herders

Hello Al,
I have an opportunity to get :
1 - a ls-3 5.3L with all the accessories - $400 for eveything - local
2 - I think LB89 350 5.7L, block need to overbored, and the pistons and crank are finished 150 for block no accessories - have to rent a truck 4 hr round trip
3 - LT-1 block $75 - heads $150 - have to rent a truck 4 hr round trip

Which would you take?

The only other piece that is giving a trouble is I do not have a plase to put the engines - I will say that loosely, and I really do not want to spend on a storage locker for the time being.

Drew

iTrader: (58)

You'll shoot your eye out.

If you don't know what you want, what you're looking at, and don't have a place to put an engine, you're already in over your head. Keep reading and saving your money. Don't buy anything until you know what you want.

herders

Thanks for the comment...sometimes we just need to be told.

Paul

Drew

iTrader: (58)

Thirdgens take up a lot of room when you blow them apart for an engine swap. Things can get crowded when you've got the car in a two car garage. Figure on all the acessories laid out, exhaust, radiator, hoses, belts, etc. It takes some room. A long block can be shoved almost anywhere.

An LS swap is entirely different from a Gen I small block, or even an LT1. There's a lot that goes into just swapping a 305 for a 350, specifically finding a 350 that will bolt in with the existing peripherals. The idea that all small block chevys interchange gets complicated when not all small block heads have the right bolt patterns for thirdgen exhaust manifolds, or post-87 intake bolt angles, or a passenger's side dipstick that won't hit thirdgen exhaust manifolds. Then there's the one piece rear main seal on 86 up engines, and the 153 tooth flywheel used on thirdgens, oh and the starter bolt patterns since the starter has to match the flywheel and earlier SBCs don't have the staggered bolt pattern...

You get the idea. You don't want to drive 4hrs and put cash on the table until you have these things figured out. Once you have a REALLY good handle on it, allow yourself a good week or two to get the job done. Longer if you're working evenings after a day job or have responsibilities like wife, kids, family. It takes time and money to do the job right, and the research is clean and doesnt cost anything, the acquiring the actual engine - that's the easy part.

Jeremy85

Simply replacing a 305 with a 350 is not that hard, and is a good start for newbs. The LS swap is certainly more challenging, I've helped with 3, but it can be done in a single car carport. The 5.3 is more desirable, but more costly to get driving. The LT1 bolts in like the 305, but with the wiring problems of the LS, except LT wiring doesn't transfer to LS.
IDK your experience level, but swapping the 305 for a 350 really should wait until you either can pay a reputable shop to do it, or you have done all the common bolt-ons yourself.