Ive been thinking of a motor swap, but i think it would be good for me to practice on my current engine, the lovely, LO3. I was thinking, if I replaced the cam, heads, and intake, headers, im sure I could get it to around 300 ponies right? I coudl then add NOS or a blower so my 305 might have some potential. Am I correct?

How much would you estiamte teh parts I need for 300 hp would cost?

cam: 200-300?
heads: 500-700?
intake: 300?
headers: 300?
NOS: 500-600?

total: $2000

Does his sound about right? I mean that would make a serious machine. Am I missing obvious stuff?

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89 camaro 305 tbi, flomaster 3 chamber cat back, gutted cat, Edlebrock open element, 2 kicker comp 12"'s, polk for the rest. Phoenix gold xs2300 to subs, kicker impulse 404XI to 4 speakers, pioneer DEH- P7000R head unit, and finally a 12 disc changer. Full leather interior from MrMikes.com

 

cam: 200-300?
heads: 500-700?
intake: 300?
headers: 300?
NOS: 500-600?

i think those are a bit high.. a cam(hyd. flat tappet) can be had for around a hundred.. i recommend comp cams xtreme energy. heads, i'd go for a set of vortec's for under 500, headers, 2-300, nos, if you want to add it, is 400 for a 100hp kit... i wouldnt though. if perhaps you do go that route, you will want to get a better fuel pump, and make sure your carb can dish out the required fuel. if its mod'ing your current engine is what you want, then do what you list there. if you simply want more power, i'd go for a crate engine, such as the 330hp 350 offered by GMPP(GM performance parts) for around 2k.

 

The engine you have is a roller cam, and replacements are more expensive than the flat tappet mtx speaks of. However, if you do go flat tappet (which would typically come with lifters for that price), you would also have to change the push rods and timing gear set (it could be argued that you should change the timing set even if you keep the roller cam). I'd recommend sticking with the roller setup myself, which would put you in the price range you estimated.

Vortec heads aren't that good of a deal for 305's (and have disadvantages for 350's). You'd have to get them milled to keep your compression up, since they have 64cc chambers and your 305 has 58cc. Then, you should have your intake milled to match to ensure a good seal. Vortecs have press-in rocker studs, which with a healthy cam should be converted to screw-in - more machining expense. And, you need to watch your cam lift because stock Vortec springs are lift-limited, so another potential expense. By the time you get the Vortecs "right", you could have bought a set of World 305 S/R Torquers for less money (about what you estimated) that you could bolt on out of the box.

If you do cam, heads, intake and exhaust, and then add NOX, take the extra step of getting a good ignition system with rev limiter. The 305 lower end is pretty stout, but will grenade if spun too hard too fast. You could probably have your 300 HP without the NOX, and it would hold together a lot longer to boot.

You listed intake, but didn't indicate if you planned on keeping your TBI (rather than switch to carb, as mtx seemed to assume). You'd probably do well to get a higher flowing TB, but might get by with stock. The guys on the TBI board could probably answer that question better.

You could do this for less than a crate engine (you'd have to do intake and headers on it anyway) - but how "serious" a machine it would then be is still in the eyes of the beholder.

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82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R. 2.73 unlimited slip. Cat-back from '91 GTA, Accel HEI SuperCoil. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily driver, work-in-progress (LB9 w/ZZ3 cam, TBD heads, exhaust, paint, etc.).
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. 0.030 over 396, Weiand Action+, Edelbrock 1901 Q-Jet, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" headers, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & shift kit, 3.08 10-bolt, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Best 15.1 @ 5800' Bandimere. Daily driver while Camaro was being put together.

 

I have been that route and from my own experince the 305 needs a strong bottom end,mine did'nt and after $3150.70 going down the drain and saying every curse word in the book I went and got a 383. A crate engine can very easily give you all the power you want for about the same price and with out the headache. TO HELL WITH 305s I'VE HAD IT WITH THEM.

 

What you need to do is visit my site.

I did this very thing.
http://www.isthq.com/~dan/fcar.html



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Daniel Burk
http://www.isthq.com/~dan/fcar.html
'84 Trans Am WS6/L69
KB SFC, Moser axles, Torsen Diff. PST suspension, Braided stainless brake lines, Koni struts, 11-inch rear disks,Spohn Adj. torque arm,
Ported 305 heads w/1.94"intake valves, Comp Cams XE262H, Griffen alum. radiator,
Turbine Technologies 2500 stall converter, underdrive pulleys, Crane Hi-6 & more.
1.05g skidpad verified.
New best E/T! 14.039 at 100.82 MPH in 41 degree air at Stanton, Michigan.

 

DTP,

You mentioned the dilemma over an engine swap versus a buildup. Why not do both? You can find a healthy, running 350 in many bone yards for under $400. Put another $80.00 into an engine stand, park it in the corner of the garage, and take your time building the 350. You can work on it as time and wallet permit, all while still driving you car. When it's ready, make the swap. You'll have plenty of time to research you build options, change whatever you want, and can even afford to make some mistakes, since you'll have a "spare" 305 when the job is done.

Just my 2¢

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Later,
Vader
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"No matter how hard you try you can't stop us now"
Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0

 

i like your idea vader.

 

Vortech heads are the only ones that you should be able to buy from $500 to $700. Edelbrocks, TF, and AFRs are over $1000 a pair I think.

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1987 Chevy Camaro IROC-Z
L98 TPI 350 (5.7L)
TH 700R-4 Transmission with 2.77:1 Rear End

Current Mods: Edelbrock TES 1 5/8" Headers, Hooker 3" Aerochamber Cat-Back System, Performance Resource Chip with 160* Thermostat, Accel Ignition Coil, Cap, Rotor, 8.8mm Wires, K&N Filters, JET TPI Air Foil, All Free Mods, Falken ZIEX Z-Rated Tires.

Best ET : 14.32 @ 97.7mph
(corrected for elevation)

Soon to come: LT4 HOT Cam, Air Flow Research 190cc Heads, 2800 RPM Stall Converter and SLP 3.70 Rear End Gears.