Well the 357 is in, I'm not impressed but I dident expect to be, as long as it doesent smoke and gets descent fuel economy which it does I'm happy.
Besdies that stuff I do have a few issues and could use some advice.
The fisrt thing is no biggie but the dipstick tube is on the DSL and I had to flatten it out and smash it against the stock exhuast manifold for it to work. Does anyone know where I can get a dipstick tube that mounts on the pan like some BB's??
The second issue is with the PSR exhuast manifold, it doesent fit these early LT1 heads "3973487". I"m stuck with an exhuast leak that's horrible, any options as far as a stock type exhaust manifold that will fit without reworking the entire exhuast system?
The last issue I'm having is an ignition bog, the advance does not seem to work. This was a problem before I replaced the old engine but worse sicne this engine wants more timing. I can hook up the vacuum pump the the vacuum advance and it will pull it and the weights do seem free. Ive tried an HEI trick kit to see if it helps but it dident. It acts like the weigts are sticking but they move freely. I tried the stock weights and light springs and every combo and it still acts like it not getting full advance. Yes it is a non CC HEI and is hooked up to, I tryed ported and full manifold vacuum niether can seem to get the advance where it should be. I also re-shimmed the distributor, the weights dont over lap and move freely by hand.
I dunno, it seems like I'm SOL any way I go.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

buy a new distributor. if it fixes it good. if it doesnt just take it back and ask more questions. thats what i would do.

 

Check the underside of your rotor carefully; or just buy another high-quality brand of one. They sometimes interfere with the weights.

The dipstick you want needs a pan too; it's the stock pan for a 78 El Camino 305. I have one of those in my driveway, has the fitting in the driver's side of the pan. Probably any A or G body application from about 78 and 79 will do. Shouldn't be too hard to get from the buzzard.

 

That motor should be reasonably quick, that is like my exact setup in my firebird. I even have the 487 casting heads, but they are bone stock off the truck I got the motor out of. Once you get the problems out of it, it should have much more power than your 305. My car would easily decimate my LG4, by like bus lengths and buslengths. I am able to break the tires loose in the rain by flooring it at 50 mph. I just finally got done tuning my carb, and it has to rain. I would try to tune it. All I know is mine is running well, and feels faster than my buddies 93 lightly modded formula. Shoot for about new LT1 performance with that cam, I beleive youve got around the same cam as I do.

 

SSC, your exhaust leak is caused by the lack of the seventh
exhaust bolt hole on those "487" heads. Your favorite auto machine shop can get a "late" manifold to "early" head
adapter plate CHC-10 from Goodson Auto Machine shop Tools and
Supplies in Winona, Mn. to space the driver's side manifold away from the head for dipstick clearance, or to bolt the late Camaro
manifold on the passenger's side early (six bolt) head.
They also have a dipstick conversion casting # OSD-60 which
will allow you to bolt an '80-85 2-piece rear main seal pan to the
earlier block with the dipstick on the driver's side of the upper
block. I've used the OSD-60 on a 400 SBC and it worked fine.
It uses a stock Camaro RH dipstick and tube, too

 

Thanks for the replies guys!
I knew I had seen a SBC with that type of dipstick setup I just couldent remember what it was on.
I'm going to work on it today, I slaped a Q-jet on it last night and ran it out of gas before I could tune it, LOL. The Q-jet actually did some good power wise buit there still the major ignition bog holding it back.