Some of you may recall I posted a while back concerning my idle issues on my 305TPI. Anyway, my car developed this nice ticking sound which may be the rocker arms or it may be the lifters. The car will be comming back to me sometime early this week. Now that I will have my car back soon I have a few questions.

The first thing is when I got the car the timing was WAY advanced on it. We found it to be about 20 or so degrees. Oddly enough it never gave me heat issues. It always felt alot more powerful than I thought an LB9 engine should be stock anyway. I have been told that I should set the timing at about 10 degrees. Default timing is 6. My question is this. Will this hurt anything? How much HP/TQ is it going to give me if any?

Now my plans are to swap the engine out for a more powerfull one. I have not decided what route to go. I do not want to spend to much money as that is not to realistic. I am wanting to get into the 13's with this car eventually. I may go the LT1 swap route. I may get a 350 crate motor and go that way. I don't want to spend more than 4K on the engine. I also have to keep it emissions legal. (Sucks)

I wish to add accessories and beef up the drivetrain before I get ready to drop the engine in. What I want to know is what is the best bang for the buck on parts that will work on my current 305 and later a 350 that will give me the most for the dollar? I know I will need headers, cat back exhaust. Beyond those things I know should work with both engines. what else should I aquire to get ready for a 350? Is it possible to get into the 13's on a 4K budget. My engine is low mileage so I am not opposed to building the 305 out. I know the 350 is more robust however.

Any and all advice would be appreciated. Sorry about the length of my questions. Moderators If this should be on the motor swap board please move it. I didn't know which board would be more appropriate as I am not necessarily going to swap the engines. But I might. Thanks.
:hail:

 

87,

It's getting pretty close to decision time. Although the headers will work on either engine, the question of which headers to install may depend on your engine selection. Headers with 1-5/8" primary tubes are more appropriate for a 305, while 1-3/4" tubes may be better suited to a 350 at higher RPM. The same works for the exhaust tubes. A 350 probably demands a 3" single tube, while a 305 can survive nicely with a smaller tube and still maintain decent flow velocity.

If you are itching to spend cash, you might want to consider suspension and body modifications that will compliment either engine. Subframe connectors and reinforced lower control arms are a nice improvement for any engine setup. An appropriate ring and pinion gear ratio for whatever kind of driving you're planning can be done before the engine swap with positive results.
As for engine modifications, there isn't much that you can bolt on the 305 that will transfer to a 350 with similar benefits. If you're switching to an LT1, it makes litte sense to change the camshaft, port the intake/plenum, do any head work, etc. Also, the LT1 will require a different header set to provide an EGR tube connection (since you must remain emissions legal) and an oxygen sensor on both banks. And getting a cat-back at this point may be wasted money/effort if it doesn't match to your eventual header set.

 

I appreciate the advice. I will have to make my decision soon.