...what all could be done under a reasonable budget as an overhaul? I'm definitely an amateur, just doing this as a hobby. I'm considering doing this as more of a learning experience than anything else, but of course I'd like my car to run faster & better as a result. Keep in mind that I'm just tossing this idea around in my head, because I think it would be better to start off slow like this rather than just have an engine dropped into it & not learn anything about it. New headers, lifters, cam, gaskets, hell... even new pistons. Whatever you think. I just want some helpful opinions and advice. So what do you guys think?

 

Well, if you wanna learn, why not go through a rebuild kit. Maybe do a little bit hotter cam, port the heads, or maybe get a set of 350 vortec heads milled down to 58cc. Slap a full exhaust on there, and get the top-end ported if keeping TPI is your thing. That'd help you learn plenty, and a vortec headed 305 can be pretty stout.

 

Don't do pistons. If the cylinders are worn to the point that it needs to be bored out and new pistons installed, go find a 350 shortblock and work with that instead. Seriously. It'll be no more expensive, and possibly cheaper, and the results much more rewarding.

The heads are decent parts. You could take them to a machine shop and have a basic rebuild done on them, with new valve stem seals and new valve springs and retainers. Or, you could have the shop machine them for 1.94" intake valves, do a port clean-up job on them, then have them put together with new 1.94" intake valves and the above seals & springs. They could go back on the still-okay 305, or the newly aquired and rebuilt 350.

Then, cam, lifters, headers, gaskets. If you are feeling your oats, a new intake manifold. Certainly a better air cleaner than the stock single-snorkel.

 

haha, deja-vu?
This sounds exactly like my first post here on TGO
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tech...st-honing.html

I ended up just getting a 350 and doing a semi budget build up on it. Very rewarding experience for sure. It's tough wrecking something due to your inexperience, so doing a cheap motor is a good thing, you have less $$ in it in case something is pooched. *cough* like a cam wiping out *cough*

 

Cool, thanks for the info guys. Anything else I need to look into? Any books or guides or anything?

 

I'm glad to hear that your cough has cleared up! Seems to me that it was a pretty bad one....

 

yea, it caused a nervous twitch and a short term bout of tourettes

"How to rebuild your SBC" by vizard is a good rebuild book. Shows lots of pictures, and lots of little things that ideally your experienced helper would be showing you. So when that experienced helper does not exist, the book is golden.

 

Cool thanks. I'll check that out. Probably a stupid question, but what's an SBC?

 

Small Block Chevy

 

Small Block Chevy. Such as a 305, 350, 383, 400, or all the other older combinations that you probably won't be running across.

 

Ahh, gracias. I should have known that.

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tech...ing-books.html

 

for like 10 bucks theres a dvd on ebay of guy who goes through a 350, and rebuilds it. I bought it when i bought my car, and seriously its very helpful cause you actually see someone doing it.