I have just dissasembled an 84 l69 (305 HO) engine with 85,000 miles on it. It's very cherry. The valve job will cost $60.00, and the total budget is $360.00 So you have $300.00 left, make the best of it. You will ahve to use the stock manifolds with a hi-perf exhaust system and no-cat. The car is going to use the q-jet and the computer. When all is spent the motor has to be complete and ready to run.

 

camshaft definately, then if there would be money left from exaust, get those heads ported, thats what i would do, you could also up the compression with some higher comp pistons

 

Cam!!!! Do it now or regret it later.

 

A set of 3.42 gears would be nice.

But since you have the engine apart it is wisest to port and polish those heads and go for a better cam and lifters. Might I suggest you follow the parts in my sig? And also follow the link at the end of my sig for a good how-to on porting your heads.

Good luck and feel free to contact me if you need help

 

Porting is FREE if you do it yourself do the intake and heads. Buy a cam and spend the rest of the money on gaskets, rings, bearings and other et ceteras...you will eat that budget up quickly.

Running a non computer controlled quadrajet is another cheap option, ditching the computer allows the use of a more radical cam, that's what I did.

 

Cam, lifters, timing set, valve springs, ignition coil & module.

Nothing is "free", including porting. You'll use up stones & rolls, and last I checked, I had to pay to get/replace them.

When you get another $400 ahead, do headers.

The CC setup will handle plenty of cam. Mine idles at 500 in D, and revs happily to 6000.

 

Well if your dad has the attachments for the grinder already, it is effectively free for me.

Seriously, I don't consider tool purchases part of an engine buildup. That's just me though, I guess you could take into account depreciation of the garage if you want to nitpick.

 

Headers. Can't go wrong with headers

 

EDIT

 

strange..... i KNOW that somewhere in this thread i had replied...


heh, probly got deleted because i started out with a smartass comment...