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new project, 305 to 350, help!

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Old May 7, 2013 | 05:14 PM
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new project, 305 to 350, help!

so i recently bought a 1986 trans am, lg4 5 speed car, t-tops, etc, well...the 305 is literally shooting oil out of the dipstick, its been ragged its whole life, im not going to waste my time with the 305, plan on buying a good running 350...im sure theres a thread about this, if so...send me a link? what has to be changed? can the t5 handle a 350? its carbed so it shouldnt be much, what gears came in the back of these cars? the rpo codes sticker is gone so im kinda stuck, any help would be great!
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Old May 8, 2013 | 02:53 AM
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Re: new project, 305 to 350, help!

Straight replacement ;305 is identical block as a 350
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Old May 8, 2013 | 11:26 AM
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Re: new project, 305 to 350, help!

What about the ps, alt, etc? What year 350s are setup the same?
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Old May 8, 2013 | 05:47 PM
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Re: new project, 305 to 350, help!

and does it matter what side the dipstick is on?
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Old May 8, 2013 | 07:54 PM
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Re: new project, 305 to 350, help!

A 350 is just a straight swap. You can reuse all your accesories from the 305 (ps, alt, etc.). The only problem is the carb. I assume you have a Q-jet right now, I'm not too familiar with those carbs but I'm almost positive you'll need a bigger carb (more cfm), the easiest thing would be get a carb setup from a donor car that had a 350. Also it doesn't really matter what side the dipstick is on as long as you have room on either side.

If youre looking for a 350 carb'd setup i think you'll be looking for 82-84(? or possibly 86, im not sure)
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Old May 8, 2013 | 09:12 PM
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Re: new project, 305 to 350, help!

Originally Posted by 89formyoula
What about the ps, alt, etc?
What year 350s are setup the same?
Makes no difference.
All you have to do is make sure any SBC you want to swap in has the same bolt holes in the front of the heads that your 305 has
Some early engines have none or not enough holes

Originally Posted by NagleMac
The only problem is the carb.
I assume you have a Q-jet right now, ......I'm almost positive you'll need a bigger carb (more cfm),
At 780CFM on a Q-Jet he won't be wanting anything larger
Q-Jets were used on BBC
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Old May 8, 2013 | 09:57 PM
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Car: '91 Camaro RS
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Re: new project, 305 to 350, help!

Originally Posted by vetteoz
Makes no difference.
All you have to do is make sure any SBC you want to swap in has the same bolt holes in the front of the heads that your 305 has
Some early engines have none or not enough holes


At 780CFM on a Q-Jet he won't be wanting anything larger
Q-Jets were used on BBC
Thanks for clearing up the Q-jet info, i dont know too much about what they were used of or the cfm of them.
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Old May 8, 2013 | 10:00 PM
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Re: new project, 305 to 350, help!

Originally Posted by NagleMac
A 350 is just a straight swap. You can reuse all your accesories from the 305 (ps, alt, etc.). The only problem is the carb. I assume you have a Q-jet right now, I'm not too familiar with those carbs but I'm almost positive you'll need a bigger carb (more cfm), the easiest thing would be get a carb setup from a donor car that had a 350. Also it doesn't really matter what side the dipstick is on as long as you have room on either side.

If youre looking for a 350 carb'd setup i think you'll be looking for 82-84(? or possibly 86, im not sure)
I did the same swap u can use the same carb no problem...
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Old May 9, 2013 | 07:51 PM
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Re: new project, 305 to 350, help!

should i get a 350? or send the 305 off to be built? i dont care about originality, i just want a fun street car thats reliable, whoever had it before me put a 600cfm edelbrock on it...id rather have a q-jet.
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Old May 9, 2013 | 09:25 PM
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Car: '91 Camaro RS
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Re: new project, 305 to 350, help!

Your looking at around the same price to rebuild a 305 and 350, so if you want more bang for your buck, go 350.
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Old May 9, 2013 | 09:37 PM
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Engine: bolt on 305 tpi
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Re: new project, 305 to 350, help!

Originally Posted by NagleMac
Your looking at around the same price to rebuild a 305 and 350, so if you want more bang for your buck, go 350.
Thing is most 350s I've found are from the late 70s...would they still make more power stock compared to a a 305 with a cam?
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Old May 10, 2013 | 01:52 PM
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Re: new project, 305 to 350, help!

And where is the code on the rear?
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Old May 10, 2013 | 01:58 PM
  #13  
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Re: new project, 305 to 350, help!

Your best bang for the buck will be an L31 Vortec 350 from a 96-98 truck. It will require a new 4bbl intake, but it's by far the best used 350 you'll find.
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Old May 10, 2013 | 04:20 PM
  #14  
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Re: new project, 305 to 350, help!

how much do they run for?
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Old May 10, 2013 | 09:37 PM
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Re: new project, 305 to 350, help!

Also on a side note you could always buy a regular 350 and find a set of vortec heads and throw a cam at it. At the local junk yard they usually go for about 350 bucks not sure on the straight vortec 350s though. I thought there were a sb version and bb version of the q-jets but im not really familiar with them other then my brother had one on his stage 1 455
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Old May 11, 2013 | 05:53 AM
  #16  
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Engine: bolt on 305 tpi
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Re: new project, 305 to 350, help!

my 78 trans am has the factory 800cfm qjet..my old 78 camaro had a 750.
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Old May 11, 2013 | 06:59 AM
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Engine: 403 LSx (Pending) / 355 Tuned Port
Transmission: T56 Magnum (Pending) / T5
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Re: new project, 305 to 350, help!

Originally Posted by 89formyoula
how much do they run for?
Call a junk yard in your area and ask for a 350 for a 98 Silverado.
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Old May 12, 2013 | 08:49 AM
  #18  
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Car: 89 formula
Engine: bolt on 305 tpi
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Re: new project, 305 to 350, help!

can i run hei on it with no problem? what about the flywheel? and headers?
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Old May 12, 2013 | 09:48 AM
  #19  
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Transmission: T56 Magnum (Pending) / T5
Axle/Gears: 3.42 / ?
Re: new project, 305 to 350, help!

It's all fine. The only difference in using Vortec heads is the need for a new intake manifold. Otherwise it's just another 1 piece RMS roller cam small block.
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Old May 12, 2013 | 12:45 PM
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Engine: bolt on 305 tpi
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Re: new project, 305 to 350, help!

So when I get headers..just get some for a 350 tpi car? What intake and carb should I run? The car already needs a new clutch...should I just get an stock one?
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Old May 12, 2013 | 01:40 PM
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Transmission: T56 Magnum (Pending) / T5
Axle/Gears: 3.42 / ?
Re: new project, 305 to 350, help!

yeah, regular thirdgen headers. Intake and carb choices should be made exactly the same way you would for a non vortec motor, but just make sure you get the vortec version of the intake. Edelbrock, GM, Weiand, whatever. I'm sure something like a Performer RPM or equivalent and a 650 Holley would work well.
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Old May 16, 2013 | 06:06 AM
  #22  
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Car: 89 formula
Engine: bolt on 305 tpi
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Re: new project, 305 to 350, help!

will going carb down the power any?
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Old May 16, 2013 | 10:28 AM
  #23  
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Re: new project, 305 to 350, help!

Vortec heads can't take much lift stock about .480 max I know a guy that had a TA with that engine and had a zz4 cam in it and killed 2 springs in no time. Zz4 cam has a little over .500 lift
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Old May 16, 2013 | 01:44 PM
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Car: 89 formula
Engine: bolt on 305 tpi
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Re: new project, 305 to 350, help!

will it break the stock t5? i just need it to last a few months haha
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Old May 16, 2013 | 01:45 PM
  #25  
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Engine: bolt on 305 tpi
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Re: new project, 305 to 350, help!

Originally Posted by Sojer
Vortec heads can't take much lift stock about .480 max I know a guy that had a TA with that engine and had a zz4 cam in it and killed 2 springs in no time. Zz4 cam has a little over .500 lift

what about a lt4 cam?
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Old May 18, 2013 | 04:28 PM
  #26  
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Engine: bolt on 305 tpi
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Re: new project, 305 to 350, help!

Will I have to run an electric fuel pump? What about the distributor? And ignition?
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Old May 18, 2013 | 04:56 PM
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Car: 1987 IROC-Z red t-top
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Re: new project, 305 to 350, help!

If u running carb no, efi yes. I don't know what the LG4 code is, H.O. 305 with q jet I think. But its a carbed car. Just keep it simple, I don't know what u want from it but get any 350 (that's worth buying) if u know how to work on them than put a cam with aroung .480 lift a most stock carb intakes should be good and a carb size about 600 cfm. Get a new clutch while u at it. You will have good clean fun. Vortecs heads are ok but to me not worth the trouble for what they put out. Some stock 113 heads flow about the same but can take more lift and they are lighter. They are the some heads used on the zz4 crate motor and that puts out 355 hp 405 torque.
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Old May 22, 2013 | 11:34 PM
  #28  
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Car: 88 Firebird Formula W/T-Tops
Engine: 5.0 (305)
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Re: new project, 305 to 350, help!

HI, i have a 88 firebird formula 5.0 and i just bought a 350 out of a 99 yukon, the guy told me that it should drop right in, is this true?? if not what would i need?? im pretty sure both of them are injected, im in a crises!! never done a swap before and i have a deadline !!
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Old May 23, 2013 | 09:21 AM
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Re: new project, 305 to 350, help!

Is your 305 (5.0) TBI or TPI. It will drop right in but its some stuff u will need to buy. A 350 ESC and knock sensor if the 350 don't have one. I'm not sure if the truck intake will fit under the hood and u can't use your old one. Use your oil pan of the 305.
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Old May 24, 2013 | 03:24 AM
  #30  
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Car: 91 Camaro RS, 84 2.8 5speed
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Re: new project, 305 to 350, help!

Look for a 350 vortec block out of a newer Chevy SUV
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Old May 24, 2013 | 09:29 AM
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Axle/Gears: 3.42 / ?
Re: new project, 305 to 350, help!

Originally Posted by Jk_Under
Look for a 350 vortec block out of a newer Chevy SUV
That's the same motor that the entire 2nd half of this threaf is about.
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Old May 24, 2013 | 12:51 PM
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Car: 88 Firebird Formula W/T-Tops
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Re: new project, 305 to 350, help!

um im not sure if its tbi or tpi, where does it say?? ESC ...so new computer and knock sensor, maybe a intake?? i bought this car awhile ago and ive only seen it a few times, busy with music, just pulled her out and trying to get her right.
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Old May 24, 2013 | 05:12 PM
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Car: 1987 IROC-Z red t-top
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Re: new project, 305 to 350, help!

U have to look it up go to 305 to 350 tpi swap
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Old May 25, 2013 | 10:30 AM
  #34  
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Car: 88 Firebird Formula W/T-Tops
Engine: 5.0 (305)
Transmission: Auto
Re: new project, 305 to 350, help!

ok, what does ESC stand for?? they keep saying electric starter control at auto zone , so will both TBI N TPI engines drop in pretty easy then or is there one i CANT use,will it run smooth with just the esc n sensor
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