Hello all i just have a rather simple question (ive done a lot of searching came up with zip lol)

well my story goes like this I own a TBI 87 Z28 (needs a carb rebuild and some small other things this is going to become my project car)

okay i plan on adding another camaro to my stable as my every day driver so here are my choices:

A 86' T-top IRocZ (TPI)
pros: the engine (305) has just been rebuilt and the body/interior is a 8 out of 10. The owner wAnts $800 for it.

CONS: The Intake gasket needs to be replaced (only thing he didnt replace yet says he dosent want to start it for fear of getting water in the engine) and the tranny might need a rebuild (i have a spare so im not worried about that)

A 89' T-top Irocz (TPI)

pros: the car is a overall 7.9 out of ten. car runs strong it was well maintaned (engine wise) plus side it has a 5.7 350 yay!

Cons: it has 179,XXX miles on it and the owner wants $1100 lol


okay im thinking on the frugal side and was wondering how hard it would be to replace the Intake gasket on the 86? and how long would it take? of should i just not wait my time and het the high miler and be happier with the 5.7 lol

any constructive opinions are welcome


thanks Darkwave_Z

 

Buy the 5.7 the guy with the 305 car is probably BSing about the rebuild. Who rebuilds an engine and doesn't change the intake gaskets.

 

The 350 with 179000 miles will need a rebuild if you plan on heavily modding it. There's a good chance you'll need an overbore and new pistons. That said, as a base, you're better off starting with a 350 than a 305. However, IF you can prove that the 305 was recently rebuilt (receipts, etc), then I'd go with the 305. You can make a 300 hp 305 fairly cheaply, and 350 hp is not out of the question (also on a tight budget). Since both engines are capable of being strong street performers, I'd go for the best value. If you were building a 400+ hp strip machine then I'd be more serious about the 350, but as a daily driver you can get what you want from either engine, so I wouldn't be as preferential to either one.

But I wouldn't believe that the 305 was rebuilt and the intake gasket not replaced, so he won't start the car. That's a very strong warning flag to me. If I couldn't be 99% certain about the condition of the 305, then both engines will probably need a rebuild soon anyway, so I'd get the 350 and have the extra cubes.

 

I agree with AdamsirocZ, the gasket should have been replaced. On the other hand, $800 is not bad for what he's selling. IMO, and if it was my choice, I would buy the 5.7 even if a rebuild was necessary as it will have the most potential for future power. BTW, $1100 is a fair price as well. If you don't buy it, I'm sure someone on this site would snap it up. good luck!

 

Thank you all four all your advice! I was going to go with the 305 but i need a running car for right now cuz im tired of driving my project car LOL

but on a side note i found a 92 RS with a 305 and 101,XXX on the odometer... i think that guy is going going to get my money heheh i cant wait to pick it up!

thank you all again ill be back for question for my project camaro

Dark wave Z

 

Buy the TPI 350, high milleage won't hurt anything if it's been well maintained. My Camaro had the L03 in it when I bought it and when I went to the tpi 350 it was like a whole new car. Get the 350 and don't rape on it you'll be fine, later on down the road you'll thank yourself, the people that recommended it, and God that you did.

 

agreed, my L98 has 154K miles on it now and it runs as strong as ever. i'd go 350 any day over 305. especially since the car is only 1100 bucks.

intake gaskets arent too bad to change. abit of a pain in the *** for the first timer

i know cuz i just did mine last month not even. it took me a 2-3 days takin my time. with no breaks u can do it easy in a full long day. right tools help. but overall its not too bad.

so its up to you. if you dont feel to confident in doin a gasket swap, then dont choose that car

 

If the overall package (body, interior, engine, transmission, etc) is in the best shape, then that's the best choice. It will never have the potential of the 350, but it can be fairly cheaply modded to outperform the stock 350 TPI (but, then again, for the same money you could probably rebuild the 350). It really depends on what you want from the car as to which motor you choose. The 305 TBI will be fine for street use up to the 350 hp range (some have pushed them further than that). So as long as that's in line with your intentions for the car, then the 305 TBI will be okay. If you want more than that then you should more seriously consider the 350. But in reality, most street-driven small-blocks don't come anywhere near those numbers -- regardless of what their owners claim.

For a period last year I had a modded L03 and a L05 (350) on the road -- both in third-gen Camaros. Both were very well maintained and had various modifications which I made personally. If I closed my eyes I could hardly tell which motor I was driving, their performance was very similar and I had roughly the same amount of money into both engines (though the 305 was a slightly better chosen setup and the rest of the drivetrain was slightly superior). The point is, that a properly modified L03 can be made to perform quite well, and -- under certain limitations -- you wouldn't be able to tell whether it was a healthy 305 or a 350. It's only above those limitations that you start to see the 350's advantage. If you intend to operate under those limits, then the 305 will be fine.

Good luck with it.