well this doens't belong on any specific board really, and i get quicker reponses here than anywhere else, so here goes:

i might soon be leaving the v-6 world, and getting a '88 camaro with a 305. the guy i'm buying it from (if i do decide to buy it) has a 2001 vortec 350 marine engine he recently bought to put in the car (15K miles). he'll throw it in with the car for $500 more.

i have a couple questions...first, he said its current cam is specific for marine use, and won't give good performance on the street. also, he said the valve springs are shorter than a car engine's. he has an LT1 cam and valve springs though that he'll give me to put in the engine.

my main question is, how hard is to swap out a cam and valve springs? is it basically just swap out and go, or does there have to be alot of configuration? if i buy this, i won't have enough mony left over for a shop to do any (or very little) configuration, so hopefully it's a pretty straightforward swap. any help will be appreciated

 

Camshaft swaps aren't difficult, even less difficult when the motor is sitting on a stand. It sounds like a really cool deal, but I think once ou get down to the small stuff it will nickel and dime you to death. IMO, save the 500bucks and put it towards improving the 305. Later if you want to make a jump in cubes, you can get a good ol' fashioned 350 and everything will swap right over.

There are issues with used camshafts (not so much with roller shafts these days). I'm picky and I've never installed a used cam without the lifters that were used with it and then only if the lifters were marked as to what lobe they came from. This is a critical issue with flat tappets, but not so much with rollers.

You'll need a valve spring compressor to change the springs. If you have an air compressor you can get a tool that holds the valves in the cylinder with air while you remove the springs. You don't even have to pull the head. Otherwise, you're pullin heads.

The difference in valvespring installed heights may not be a real issue. I think all you'll be dealing with is a bit more seat pressure which is something you'll need with a more aggressive cam.

Hope this helps.

 

yup that helps alot! just a little while ago though, the guy offered to install the 350 for me, he just wants a deposit before he starts the swap to be sure that i'll go through with the buy. this way, he'll install the cam and the valve springs, as well as go ahead and swap the oilpan, distributor, plugs/wires, and intake setup from the 305. (the marine engine's carbed, but he has an adapter plate you bolt on to the top of a carberated engine's intake manifold so you can bolt a TBI to it. This is all stuff i know NOTHING about for the most part, so i'm more than happy to let him do it for me

 

the marine cam will work fine ont he street, but it will not be as powerfull as a good 350 cam. (it will still be more powerfull than a V6)

Marine engines do not need alot of torque, they need more hp and higher revs.

 

i say go for it! that's a good deal. if the lt1 cam still isn't big enough for you, you can run it for now and go bigger later. sorry rustbucket, i don't agree....don't put the money into the 305.

 

Don't bother putting any $$ into the 305. The 350 will work good with the LT1 cam/springs (plenty of grunt in that thing!)

If you invest any $$, put it into exhaust, then head work on the 350. Later, an LT4 HOT cam is a good cam to run in it, or a ZZ9 grind style...

 

No need to apologize Difference of opinion makes for healthy discussion.

 

THE ONLY DOWNSIDE IS
THE TBI set up
It sucks.
It is very LIMITED in what can be done Horespoer wise.
All that does is limit your fun later on.
NOW
A 1988 did come with a 350 yet it was a TPI car.
NOW to covert your TBI wiring to TPI wiring
FOR YOU
can be a nightmare.
What would I do?
SO SIMPLE
Take the car & engines and parts.
Does the 305 power car run now?
GREAT IF IT DOES
Drive it and soon sell it
WHILE SERACHING FOR
a 350 TPI ride in 3rd Gen.
THEN INSTALL THE MARINE MOTOR!
That Marine motor is KILLER!
Your TPI car will LOVE that motor
Your TBI car will CHOKE the Marine motor (even re-cammed).

A TBI
is only a fuel-injected carb and IT IS LIMITED in any TRUE performance gain.

I threw out my suggestion.

Yeah takes time BUT
a LOW MILAGE HI PO 350 in a GREAT TPI inducted F body equals LOTS OF FUN!

FOR EVEN MORE FUN!
Find a 82-84 CARB V-6 ride
DUMP the V6 drive train, toss in the 350 & carb & have QUICK SIMPLE FUN! Bonus points IF ya can find a V-6, T Top 5 speed to convert to 350 & stick shifting ball blasting fun on a such a low budget!
This 2nd plan does take time & planning.