Just wondering how hard it'd be, and how much it'd cost to overhaul/rebuild my 305 if i did all the work. It's got 130,000 origional miles....i just wanna make sure everthing's in good working condition, so i don't end up blowing it up or something.

Thanks

Later~

 

130k is next to nothing if it has had regular maintenance. About the only things that typically go "bad" are valve stem seals. They can be replaced without disassembling the engine - just remove valve covers and sparkplugs, hold the valves closed either by air pressure or rope stuffed in the cyliner, replace the seals on one cylinder at a time. Requires removing the rocker arms and a spring compressor to remove the valve springs.

My shortblock had over 166k on it when pulled in favor of a 350 shortblock - it was doing fine, I'm just upgrading. It really doesn't make much sense to rebuild a 305, when you can rebuild a 350 for the same or less money - buying a builder 350 isn't that expensive.

 

Ditto five7. I'd change the oil, valve seals, and the timing set and call it good. I haven't been into a TPI motor, but assume its got a nylon cam gear. Get it out, one of these weekends, and put in a roller timing set. It could bring back a little lost spunk too.

 

Yes, timing chain/gears are potential wearers, should have mentioned that. My originals came out at 141k when I did my original 305 upgrades, the chain wasn't badly stretched or the gear worn, but it isn't unusual for them to do that when the miles start piling up.

 

Nylon gears often look pretty good right up until they start tossing teeth. I know I'm dating myself, but 60's & early 70's 302 ford motors were notorious for jumping time. Could be because they were about the only motors of the time capable of racking up 200K mi before overhaul.

 

if you do end up rebuilding it... if you don't have the tools, youll have to send your block off to a machine shop so they can measure it for main bore alignment, main taper, deck warpage, cyclider taper and out of roundness, and to be all cleaned up...which useually you will be coughing up a pretty pennie. while your at the crank will need to be mic'd..basically you can't do much of the work (except disassembling/ assembling it) unless you have the tools, knowledge, yadi yada...