hello third - gens

i have a 1991 camaro rs and i have a few questions that i couldnt find answers too,

first off my camaro has a .305 automatic in it, my friends father has a .350 motor sitting and i asked if i could buy it from him, this is what he told me, sinse i have t-tops i cannot put a 350 motor in this vehicle because the amount of torque from the 350 will bend my frame.. True or False?

second question i want to go threw and put new gaskets on just about everything, only problem is ive read alot about people buying bad gaskets or gaskets that dont hold up, what would you suggest? brand wise?again this is for a 305 motor

third question, im thinking about lowering my vehicle i found a fair priced lowering kit ( 4 coil springs ) i was wondering if i also would have to purchase lowering struts? the springs are an inch lower if i remember correctly..

forth question, oil type and weight? owner before used synthetic, i personaly dont fully agree on his choice but what do u think?

thank you for your support i look forword from hearing back from any of you

 

1. a 350 might be too much for a T-top car and the factory never put 350's in T-top cars....
2. I only have ever used FelPro gaskets and have never had an issue.
3. Not sure, but I don't think so.
4. I would use what is recommend by GM, which is probably 5/30, but 10/30 would be fine too. As for type??? your preference. I have used 5/30 Castrol Syntec Blend for years with absolutely no issues, but most any oil you buy is quality stuff nowadays.


Hope that helps some.

 

Gm didnt put 350's in 91 and 92 camaros with t-tops, but 87 to 89 they did. My iroc has a 350 with t-tops. Not forsure on 90 camaros. It'll be fine with a 350 in it. Felpro gaskets are good gaskets and are just fine to use. All I've ever used. Not forsure on the struts but most guys on here use koni's when they lower there car. I would say stock struts would be fine to use. Oil type is your preference but I would stick with 5w30 since thats what gm recommends in these engines.

 

with these cars even in stock form an inexpensive set of subframe connectors that bolt in is a good idea and should appease the father and put the 350 in it dont mess with the 305 unless necessary sure you can beef one up but for the same cos you will get more return doing the exact same things to a 350when lowering the car one important thing is to get an adjustable panhard bar to keep the rear end square in the car and lower control arm relocation brackets to keep appropriate angle there neither is really expensive and as the others said on gaskets and oil

 

Personally I had swapped a 350 w 10:1 comp and about 350 hp into a 86 iroc ttop car and never had any issues. No SFC's or anything. Though, a set of SFC's are always a good idea, they are relativity cheap and change the whole attitude of a car.
Fel-pro has always been good to me.
In previously mentioned 350 I first ran royal purple 10w30 then changed over to Valvoline VR1 10w30 Personally I like the VR1, I've always heard good things about it. But if you REALLY dont like synth good ol Pennzoil is never wrong

 

1. GM put 350s in T-top cars, you can too. You can even add subframe connectors, which MASSIVELY stiffen the car up, and go GM one better.

2. FelPro is pretty much the standard these days, although Victor-Reinz, Mr Gasket, and others, can also work fine. Main problem with ANY of em is the installation. Put em in right, they all last about the same.

3. Yes and no: struts and shocks are designed to sit "idle" at a certain length, and lowering can take em out of that range. Not all are the same though so there's no "rule of thumb" that applies to all equally.

4. Oil type: clean, new, reasonably often. Weight: about 6 lbs a gallon. Viscosity: 10W-30 is a safe bet. Type: there's so much mythology and BS about synthetic it isn't even funny. Personally I use synthetic in EVERYTHING I own, right down to the lawn mowers; including cars with over 300,000 miles on em. Beats changing dino squeeezins twice as often, and lubes better.

 

sfc's are not absolutely "necessary" but are a good idea and with his father being leary of a 350 in his sub-framed car should set his concerns at ease and be ethe easiest way to get his ok on a 350 swap was my main point i have seen people put 383's in with no stiffening bu i personally wouldn't do it

 

thanks for all the replys it really did help me excpesally with the 350 question.. i think i will go with sub frames just to calm the nerve of my lead foot.. does anyone know if a local o reillys or autozone would have the fel pro gaskets or are those something that need to be ordered off summit?

 

Yup, most all the parts stores carry that brand.