I've got a 305tbi with "unknown" mileage. Odometer froze at 121,610 miles. Now, it did freeze before I got the car. According to CarFax, original owner had it for 12 years, and by 2004, it had about 100k on it. I don't remember everything else it said, but I know it got into the hands of some really dumb people who didn't do any maitenence to it, and when it started running rough, they thought the solution was to mod it, and put a carb on. It had two owners from 2004-2009, and then I bought it from a dealership that got it at an auction. I think it sat around a lot, the exhuast was completely rusted through.

I had to swap it back to tbi, do a full tune up with plugs, wires, filters, dizzy cap and rotor, and replace the fuel pump, and fuel filter (which was completely plugged. After that it has been running great, I have put about 8,000 miles on it, and it was my daily driver to college and back all summer. The mechanic that I was taking it to seemed to think it probably had about 130k on it.

Here's the problem it does have, when it gets warm, it starts ticking, and there is some rattling coming from the engine. I suspect this is all lifter related. It also has a very very small oil leak, it drips a little bit because the oil pan gasket is bad. It only drips maybe 1-2 drops an hour.

We also put an open element on it, and I noticed that the crankshaft ventilation tube has blow-by venting out, so I need to replace my pistion rings then.

I do know, however, know that this car wasn't taken care of for five years, when we pulled the plugs last year, they looked original to the car! I think it was probably beat on at some point, and I wanted to have it rebuilt. But here's my question...

Does the whole engine need to be rebuilt?

Oil pressure on start up is about 55, during driving it goes up and down from 28-30ish to 50+. It seems to hold pretty steady, even on long drives. So does that mean I shouldn't replace my bearings or oil pump?

So your standard rebuild kit has Pistons, Rings, Gaskets, Cam Bearings, Rod Bearings, Main Bearings, Oil Pump, Freeze Plugs, Camshaft, Lifters, and Timing Set.

What do I need out of this whole kit?

Thanks!

 

Save yourself allot of trouble and buy a crate engine unless you have a real good machine shop close by. I would even upgrade to a 350. I think all you have to do is change the injectors and knock sensor. If you change cams make sure it is compatible with TBI. If you want to rebuild your engine it is best to tear it down and see what it needs. Plan for the worst and hope for the best.

 

Crate engine is $2,000 plus... I just want to do this cheap, I have a good motor now. I live by Madison, I'm sure there are a lot of good machine shops I don't want a 350, I'm dead set on keeping the 305, I want to put a t5 in this car.

 

Thats cool I like 305's also. Lets see, start with engine removal and tear down. Take all parts except bearings and rings to machine shop. They will Mic all parts and let you know where you stand. If I had to guess you will need cam, lifters, pistons, rings, bearings, oil pump, and gaskets. You will need to have the block bored,honed,and cleaned. Crank will need turned or polished. Rods will need to be reworked and new bolts installed. Heads will need to cleaned and valve job done. If you reassemble your engine you can't check and double check enough. Good luck. Wheres Madison?

 

If this is your daily driver expect it to be off the road for at least 3-6 months if you rebuild the engine yourself. Machine shops are horribly slow, just the nature of the business. Don't buy on price alone, a cheap rebuild is just that. This is a MAJOR component of your car, you don't want to do it 2 or more times. Then it's not cheap at all.

You are going to spend at least $1500 to rebuild it correctly even with you doing the assembly. The block will need to be bored, new pistons and rings, the crank may need to be just polished but it may also need to be cut and new bearings. Complete valve job and it may need new guides. If this is a roller cam which I think it is, you can reuse the entire valve train after it is cleaned and inspected but do install a new timing chain and gears. You will need a new oil pump, gaskets, tuneup, hoses, belts etc.

if this is your only car consider buying a crate engine or a used motor and rebuild it while driving your car. Then it is down for just the time to switch it out. Believe me it will ALWAYS cost you more then you budget. Nothing is cheap when it comes to cars! Believe me , I'm only trying to give you the advantage of my 35 yrs of doing this stuff!! Good luck!

 

I have for sale a 305 TPI ready to run with ecm/harness from a 85 iroc. Are you talking Madison WI? if so im in Green Bay. I could maybe meet halfway.

 

Hello ThreeOhFive!!!

I've done a complete engine rebuild for $200.00 in 1982, however, you won't be able to do that at today's prices for what I bought!!

Take BASSETT IROC 85's advice and take the engine out and take the all the parts to get MIC'd. You'll be surprised at the amount of parts that will be left over that you can re-use, not many!!!

Once you get your engine at the short block build level, you can then decide how much more money that you want to put in to it!! Some times it's cheaper/easier to buy new heads rather than having them rebuilt.

As a general rule, anything that has to use oil to be lubricated will suffer wear, keeping that in mind, there are lots of moving parts inside the engine, they all suffer from wear!!! All that wear means more $$$$$!!!

 

Ehhh... lol I'm not too crazy about the 85 tpi's... first year of them and only 190bhp What are you asking for it? How many miles?

 

Thanks! I do have a daily driver so it doesn't matter how long the Camaro has to sit engineless. It's also getting swaped to a manual car this year... I really wanted to get out and do some cruising with it, but between a paint job, rebuild, and transmission swap, it doesn't seem to likely that it will see much road this year!

 

Thanks! I was expecting to spend $1,500 on a rebuild... so if it comes out around there I won't be suprised! I've gotten that number over and over again for estimates. I was hoping to save a few pennies because the oil pressure is always good lol.

I wish cars were cheaper we have a very expensive hobby!

 

Make me an offer. Its got 130000 miles.

 

Hmmm... 130k? That's a lot higher than I would like, and about the same as my tbi has... don't mean to insult but maybe $300-400? I'd probably end up rebuilding it.

 

I was thinking $450, I could still meet you halfway. PM me if your interrested.

 

Hello ThreeOhFive!!

The 1985 305 TPI had 215 HP, available as an auto only, 1986 305 TPI had 190 HP, available as an auto only, and the 1987 305 TPI had 190 HP in the auto, but 215 HP in the 5 speed!!



If it runs, and has no issues......it would be money well spent!!! Make sure to get the harness, and the ECM, complete with PROM!!!

 

I could buy a 350 with less miles then that at the pick n pull for like 385$ to 400$. you should try 250$. and thats still high... with that many miles. im not trying to be rude, but your ripping this guy. *Robbyk85*

 

Hello wabbitslayer!!

For your $385-$400, what do you get? Just an engine, or all the associated parts, ie ECM, Harness, etc.....!! At my "pick a part" they charge you for extra stuff!!

 

Sorry, not trying to rip anyone off. ThreeOhFive offered $300-$400 and i figured $50-$60 in gas for the drive. The motor would come with harness/ecm, fuel rail, distributor, TB, injectors, I dont have the headers or smog tubes. I have owned this car for 5 years and bought it from my best friend who had it for 11 years. The harness is mint, I took it out myself. In 85 the TPI used the 870 ecm in witch i cant use for my stroker build. 130000 miles is not bad for a 30 year old motor.

 

Hello robbyk85!!

In your post above you said the motor is 30 years old? However in your post #6 in this thread you stated that the motor was from a 1985 Iroc, my math tells me that the motor is only 25 years old!! Which is it??? A 30 year old 305 is not a 25 year old 305, there is a "big" difference, HP comes to mind right off the bat!!



Personnally I don't care what you sell it for, or how much any body really pays for it either, I was just comparing the $$ to what I would have to pay at my local pick a part!!

 

Yes your right I did my math wrong. I was thinking my 1980 Trans Am, the TPI would be 25yrs. old. Sorry bout that guys.

 

I was able to negotiate with the guys at my pick n pull, but they changed owners so now they would probably charge me for all that extra stuff.