Well, as some of you may know the 700r4 my poor little 2.8 is toting around is about to go kablooey.. Now, self-rebuilding a 700r4 costs about 120 bux parts plus books (30) plus possible tools, coming out to over 150 bucks.. Interestingly enough I've got a friend willing to sell me a 305 SB out of a '79 impala for 150 bucks.. and he'll even toss in a THM-350.. might even be able to talk him down.. problem is the engine isn't assembled.. would need a master gasket kit, rings, and some bench time with it (although it has been rebuilt.. just not reassembled) new heads/valves/rods/cam etc. I know it may be a silly question, but seeing as it's a really round-about way of solving my problem and getting me into the world of 90* blocks at the same time, would it be worth the hassle to go this route?

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'86 Camaro SC, black /w silver racing stripes
MSD coil, Accel 8mm wires, SplitFire plugs, Gabriel hijackers

 

that's a really tought call, to me the answer would be no, but that might be different for you. For some reason or another, and i know a v8 guy's gonna bash me on this, i just don't think swaping to a 305 will be worth the trouble. Now, you would get a v8 engine, which will create more T.Q., but i don't know the hp #'s. Now, the v8 in 79 (305) is considered to be the LG3 which probably underproduced the LG4 which is about a 150hp engine, so the hp might be compribable. The big difference is that a 305 v8 will respond better to mods, such as headers might give you 20 hp on a 305, while it'll on give us 10 on our 2.8L's. Also, you'd have to do a lot of different changes to house the 305 v8, although you already have the Tranny out of the way, i do believe that suspension modifications may need to be performed, but on the other hand 150 bucks will be hard to find again. So, I can't decide for you. Another question, was this engine, improved from stock performance, i know you said it was rebuilt, so was it bored over too, it could be 5.1-5.2L's now, also was there a valve job done, and were the exaust manifold and intake ported out? just some questions. OH, and i think this motor originally came with a 2 barrel carb, probably. So, see if it was replaced with a 4 barrel instead, and also make sure the swap will be legal in your area.

 

From what I understand it was a stock rebuild.. unbored and everything. I'm not even planning on keeping this 305.. just using it as a stepping stone so when I do start coming across a decent cashflow I can do the engine and tranny swap separatly.. that's one of my biggest issues with the v8 swap.. having to do both engine and tranny at the same time.. after this the first thing I'll be looking for is a t56 and, god willing, an LS1 or LS6 I can stroke and supercharge.. Yes, you have to swap the front coil springs.. shouldn't be a problem from a yard.. and I'll probably have to hunt down new headers.. still shouldn't be too big an issue.. sadly the higher power of the universe isn't pleased with me though.. not only did my air hose for my right shock work loose of its mounting and find an exhaust pipe, but when I parked my car on the dirt next to my driveway to put it on ramps it seems a board with 2 nails in it somehow ended up there.. and in my left front tire. And to boot they somehow got in the sidewall, not the tread, so it's tire replacement time. Life sucks.

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'86 Camaro SC, black /w silver racing stripes
MSD coil, Accel 8mm wires, SplitFire plugs, Gabriel hijackers

 

The gods have smiled upon me!!!!!! I have a friend in Prescott that has a dead firebird with a fairly new 700r4.. and we were talking about how much she'd sell it to me for.. and suddenly this great idea came to me.. and now my swap to the v8 will cost virtually nothing... she's buying my 2.8 for 250 bucks =) more than enough money for the headers, front suspensions changes, and everything.. life is looking good for my car.. she may even pay me to install it! =) =) =)

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'86 Camaro SC, black /w silver racing stripes
MSD coil, Accel 8mm wires, SplitFire plugs, Gabriel hijackers

 

techsmurf, if your motor is in good shape youd be better off just swapping the tranny, and no a th350 (tho its a great tranny imho) wont bolt up.. as for your friend, there ya go.. i always like to look for 85' or newer, low mileage 700r4's as i believe in 84 was when they made a lot of changes and beefed it up a bit.. good luck

 

What the heck do it.. Get a 305, add some nos a 335 stroker kit

 

hey, if the price is right buddy go for it. I'm sure if i found i could have gotten a 350, springs, and tranny for less than my 2.8L i wouldn't have a new 2.8L. but it sounds good, so i say god luck and god speed.

 

Well, my going for it right now is being based completely on costs.. hopefully I can pay for the engine in payments or something at this rate.. looks like it's gonna be close.. nice to know if all of it falls through though I can just drive 250 miles and pull a fairly new v6's 700r4 for next to nothing. I finally got a chance to look at the block.. been rebuilt right.. looks like a machine shop job. Gonna see if I can get him to drop off the remaining parts at the friend's house where we're going to build it. But so far it looks good =)

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'86 Camaro SC, black /w silver racing stripes
MSD coil, Accel 8mm wires, SplitFire plugs, Gabriel hijackers

 

Cripes! The weirdos at our local junk yard want 150 bucks for a pair of stock exhaust manifolds! Guess my baby's new engine is getting performance mods before it's even set into the engine bay.. summit headers being 71 bucks a pair and all. We'll see just how well v8's really do respond to mods

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'86 Camaro SC, black /w silver racing stripes
2.8l MPFI/700r4
Preparing for 305 LG3/THM-350 swap
MSD coil, Accel 8mm wires, SplitFire plugs, Gabriel hijackers