Ok, heres the big long story lol.

Ive been consdering as of late to sell or trade my 92 RS for an AWD 1G Talon. Sounds crazy but Ive always had a thing for those cars and I want to get it out of my system, consdering they are the only imports I like. Well and the fact that I have a long commute to work and the Camaro is murdering my wallet. So, Ive got a guy coming to look at it this week and Im then going to sell my little ATV and take the money from both things and find me an AWD 1G DSM. As much as Ill miss the Camaro, I know Ill still have the Berly. Here's the dilemma.

I had planned this winter to build the RS, drop a 350/355/383 into it, put my Edelbrock Pro FLo FI setup on it and an auto (probably TH350) with a stall behind it and some 3.42's or 3.73's. Well, after I thought about it, I kinda started looking at DSM's. I thought about the bodywork and suspension/steering work I needed to do and it kinda discouraged me, plus the fact I dont have the cash to truly build 2 Camaros at the same time.

Anyways, yesterday I was looking through the classifieds, just browsin and found me one hell of a deal and I bought it fast. Its a TH350 short tail that was recently rebuilt...talking it has about 500 miles or so on it. Nothing wrong with it, the guy just wanted a T56...I snagged it for 45 bucks!!! So, I got it and started looking again through the paper. And found a mid 70's 350 running. Guy wants 350 bucks for it. its a 4 bolt main block, complete, 78,000 miles on it. Here's the numbers he supplied me:

Back of block: 3970610

Heads: 388882

Now, from my quick observation, I noticed what I believe to be 882 heads. I know I know, they do suck but they are not bad for some factory heads. It did come from a van so I expected the 4 bolt main block. Heres my question:

- Should I buy the 350? I dont want a major overhaul project but something simple. I figure I could get a mild cam to put in, maybe some 1.6 roller rockers, and drop it in. What kind of HP expectations should I expect? If I did this Id want to get close to LS1 (low 13's) territory. My plan would be to pull my cammed 305 (all the work I did over the summer null and void ) then take this 350, put my Vic Jr or a Performer RPM intake with my Holley 600 on top, put a good cam into it, and put my TH350 with a 3000 stall behind it, back it with some 3.73 gears and go with it....would it be worth it, could I see some low 13's or even possibly a high 12 out of this setup without touching the heads? BTW, I figure I could sell my 305 for about 400 bucks considering it runs strong (minuis carb problems) and has an aftermarket cam.

I could use the FI setup in the t-top but its got its small issues and Im kinda picky when it comes to stuff...So im waiting till I find the right car to put the FI setup on and that car was thought to be the RS and thats why Im asking this, what kind of stuff can I expect from a motor liek that? If it went in the T-top, I wouldnt have to spendm uch to drop and roll with it. But if it went into the Rs, Id have to buy headers and stuff but Ive always liked how my RS has ridden, smooth and it just feels nicer than my Berly. Sorry to waste space on here but I dont want to buy this motor and not do much better than Ill be doing with my 305 finished. Thanks alot.

BTW, I know I could buy some AFR's or World heads for the 350 but then Id be building a 383 and about 2500 in stuff....my idea is to keep the heads on and just pop a cam in.

 

They suck. They are terrible. People have a hard time breaking out of the 14s with those, no matter what else the engine is built out of.

Sounds to me like it's a short block, and some stuff you'd be better off to just leave behind. It would be interesting to find out why the guy is selling it.... like, does it have trouble with starters.

It is NOT a good foundation for anything dimly resembling a "performance" buildup, as it sits. If you're looking for something you can put a cam in and get some power out of, I'd suggest you pass on that and keep looking.

 

Well, he's selling it because after pulling the motor, to drop into his car, he sold the car and still had the motor.....now he has a 93 RX7 so he has no need for it...I told him to drop the motor into his RX7, many good times there lol but he didnt. He says the oil pan and such is still there. intake as well, its for a 2barrel carb.

So, you are saying I should just not worry about it? Or is it worth perhaps buying and dropping in with the cam? I know my 305 in my Camaro is going to run low 9's and should hit a 9 flat once I finish it. the last things I have to do is put my 3.73's in and my 3000 stall and TH350 in and right now, from a roll, my buddys Lincoln that runs 9.6's sees tail lights so I know its going to be quick, just the crap tranny, peg leg and untuned carb kill me out of the hole.

BTW, insane idea, what would some LG4 heads do on a 350? just curious? I have an extra LG4 on a stand. Better or worse results? curious

 

Another question, I found 2 differant LT1's for under 800 bucks. no intakes, how hard are they to install in a 3rd Gen? Id most likely go carb or EFI whichever one is cheaper....basically, I need to know how cheap it is to drop them, is it liek the V8 swap in an S10, where you just get adapters for the motor mounts and some small customization and its in? Just wondering, thanks.

SOrry to sound like im wasting space, I want ot test options before I do all the car switching and motor investing lol.