I have an 86 Iroc with a stock 305tpi that needs to be rebuild (it burns oil like crazy and i would like to do it for the experience) I have never really done much work with motors and i just wanted to know what i should do to give it a little bit more power. also im on a pretty tight budget so nothing expensive. im not looking to race it i just want to have a little fun and i can always upgrade latter in life. also it would help me a lot if you could explain what each part does for the engine i want to learn about how it works but when i try to follow other stuff its is either to general and its basics that i already know or its way to technical and i cant follow it.

 

Well the first thing that you are likely to hear is that you are wasting your time with a 305 and you should get a 350. Cubic inches are a HUGE factor in potential power.

The upside is that you are likely to find that internal parts for the 350 will cost less than the same parts for the 305. This is because the 350 is more common, and also more commonly rebuilt.

The downside is that you will need to replace your injectors and the PROM chip in your ECM, plus you will need to find a suitable 350 shortblock. So what you gain on the one hand you stand to lose on the other.

Another thing to consider is the extent to which you will want/need to rebuild the engine. Some will say that the only proper way to rebuild is to remachine everything, and replace all wearing parts. This usually costs more than a replacement engine. Your engine may only have relatively mild wear, and thus you might get a reasonable service life out of a minor rebuild.

It's impossible to make a determination of just how far you'd need to go until you tear the engine apart. If it's really far gone, you'd be better off buying a crate engine.

Without writing a book, the parts that will need to be addressed are the heads, which should be reconditioned, the pistons and rings, the crankshaft and bearings, The camshaft and lifters, timing chain and gears, oil pump and screen, and the block itself.

The only way to determine what is possible is to take the engine apart and check the block and heads for cracks, measure cylinder bores and crankshaft journals, and inspect all parts carefully that might be re-used. You should probably rely on someone that you know who has the tools and expertise to do this, or else have it done at a machine shop. The results of those checks will give you a much better idea of what your best options are.

 

Odds are better than 99% that you don't have to "rebuild" the motor to fix oil burning.

In no particular order, the most likely culprits are valve guide seals, plugged-up oil drainback holes, and failed intake manifold gaskets. Any/all of which can be fixed simultaneously in a single afternoon for well under 10% of the cost of "rebuilding" a motor that should be thrown in the trash and NEVER "rebuilt" when it wears out.

To give it more power, you throw it in the trash and get a 350.

Fix what you've got first, and go from there.

 

I think i will stick with the 305 for now but if i wanted to get a crate engine would i be able to keep my tpi setup, i know it will bolt up to it and i can get the stuff to do it i just want to know if i can get an engine without an intake on it, and about how much would a new crate 350 cost?

 

also just to let you know between leaks and burning oil i have to put a quart of oil in every time i fill it up with gas.

 

How did the valve guide seals, de-crudding the drainback holes, and replacing the intake gaskets work out for you?

 

If I were you, I would do a compression test. It's one of the simplest things you can do to determine whether or not your engine needs to be rebuilt.

To answer your question, yes, you can buy crate engines without intakes.

 

Oh, and if you have an oil leak, it's difficult to say with any certainty that you are burning oil. I'd fix the oil leak first.

 

I would be a pretty messy leak if you're losing a quart per tank.

 

I know it burns oil because i have blue smoke coming out when i start and when i go up steep hills

 

Did you verify that your PCV is working properly? If so, you might want to do a compression test. If done properly, it will tell you whether or not your rings are seating well. If they are, you probably won't need to rebuild.

While the plugs are out, you should examine them. A basic auto repair manual will have photos in it that will help you "read" the plugs and tell you what's going on inside each cylinder. You could very well have good rings but still be burning oil.

 

Yes, it would, but he doesn't say how bad the leak is.

 

How's those valve guide seals, clearing the drainback holes, and new intake gaskets coming along?

 

clearly sofa, it cant be VALVE GUIDE SEALS... those only tend to cause smoke on start up and accel or... wait a second! I see what you did there... offering logical advice and whatnot...

nah kid you need a new engine get yourself a stroker with some chrome... then you'll be good to go...