Hey guys, I search the forums for the issue that I'm having but didnt find my issues, I have a 89 Formula with a stock 305 tbi and once I start it up it starts smoking than gradually ease off but still smokes. I'm thinking it the valve seals that needs to be replace but wanted to find out are there good rebuild kits out there and if so can you please provide a link, I seen a few from Summit and heard about getting the (How to Rebuild Your Small-Block Chevy book) but wanted to get any ideas on it.

Any suggestion would be highly appreciated.

 

If you aren't going to do it right then don't bother getting a rebuild kit. You can get them on Ebay too.

Since it's an 89 then chances are that there are over 80k miles on the engine. You are probably beyond just needing a hone or ream on the ridge of the cylinder. So, don't bother getting standard size rings. You probably need a bore to be sure to clean it up

and since you are getting the block bored, then get the block dipped so that means new cam bearings need to be installed. Unless you are quick of hand and good with ice and torches, you may as well pay a machine shop to press fit the new pistons onto the rods after they are sure the rods are still good.

You should have new valve guides and it makes no sense to try and just lap the valves. You may as well pay for a 3 angle job.

If you want to do it right, it's going to cost some money. If you don't want to spend the money on a swap, or a long block, or a machine shop, then just keep oil with you and add as needed.

I have an 89 RS I'm rstoring. I yanked the engine and L03 ( 305 TBI motor). I shopped around for a GOOD 350 because i will not install a used engine. Anyway, anything good was well north of $2,000 including the Goodwrench crate engine (shipping and accessories). I looked for a reman'd long block and nothing but fly by night vendors are out there. i found a machine shop 20 miles from my home who will rebuild my engine including parts for $1300.

I found a local shop who will toss in a rebuild kit into the 700R4 for $400 including the rebuild kit. Both my engine and tranny worked befor ei yanked them but since I'm doing a restoration, a used engine wasn't an option and for $400 rebuilding the teanny is just good insurance.

For those who think I should have tossed the 305 and dropped in a 350, I have a restored 95 Z28 and an 07 Stang if i want to tear up the road.

I hope my numbers help you. I thought I was going to rebuild my engine as well but after removing the heads, inspecting the cylinders and heads, I made the choice that i did.

If I wasn't going to restore the 89, and just needed it to drive, i would have just prayed and added oil if it used oil. (it probably did but the car went from flat bed, into my garage and up on jacks) I put maybe 5 miles on it first just to see what it needed

 

Thanks for your time and feedback, I might just send it to a machine shop and have them rebuild the engine for me as well as the tranny, The price you rcvd for the engine rebuild and tranny sounds very resonable and is right in my price range. The problem that I will have is finding a actually shop that would come close to that price

But I will defaintly take your advise into consideration and will advise what happens with the fb.

 

It was the same around here.

There used to be 3 local machine shops that did automotive and marine engines. 2 closed leaving one. I asked how much to get the block ready, install cam bearings, grind and balance the crank, check the rods/install pistons and perform a 3 angle valve job. They wanted $1700 and I still needed to buy the $400 rebuild kit and reassemble the engine myself.

That is when i began my reman'd long block search. What i found is that most folks on Ebay or that have web sites basically resell units from ATK or another shop. They take your money in advance to fund their operation and don't deliver the goods. That's why you use a credit card to protect yourself.

I kept checking craigslist and found a machine shop to the south and called the folks. I spoke with the owner who basically said, "look, it's a small block chevy, I'll get the parts for a few hundred $ and make $1,000 for my labor"

he added' "with the economy the way it is, I'm happy to get the $1,000 so your price will be $1300 and we do all the work and supply the parts"

So, I suggest that you shop around, and engage in conversation with shop owners.

With respect to the tranny, if yours is in OK shape, then you can probably find a local shop who will install a rebuild kit and check out the unit for $400-$500 as long as you bring the tranny to them.

good luck