do not need the heads on this and can use the 305's...this was just a quick find)

 

A set of valve seals costs about $20 and you can replace them in a couple of hours without removing the heads. Maybe another $15 for valve cover gaskets too.

 

Now that's a done deal right there

That would fix the current issue and give me some time to save up for a nice 350 replacement. I like that this idea would leave me with a complete backup 305 in the shop should it ever be an issue. I'd be down to save for a year for something like that Ebay link or a Crate (with new heads and all). Then just transplant the top end.

You are awesome Sir!