Hey guys,
I am 17 years old and own a 91' Camaro RS. This is my first car. Being a fan of muscle I love it. Its got the flow master 40 series exhaust so it sounds nice. Nice tires and the body and interior is in great shape. Basic 700r4 working great. New radiator. It has a 305 TBI that's on its last leg. Starting to burn oil and surges sometimes at stoplights. Power is low. So as someone who works a minimum wage job I don't have the option to just buy new car. I want to switch to a good old 350.
My plan is to buy a 350 on craigslist and rebuild it. Nothing special I just want a nice running engine. Only mods I might do would be a mild cam and some top end work. Then when the engine is built and ready to drop pull the 305 out and put the 350 in. Obviously its a little more complicated than that but that's the plan. My question is should I stick with the TBI or go to a carb? I hate fooling around with electronics so I am inclined to just pull the computer out and go with the carb. This seems a lot simpler to me. I have heard that the modern carbs are pretty reliable (edlebrock and walbro)? What changes would I have to do to my fuel system to support a carb?
I am planning on getting the engine ready by the time schools out (wont need a car everyday). Then giving myself a solid week to do the swap. Does this sound like a good plan? I know if its done right it wont take that long but this is my first time pulling an engine. However I am considerable more mechanically inclined than most people my age. And I have some local guys to consult if I run into problems.
What do you guys think?

 

What's complicated , you already have all the TBI wiring in place so no electronic changes needed.

All you need is the 350 TBI specific stuff

All detailed in this 305 - 350 swap thread
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tbi/...-350-swap.html

Nothing to do with reliability ; a carb does not give the accurate fuel control EFI does under any conditions

 

Isn't there some tuning that has to be done? Im talking about PROM burning.

 

Am I correct in saying I can buy a older 350 with a carb and replace the intake with the one off of my 305 and have a 350 TBI? Or are there other differences in the engine?

 

You COULD use an older 350...but things like the crank changed....nothing that isn't adaptable. But you are better off finding a 350 from a early 90's truck and it'll fit like factory. All you'll need is the correct injectors etc linked above. Fair warning though, it still won't be a performance machine. Faster than before but not by much.

A better suggestion is to find a good running 305 (they're super cheap) of the same era and swap it. Wait till you have money and knowledge before you go for performance. Trust me, its takes a lot of both to do it right.

 

I would go with a carb. I hate dealing with electronics. My edelbrock carb has not given me problems at all. All I did was set it and go and I don't even use the chokes! 80 degrees or 25 degrees, still starts right up and I just go.

 

Not really looking for performance. Just reliability. But if I'm going to be swapping the engine why not go for a 350? Seems to cost about the same as a 305 and when it's time for me to start doing performance upgrades then I have an engine to use.

 

That is the only good reason to stay with the 305. You have to change nothing. Nothing to make it anymore difficult to troubleshoot when you have a problem. 350's are everywhere. You can get one anytime. Gain some money, build a real engine exhaust and drivetrain, all the while your car still runs and drives RELIABLY.

 

I can see how that could be a good option. My thinking is this. When I decide to put some money into making this car fast ill most likely build a 383 or a fully built 350. So if I am buying a motor now why not get a strong 350 that I can use some parts from when I decide to build a performance engine? See my thinking?

 

Not if you have a memcal ( chip ) from a 350 TBI engine in your computer

 

Just save up and buy a 632

 

That's the right idea!

If you want to buy a 350 and put it in there you can. You want reliable now, right? So worry about that now. Maybe down the line you want real power. By that time you could swap in a supercharged LS2 and blow away any 350. Then what was the point of buying the 350 in the first place? TOTALLY up to YOU. Again, if you want a 350 and want reliable, I suggest changing as little as possible and find a early 90's 350 and everything should slide right back together. View the links posted above and find what you need.

 

I think I now might buy a remanufactured long block of a 305 or 350 from the TBI era. Then I should be able to use the valve covers, intake and accessory's and other miscellaneous parts off my 305 TBI right? And if I decide with the 350 ill just need 350 injectors, knock sensor, chip and ESC?

 

I would go with the 350 and carb it. I did the 305 and upgrades, the tbi cam, intake, spacer, chip, and even just putting a carb on it, in the end ran so much better. What I ended up doing that worked the best on my 305 was putting vortec heads and a high rise intake on it. i got the heads for free so it was worth the time. I was like you when i bought mine (a little older). If i had to do it again i would just put my money towards a 350, mild cam and a carb.

 

The #1 reason a 305 starts using oil is hardened/cracked valve stem seals. That can be fixed without even removing the heads.

Surging could be related to the oil use. The exhaust crossover passages tend to get clogged with carbon when oil use is high, which blocks off the EGR exhaust gas source. Messes with the computer's head. There could be other issues, but typically they aren't something that require an engine overhaul or replacement. You'll probably have to take the intake manifold off to clean up the crossover passages (if they are indeed plugged up), but that's a lot less work than an engine overhaul or replacement.

If reliability is your #1 goal, then the likelihood of needing to rebuild or replace the engine is somewhere between slim to none.

If you're looking for an excuse to put in a bigger or more powerful engine, that's a different story...

But, given: 1) 17 years old; and 2) minimum wage job - you're probably best off addressing the existing minor issues that most likely have a relatively simple and inexpensive solution.

 

How would you go about fixing hardened/cracked valve stem seals without removing the heads?

 

Update.
I think I am going to go with a remanufactured/rebuilt 350 or 305 long block. I have a F-16 cockpit simulator project that i'm going to sell. This should fund most of this project. Still leaving me with plenty of cash in the bank. Since i'm going to have the engine out of the car I plan to do an AC delete, replace power steering pump, new water pump. Starter and alternator are still working great so I see no need to replace them. In fact I just came home from the bank and car started fine in the -8 degree Minnesota air. Radiator has about 50 miles on it so do thermostat and hoses. Is there anything else I should replace while the engine is out? Will do 02 sensors, plugs, wires as well as Throttle body rebuild.