So, I've located a possible engine for my car. It's an 85 Z28 and the 305 in it spun a rod bearing. At 140K, I figure since I'm on a budget the best choice would be to just grab a whole new engine.

So I've found this guy who is selling a 350 chevy that was originally in a 72 Chevy pickup. The only problem is the engine is Carbed and my car is native TPI. He is telling me that the intake manifold and TPI setup on my 305 should bolt right up. But I could have sworn that interchanging intake manifolds would only work on engines all manufactured in early - mid eighties.

Also, just a general 305 - 350 question. I believe the lifters in my 305 are Lunati hydraulic. Could the same lifters be used on a 305 and a 350?

 

The intake will swap no problem, everything should bolt up just fine, dipstick may be on wrong side.. the lifters will swap but you need to keep them on the same lobes, so you would be swapping cams as well.. a lifter swap just for the heck of it doesnt make too much sense..

 

Really!? I didn't think the intake would swap.

So Let's say the only thing this engine needs are lifters and pushrods. The lifters mnight swap fine, but I didn't think a 305 cam in a 350 would make too much sense. Whole new set time? Also something to keep in mind is that I think the idiot who had the car before me put performance lifters in but left in the stock cam.

Also one more thing, What type of chip would I need for the ECM? Does the "Corvette chip is needed here because there was no 85 Camaro with a 350" rule apply here?

 

Oh, one more thing. The wiring harness should still work alright with the 72 350 after I swap the intake right? Also, the alternator, PS pump, air pump, compressor and all that jazz which is salvagable from my 305 should hook right up to the '72 350 right?

 

Everything will fit just fine. Anythig that wont fit can be swapped over, no probs.

I'd recommend against swapping lifters over. What's the point of that?

 

swapping in performance lifters will make no noticeable difference on a stock setup unless you have a collapsed lifter or something. On a flat tappet cam once lifters are used they are only good on the lobe that they are currently on, swapping them to a different cam makes no sense at all and would also fail prematurely. A new cam + lifters would really make sense in this situation since its highly doubtful that the cam in that old 350 will be well suited to a tpi application. A flat tappet cam and lifters can be had for under $100 from summit racing, ask other members for suggestion on which to get. Never heard of the "Corvette chip is needed here because there was no 85 Camaro with a 350" rule. From what I've been told you can run a 350 on a 305 chip but it won't run its best. For the most power a custom chip is in order. Also keep in mind the 305s only had 19lb injectors, some people say they work well with a 350 with an adjustable FPR with the pressure pumped up a tad though.
Also find out what heads are on this engine so we can help you pick out a decent cam. It likely has junk smogger heads in which case porting your 305 heads and swapping them on may be a good idea (are your heads salvageable?).