So here's the challenge I am issuing.
How would you guys build up a stock lg4 for top power and drive fun-ness (its a word you ********)

Here is the kicker:
You have to keep all the emissions equipment and you cant change the exterior equipment, same 416 heads same block (no boring), same 700r4.
You can change valves, rockers, pistons, cam etc to your hearts content.

what would you do?

 

305 stroker kit would be my starting point.

 

Find another project if i cant bore it out.

 

invest my money more wisely and scrap the 305 for a 350. this is what i did. if you cant find a reason ie your girlfriend/wife is bugging you about cost. do what i did. accidentily sabatage your engine to blow up so you have to get a new one. i know my grammar is horrible im having an off day

 

the reason for not boring out or swapping the engine or heads is the way that insurance and registration works in the area I live, The car is much more cost effective and fits with the way that insurance companies work here. If I was to swap the engine it would be titled as a hot rod, and since i have less then ten years insurance history most companies wont touch me.

If I bore it out or change heads it considered a performance improvement, and most insurance companies here wont even insure a car that has had that done, and the ones that will either want huge sums of money (one quote was for over 10,000$ a year for me to insure this car with performance upgrades), or want agian ten years insurance history. So I am tying to make improvements that can go hidden.

And yes I understand the 305 isnt everyones first choice, but its what I have to work with atm, and one day when I can actually deal with these companies I intend to swap the 305 for either the 454 or 400 mopar interceptor I have stashed in the garage. But until then lets just work together on this.

 

one thing nice about LG4s is since the stock factory tune is so mild,it is pretty easy to add a good 40-50HP without affecting low end torque or fuel economy too much-you could basicly replicate the "L69" or "5.0 HO" 305 and add a couple enhancements along the way-IIRC,'85 LG4s had compression raise to 9.5:1-same as "H.O."version,still would need a suitable cam and the "L69"exhaust system or equivilent.A mild head porting is one enhancement that could be added while keeping all stock parts. Lots of possibilities to wake up an LG4

 

You can change a cam but not heads? If I was in your position, I would throw 305 h.o. Heads on (they'll look stock, insurance will never know) and a stock replacement h.o. Cam. Also I'd mill the chambers on the heads down to get more compression without having to touch the bottom end

 

You just got your license didn't you... Heh.

 

How would they know you bored the block? Those blocks can only be bored alittle , (for rebuilding) not max performance.

 

I understand your dilemma. The question I have is how would they know you went from a 305 to a 350? They are the same size use the same equipment and look the same externally. Do they actually look at the number on the block to determine what it is? If so man that sucks. As for working with what you got. Tell them the engine had to be bored because of cylinder damage (they won't know), stroke it, add a cam, and port and polish a pair of stock looking heads. There are much better choices out there then the stock heads that came on it. Once again unless the insurance company takes the valve covers off and looks at the casting number they won't know it not the head that came on the car. If they do hey one of the heads was bad and you had to replace it. Those were the cheapest ones you could get for a "stock" replacement

 

If those are the rules, I'd leave it alone.

No point in wasting money under those circumstances.

I would SURE AS HELL NOT do the "stroker" thing.

I would NOT touch the short block in any manner way shape or form.

305 HO heads are the same heads as LG4 heads. I know because I have one. Same casting #, same valves, same hardware, same same same same. Ignore that suggestion.

The 305 HO cam is 202°/207°, low .400"s of lift. I know because I have one. Ignore that suggestion. You can get a better cam cheeeeeeeper, by buying the Summit 1102. Which is still a little weenie POS but it's better than the factory cams.

Insurance companies and smog inspectors don't check casting numbers. If that's why you are thinking you are somehow obligated to set yourself up for an expensive futile disappointment, you're misguided.

Do not do this. DO NOT TOUCH THE SHORT BLOCK. There is no cost-effective way to attain a positive outcome. Anything you do will cost the same as, OR MORE THAN, something else that will deliver several times the results.

 

How would they know what you did? All SBC have the same external dimensions and look the same.

 

lmao. Can't bore but you can change the cam?

 

i wouldn't spend a dime on a 305 short block.

I call bullshit on them being able to tell its not the original block btw.

 

They wont check numbers, that is until I get in an accident, and an inspector looks over the car. Then find myself being dropped with no payout and no coverage of any lawsuits etc. (this has already happened to a friend of mine)


Boring a small amount would be as bad as changing the cam in their eyes, so why not? Didn't really want to though. The heads are 416 heads, so they are the same as the HO. Point is, as long as the numbers on the castings match, the rest I can explain away.

and I didn't just get my license, have had it for 4 years. I did however total a Volvo in 2011, got charged with failure to turn left to avoid an accident (didn't even realize that was a legitimate charge before that). The insurance companies around here are total *****, I moved 3 blocks, less then 2 km and suddenly I'm in a "different zone" and my insurance went up by 100$

 

so im sure some of us are wondering this. Where the heck do you live

 

Then either determine RIGHT NOW that you will buy the carcass back ($200 usually does the trick), or DON'T TOUCH IT.

DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON A 305 SHORT BLOCK. You will find that no matter what you spend on it, it's still going to be a slug-slow turd. It is nothing but a dead-end path to frustration, disappointment, an empty bank account, and nothing to show for it.

If you're too timid to take whatever minor risk there is (or finding a way around it) on actually improving your short block, which would consist of, a "bore kit", then DON'T TOUCH IT.

 

OP, where do you live??? AnaI probe HeII ???

Stuff a good old fashoned 400 block in there with a decent cam and great heads that look stock.
Bla bla bla bla bla
Step 7, enjoy.

Tell your ins to eat a d!ck.

 

I live in hot rod hell.
close to Toronto Canada, we have environmental standards to deal with, shitty insurance and the government is pretty damn stringent or registration stuff, unless you already know the ins and outs of it.

The area I live in has insurance rates that are more then double that of an area not 30km away, mainly due to a high accident and theft %.

you can not change an engine (at least a higher power engine) in a car without it becoming a hot rod, performance improvement = no insurance through 75% of companies and not telling them about it = no protection and payouts.

I have however found a loop hole in the last few hours, I can change to an engine that was an option for the model and year of the car without penalty. It looks like I'm making an HO!

When I get to a point where I can get/afford hot rod insurance then I will put the 454 in (nicely built of course)

 

Sounds like some kid got a Camaro, realized it was slower than ****, and wants to remedy the situation to the best of his ability. Let's help him, at least he isn't asking about some bullshit sound system or rim idea. Personally, yeah, I'd throw the 305 in the garbage. However, if that was not an option, I'd raise compression to the max, port the stock crapper heads, valve job, 1.6 rockers, a mild to just above mild cam, gear the hell out of it and pour my money into suspension. Canyon carver.

 

The drama queen has spoken.

 

So much win here. Lmao

 

Now the op has discovered that he can use any optional engine that his car could have came with stock . Doesn't that let him out of the restriction of using the 305 ? Now go get a 350 , build it right , and revel in the awesome power to attract cops from coast to coast , or maybe at least from the local Doughnut shop

 

You need to rename this project.

 

GM used to offer a E legal aluminum head ZZ 1-2-3or4 crate engine kit with all the correct parts. If you can find all the correct parts, you could have it upgraded with documentation and without hassel.

 

They did indeed... hasn't been available for the better part of a decade now though.

 

soooo I tore my heads off today and found something interesting.
All 305 lg4s for 1985 had flat pistons right? well mine doesn't the partial vin matchs the car and the engine is a 305 but my pistons are dished?

v0708c7a is the casting number...found this info
so its made in
flint
in july
on the 8th day
annnnd c7a stand for:
1985 C7A 305 Roch E4ME carb. H LG4 150 4 B F G/Omega

why do I have dished pistons then? and what the hell does 4 B F G/Omega mean? thats body style right?

 

Apparently not

Too bad

B = Caprice and similar cars

F = Camaro/Firebird

G = Monte Carlo, Grand Prix, etc.

Omega = the Olds version of the Nova

150 probably = HP

4 = carb barrels

Sounds like you got the ... corrupted end of the stick.

Put the heads back on, leave it alone, save up for something else.