I picked up an all original 83Z a few weeks ago. It lived a good life and I'd like to keep it for a while. I'm not sure where the project is going to take me. But, eventually the engine will need to be replaced. I'm reluctant to rebuild the 305. I've considered slipping a Goodwrench 350 in there. My question is this. How far with modifications can I go and have the carb support the changes. How many cubic can I add, how big of a cam can be installed.

This may end up my summer day car. It would take some effort to make this car "fast" Perhaps I want something reasonably powerful that's just fun to drive on a nice day

 

With a 350 and the proper gearing it wouldn't take a whole lot to make it "fast" generally speaking. Given the weight differences and a few bolt ons you can run with modern cars in most cases.

When you say "how far with modifications can I go and have the carb support the changes?" Are you referring to the stock carb or an aftermarket one you are thinking of purchasing?

 

Thanks for the reply. One possible direction for this would be to bolt in a new 350 long block using the factory CC carb with possibly a intake and header upgrade. I may even choose to retain all the pollution equipment that it surprisingly still has. I seem to recall there are some mild aftermarket cams that would still play nice with the computer. But, would the combination of a cam + cubes be too much?

Being older & wiser this time around I realize it would be cheaper to just buy a newer / faster car than trying to upgrade this one if outright speed & power is what I wanted. But, this year and color combination is special to me. So, here I am

 

You can go to as many cubic inches as you want; that will have no bearing on the CC carb's function. What it doesn't like is lots of cam overlap and low vacuum.

Having recently put a Vortec 350 with a ZZ3 cam in mine, I can tell you the CC carb handles that much cam (208/221/112) just fine.

But... please do yourself a favor and pass on the Goodwrench 350. It's barely more than the 305. If you want to buy a crate engine, a better choice would be an L31 Vortec longblock- much more potential per dollar. An Edelbrock Performer Vortec manifold will accept the CC carb.

 

I agree with the above…I'd pass on the Goodwrench replacement engine. That's more of a work van replacement engine that's not performance oriented at all.

Good price - but that's really all it has going for it. Whatever engine you decide on to work with the CCC system, there's cams that Crane used to sell called a Comp-U-Cam…I had one in my car back when I ran the CCC computer.

I believe the part # was 2040, but I recall they had a 2030,2040 and 2050…2050 being about as radical as you could get without bothering the computer. They were all designed around the 305, but I'd bet the bigger of the three would work real well on the street in a 350.

IF you put a decent exhaust on it, it'll definitely be an increase in low to mid-range power. I believe Comp now sells the exact same grind. I'm sure you could find a grind similar elsewhere. BTW…the lift on all 3 cams allow you to use stock heads since the lift isn't too radical.

You can get some pretty decent performance staying on the computer, but there's a limit. I passed smog twice when I ran that cam…I even switched up to "B" rods and DR hangers to richen it a tad on the top end.

Now I don't need to pass any smog test….thankfully!

 

Great advice guys, thanks. I asked the question because I'm up in the air about keeping all the emissions gear on the car. I can arrange that it would be exempt (classic plates or limited mile/age of car) But, the fact that some / most of the emissions equipment will be gone could come back to bite me in the @ss. Dumb question. Can I still run the cat with a non CC barb and no smog pump? Or will it burn the cat out?