So I have a 1988 305 sbc engine with the computer controlled quadrajet and the th200r transmission.

I have access to a very inexpensive 1985 crate engine.

The car currently has rod knock and is running on borrowed time.

I want to swap from a 305 to a 350.

305 is 1 piece rear main seal (1988).
350 is 2 piece rear main seal. (1985).

Besides the flex plate being swapped from an externally balanced style to a neutrally balanced flex plate, what else is required?

will a 2 piece rear main seal engine fit where a 1 piece rear main seal engine once sat with just a new flex plate?

Will it bolt up to the torque converter just fine?

online they specify "fits applications up to".... and 85 is the cut off year.

how difficult is it to make a pre 86 350 fit into an 88 vehicle?

 

There are so many SBC's around, you're better off getting another 1 pc RMS block. They were significantly better than the 2pc blocks.

If you insist on using it, you need a new flexplate and probably a new knock sensor but Im not too familiar with the CC QJets. I think I remember reading that they are pretty versatile as far as adjusting to different engines goes.

The engine mounts will work. The accessories you have will work. The torque converter will work. The flexplate is the main difference. You might have fun dealing with the dipstick if it interferes with your headers, but im not sure what years they changed all that around. It may be the same.

The intake bolts may be at different angles if you need to switch intakes, but this is a common problem a lot of people successfully deal with if you come across it.

 

A 1996 to 2000 truck engine which is a 1pc L31 vortec hydro roller engine is what your looking for. The idea that crate engines have value has yrs ago past. All to many of those crate engines have the cheap re-builded pistons in them with piston pin heights that are very poor for any performance use and that is only one part of them not to use them.If you look at the quality of the Jasper engines and how bad that has slipped,it is a intricate's in the big picture the loss value of "crate" engines.Also the "crate" GM engines are cheapened up being now produced off shore.Bottom line is you trust who you shave everyday,that beening you and build you own engine.