maybe 305 swap?

[BOOM_STICK]

My uncle has a couple 305's sitting around and says i can have one if i find something to put it in. well i was planning on a sr swap before the new year but if i can get a free engine then hey, why not? then i could spend more money on performance.

I will be doing this in my auto-tech class this coming school year. my teacher will be able to help me with with making mounts for the engine/trans. so thats not a problem.

I need to know how easy/hard it would be to convert the fuel injection to a carburater. also if the transmission will line up, at least reasonably close. and if there are any other big things that i will need to know about this swap.

Pretty much i just want to know if this is a good opportunity to take or if i should stick to the sr.

and i dont care if im JDM tyte or not, i looking for power.

any info you can give me would be great! thanks

[BOOM_STICK]

BUMP

i would really like some info on this. if anyone has anything that would help, please share.

[KATwo40]

What trans do you plan to use? The stock KA trans won't mount up without an adapter plate and you'll likely need a crank spacer as well.

Other than that, rock on with it.

[BOOM_STICK]

i wasn't gonna use the ka transmission. im gonna use the standard 305 manual trans. (dont know the exact name)

so would i just have to run the fuel line strait to the carb, or is there something im missing? it just sounds to simple.

i know ill need custom headers, drive shaft, and probably a bigger fuel pump. are there any other major conponents that i will also need? im drawing a blank.

[Agent 47]

What will you use this car for? If you stick this out and get it running please pull it and build it, trust me or your feelings will be hurt. I don't know how well these are in a camaro, but in a caprice it was just hell. I would have gave you mine if I still had it, cause I hated it but it had 24,455 original mi. on it. I picked up an lt1 and loved it. Just read up on that engine before you go through with it.

[WDRacing]

Agreed, go with the 5.7 if you have the option. I also hated my 305's, I had one in my pickup and one in my Caprice. I swapped them both out for 350's and eventually stroked the Caprice to 383.

The 305 IMO is one of the worst V8's Chevy ever made.

Yes they can make power, but for the money you'll spend to make the power, I'll get another 100 more HP out of the 5.7.

WD

[WDRacing]

In reguards to your questions, converting to carb is caveman easy. You'll need the intake mani, the carb a new fuel pump and a new regulator...then a basic tune which takes like 45 minutes to get half decent.

WD

[BOOM_STICK]

thanks for all the info guys.

this car is gonna be my daily driver and will see the track/drag strip every now and again. im wanting something besides the usual sr20, and something simpler then an rb or vg.

i would rather do a 350 but my problem is money and oportunity, the 305 is free and ill have enough money to do an overhaul, which is what it needs. i found a basic stroker (312 ci) for $1060 from RPM machine. with that and some work on the heads i think it would be a pretty reliable/powerful engine.

does anybody know if rpm machine has good quality products? do you think the motor wont suck as much as you guys say it does with the stroker/headwork, or would it still not be worth it?

thanks
Modified by nismo_89_240sx at 6:19 PM 7/8/2007

[Mr1der]

weren't the heads and intake the biggest downfall of that motor?

for the money you spend on the stroker kit and the small gain...you could easily get a 4 bolt 350.

[cnichols]

It seems to me everyone is looking to get their projects done quick and cheap.

My advice...relax, save some money, and build something you can truly be proud of and content with for years to come. If you want something other than an SR, there are plenty of GOOD choices out there. In my opinion, the 305 is not one of them.

2JZ, LS1, 1UZ, 302...these are all better options and can still be had for a decent price.

I paid $2300 for my LS1 w/ 6 speed, ECU, harness, Z06 clutch, all acc. except starter and alternator. And...it only had 29,xxx miles on it. Put it in...started it up and been driving it for the past two months. Yes, it took more money than I WANTED to spend and also took longer. But, do I regret it? Hell no. Everytime someone passes my car at a show and I see them do a double take and mouth the words... "HOLY ****"...it's worth it.

[WDRacing]

Agreed...there are a ton of deals just waiting to be found out there. The 305 is the ugly duckling of the Chevy family, I have no idea why they made so many. If you save that 1000 bucks and throw it at a Police package Caprice, you'll be able to pull of a LT1 series 5.7. Trust me...you'll be glad you waited.

I'm always looking for a good deal. Check out swap meats and hit the local race track. There is always someone looking to unload somthing.

WD

[Davidss]

1. I need to know how easy/hard it would be to convert the fuel injection to a carburater.

2. also if the transmission will line up, at least reasonably close.

1. You'll need a Mallory 3 port return style fuel pressure regulator which will step down the 50psi or so from the stock fuel pump to 8psi for the carb. I would mount it in the trunk and then run one fuel line up to the carb (you can use the stock steel fuel line for most of the way). I think the model you need is Mallory 4309 but search around on camaro forums to be sure and when you figure it out post here so future swappers will know...

2. Yes.

On the subject of the 305 vs 350 debate I'm going to have to go against the crowd. I would highly reccomend using the 305, at least for a while. Get the car running with it then use whatever budget you have left to build a monster 350/383/LT1. You don't know when you start out how much the whole project will cost you so if you have a free engine use it!!!

[BOOM_STICK]

thanks for all the input guys, it's really helpful

as for the swap, ill keep an eye open for a 350/lt1/ls1 for cheap and do some more in-depth research on the 305.

ill let ya'll know what i get, when i get it...

thanks again