hey guys im new to the F-Body world i just turned 18 the 23rd and as a gift im getting a 1991 firebird roller (always wanted a camaro but i got the next best thing) and i need ideas of where to go for a engine and also how to get her up and running i found a 305 and 350 they are 200 bucks each i planned on picking up the 350

but my question/questions are if i get a 350 chevy engine how hard would it be to get it up and going? also could i come back here to get some help from you guys?

like i said im new to the F-Body world i just need to get my head around the whole thing if you have any info or wiring diagrams or anything that could help me PLEASE email them to me at johnlavinjr_2007@hotmail.com

Thanks for your time

 

Get a solid idea of what you want to do with the car, and the come back to us. We all will be more than happy to help you through it. Get the 350, btw

 

Some pics are always nice. Maybe some basic info on car such as if it was a v6 or v8 ect. Definitely go with a 350 and it's actually pretty easy to get a carbed setup on and running.
Congrats on the bird! Definitely the way to go haha

 

Depending on your budget, skill level, and willingness to step out, there are several recommendations.

To be honest, my first recommendation is a 4.8L or 5.3L LSx out of a truck if you can get the PCM, Harness, and Transmission. Bare bones with factory manifolds, you are looking at solid 300hp and a factory stock drivetrain. So it should be reliable as anything else out there.

The engine/trans would be fairly cheap. The more expensive items would be Accessories, oil pickup, and pan.

There are also Carb options for the LSx series cars. Or you can get a Vortec 350 out of a truck and run the factory thirdgen harness, you'd just need a Vortec intake.

There are lots of options out there.

 

Even though I'm a 305 fan, go for the 350. You have more possibilities. Also, where are you located and what are your smog rules etc? Don't want to ruin your fun but one factor in building your engine.

 

How much money do you have?

What is your goal for the car?

Write everything down.

Price everything out.

Then come back and we can offer some good adivce (and maybe fight among ourselves giving it!!) about how you should proceed.

 

this is the car in question (just now got it yesterday) i found out it was a 305 tbi car im on a smaller budget for now i found a 305 complete from heads to oil pan for 100 dollars i was planning to pick that up for now and throw a intake on it and run the car while trying to build a 350 or 383 what is your suggestions though?

 

im also in maryland smog shouldn't be a issue

 

you still have to determine what your goal is for the car. As someone undergoing their first build (383 stealth ram) I can tell you its A LOT. you honestly wont understand until u start chopping it up and spending money...which btw NEVER ENDS you will never be satisfied. if I could go back Id get an LS crate and be done with it. I could have put heads cam and exhaust swapped for an ls and t56 and spent WAAAYYYY less money and been done by now.

As someone whos driven both a 305 tbi and 350 tpi i can tell you its waaayyy different...tbis are fun for put putting around. low end torque is tons of fun. but thats all its good for. the tpi was way stronger even more low end torque but after 3-4k rpm it was dead.

First you should decide what u want the car to be. is it daily? is it a weekend warrior?
next pick your build and stick with it! thats where i went wrong. its taken me two years just cause i let the build change so many times. ive waisted a ridiculous amount of money doing this.

Best advice is to throw something in to tie u over until youve decided what build you want. Then have at it. one of the 5.3 ls motors take very little effort to achieve results.

hope this helps.

 

I would put the 305 in the car just to get it running for now. If it's already running, I'd not touch it.

My expereince from building my 355, is to PLAN, PLAN, PLAN. Create an excel spread sheet with all of your parts, prices, web site addresses and web links to the parts you want.

Then talk to people about if those parts will fit together. Mix and modify your list until it's where you want it.

I budgeted $4000 for my motor from start to finish. I hit $4400 in the motor alone with parts and labor. I did the install.

I then spent another $2000 on misc. stuff. Coolant, oil, carb rebuilt, etc.

This doensn't include the $2100 I have since put into my transmission, $1000 into rear end parts, or other money I have put into getting Sub frame conectors, new sway bars, wonderbar, etc. As mentioned, it LITERALLY never ends!

So with the motor being the center piece, plan, plan and then plan some more. Do you want to go LS, do you want old school carb? Do you want 400, 427, 383?

Are you then prepared to build the transmission and rear end to hold the new power? Are you ready to get sub frame connectors to stiffen the chassis? Are you ready to invest in new suspension parts and brakes to keep all the power of the new motor under control?

I am not intenting to be a doom-sayer here, or to talk you out of it. I'm only trying to help make you aware of all the associated costs you're getting into.

 

Go down to your local auto parts dealer oriellys or autozone and buy your self a chiltons book for your car. Studyin that helps alot on the wire diagrams and simple repairs. It help me alot when i first got mine.

 

That car needs a significant amount of work, both inside and out. To be honest, at 18, I'm not sure if thats the car you should be purchasing, and would more recommend that you move towards a reliable 2nd hand daily driver. While the car can certainly be brought back, its going to be a long road and require a lot of funds and personal investment of your time. There will also be a learning curve associated in bringing it back.

To be honest, unless you HAVE to drive this car now, I'd skip the 305 purchase entirely and move straight to a Vortec 350, LT1, or LSx based swap. The Vortec 350 will drop right in, you just need a compatible intake. As will the LT1. Though the LT1 will require a PCM and harness. The PCM/Harness goes for a 4.8L or 5.3L based swap as well, but will require the swap mounts, plus F-body accessories, increasing the cost a bit over the LT1 swap.

The Vortec 350 and LT1 can use standard SBC exhaust parts. The LS based swap will require a custom Y-pipe to use the manifolds, or expensive swap headers.

 

honestly i have a dd now which is my 90 dodge dakota 4x4 (parts runner) ive intended to do a good build for a engine i was thinking about buying a lt1 and the 305 dropping the 305 in it now get it back to life and then take and put work into the lt but that was just my opinion what do you guys think?

 

If you have a daily driver, and are willing to learn, and take the time to build it, go directly to LS based swaps.

Its more money, but far more potential, and even if you never mod the swapped engine, it will produce more power than any other stock swap like a L98/LT1/Vortec350.

And then you'll have the platform to build on it as you wish later on down the road.

The newest LT1 out there is 18 years old at this point.

I have an LT1, and I'm staying LT1 because I'm invested in it. It was cheaper for me to spend $1600 on AFR LT1 heads than to make the LSx jump.