So I've got about a grand left over from my interior project and while I'm still not finished with it I would like to pay some attention to the motor. While the guy I bought it from said he had work done to it I am going to assume this is not true since he had no paperwork to back up his claims. I am already in need of new belts, hoses, water pump, and valve cover/oil pan gaskets. What else should I do? I have never torn an engine apart but I'm not scared to either.

Motor is a stock 305 w/ccc carb. No desire to drop in larger motor, might be interested in perking up this slug but nothing drastic. Would also like to get the smog system operational again, PO put a pulley delete on it. I don't have emissions where I live but I'm not one for removing factory equipment. I will be doing all the work myself so I don't need to worry about labor costs either.

 

I'd save your $800 and only spend it on what you NEED. A 305 isn't worth "perking up" because the gains aren't that great from your starting point.

I'd put that money 100% into the suspension before I ever considered putting a dime into that 305.

 

I'd personally do an exhaust system, from new headers all the way back.

 

wheel, tires and suspension before motor if you do do anything to the 305 try to do stuff that will work with a possible engine swap later one exception might be to put on later model hi po tpi 305 heads that have 58cc chambers since you can just about pick them up for free

 

$800 and you have a stock 305? local pick and pull l31 vortec you should be able to buy and swap for 800 or less


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or buy #113s a zz4 cam and the supporting parts for around 800


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Your savings account.

Or...invest it.

 

Savings account, mutual funds, or Koni Sport Adjustables for third gens.

Konis will improve the handling, ride quality, and safety of the car. And you can always sell them used later if you get rid of the car. Konis generally outlast the car they're installed on. Will very likely be the last set of shocks and struts you'll ever need to buy for the car.

 

Definitely INVEST the money and make it work for you unless something is broken. Once you start building investments, you will have the funds to do what ever you want without worrying about nickels and dimes.

 

Full exhaust. It will be reusable on a larger small block (350/400).
Don't waste money on redoing the emissions stuff... total waste and possibly steals power.

 

I have some money tucked away in my savings account but I honestly didn't think about investing some cash. I could build the money up to do stuff a lot faster that way. The motor and trans is fairly sound as well, it's not like I need to do a complete overhaul tomorrow. Thank you for the advice, I think that's the route I will take.

 

 

If you guys have any good investment tips - I'm all ears.

Don't do emissions, they suck.

Good tuneup, get it running smooth and replace some of the things you mentioned, paint engine bay.

 

If you have not done the basic upgrades/bolt ons that just about everyone does with a TBI or Carbed car that they are not keeping stock than here's a list.

Open air element or cold air intake of some kind.

Headers, 3in Y pipe, 3in Magnaflow cat,(if you want/need it) 3in. cat back of your choosing.

For a auto. I suggest a Corvette servo.That you can do your self and will tighten up your shifts.

I did a timing advance of 4* with my TBI and it helped allot with throttle response off the line.

Then there's the rear end to deal with.I see you have the 3.08 ratio. but you need a posi unit and if you decide to go with a new posi. unit you might as well swap out your gears for 3.42s. Or you can do the always popular “try to find a 4th gen rear with what you want”option.

Then there's paint if you need it.Preferably a high end professional B/C or at least a $700.00 Maaco.

I know that's far beyond the $800.00 you mentioned but is a nice list to strive for.
As most here have already said I would not dig into the 5.0 engine. Just do the bolt ons and leave it at that.
Allot of guys including myself "like" to work on our cars even with a 5.0. Its fun and plays a large part in making a car special. I have done those up grades listed and have a street car that's "allot" of fun to drive.

Side note = A guy I know just bought a brand new black Dodge Challenger with 400hp but cant find a place to use it. Sounds great with duel Flowmaster 40s from stop light to stop light though.Funny thing is so does my 200hp 5.0 or so Ive been told.

 

I agree. I didn't buy this car to rack up speeding tickets I had an '11 Challenger with the V6 Pentastar (305 HP) and in all reality unless you're 110% sure there are no cops around it is just a way to get yourself in trouble. I'm really stuck on the fence with keeping the 305 or doing a run of the mill 350 swap... seems everyone has done that and I'm really wanting to make my car unique, or at least not follow the common denominator.

To be honest, what I am trying to do is modernize the interior as best I can, but keeping the rest of the car stock (ish). I do agree with you on changing the gears, 3.08s are nice for the highway but that's about it. I don't want to swap parts from other generations, either- if I wanted 4th gen tech/aesthetics, I'd have a 4th gen sitting in my driveway. I wouldn't mind dropping a mild cam in the motor while I'm putting around with it, but more than anything I just want to tighten it back up. I don't want to make it a speed demon but it's not a family transportation appliance either.

 

+1 Save!

 

I have the same car,runs great also and is a nice summer driver,I got a wonder bar for Christmas from the wife and am considering replacing the ratty lca's and panhard bar along with sway bar links/bushings etc.

For 800 you could get a lot of different/bigger/newer motor going than you could do with the lg4-I helped a friend pull a stout stroked 350 from his Lemans to drop in a 402 bbc that runs great and I probably could lay paws on it for 500 or so.

 

as pretty much everyone has said i would be real wary of putting labor and money in the 305the return on investment just isn't there however if you do go the swap route you have tons and more options. two huge options stand out first would be the 350 based sbc swap and its a good option for lots of reasons inexpensive clean lots of goodies that you can add later. second is the very popular ls swap very popular because you gain a lot of power even with the ls in stock trim and 5.3's are incredibly cheap i almost picked one up for $100 but someone got there an hour before i could

so if you are putting the 800 into an engine i would put the 305 right and put the rest into one of these options and keep working up to the swap as funds allow

and i said 350 based swap because there are several ways you can go besides just the 350 i have parts enough from having changed directions on my build i am putting together a roller cam chevy 302 from almost entirely left over parts i will have maybe $300 tied up in it for parts then whatever the machine shop bill is

 

You won't have anything "unique" unless you've got truckloads of money to put into the engine. Even then - someone else probably already has it. There are just as many people out there who have paid their way into the game with LS2 swaps, 434's, 540's, whatever.. you name it. You can't compete with someone who has more money than you do unless you implement your own abilities to even the playing field. Build your car for you, and not because it's "different".

My goal is to have the fastest 355 SBC powered thirdgen streetcar in the St.Louis area. It's a big task, but I think I can pull it off with a lot of effort. The question is - what is YOUR goal, and not ask what everyone else's is. That's what makes unique.