Help!!! I need your opinions.

[Richard8971]

OK, here is the deal. I am getting ready to shell out a bunch of money for a motor.

As some of you know, I have an '83 305, most likely out of a Camaro in my truck now. I have an EFI distributor, headers and an Edlebrock 1406 carb. Outside of the fact that it leaks oil like the Exxon Valdez and blows smoke really bad when you start it up, it starts quickly and is a very strong motor, plenty of power and has never given me a days worth of trouble.

Most people are trying to get me to get a 350. Only trouble is, most people that have a nice 350, keep a nice 350. I can get a 350 reman with a 3 year warranty, but I have to pay about $500 for the core charge.

Now the question is, sense I have to transfer my stuff anyway, do I get a reman 305 ($1200.00, no core charge, 3 year warranty), or get a 350 ($1200.00, $500 core charge, 3 year warranty). I know my 305 stuff will work with a 305, but as allot of you guys have said in the past, MOST of the things should transfer over to a 350, but I am still taking a chance.

I can also get a used (been sitting for 4 or so years), recently rebuilt 350 with lots of goodies for $1000.00. (From a friend) But he never got it running right and says it's the timing. To me that's a big 'what if..'. No warranty and I could be buying someone else's troubles.

I know the 350 should be a more efficient motor. I also know the 350 has more HP than a 305 but how do they compare MPG wise? Oh, and one more thing. I need to have my 700R4 rebuilt. So that cuts into my budget some. The money I would have to pay for a core can get my tranny done...

Oh, one more thing. I want to do this locally. I am not interested in getting anything online. My local economy needs my help and I plan on keeping my money here, even if it does cost me a little more. Also the local help if I have any issues with warranty stuff is a plus.

Honestly, I don't care if it's a 305 or not. People won't know it's not a 305 when they look under the hood, so what do I do? Keep to the facts... comments like "305's suck, 350's rock dude!" won't help me decide. I need to know why... please.

Don