Looking to Drop In 350 in My Sierra Classic

[silveradotime]

Hi all, Great Site, I bought my 1980 Sierra Classic Early Last year, I was buying it to sell it but after playing around with it, I have become attached and am keeping it. It is a Short Bed with the YE9 Silverado package, It has a 305 in it that has a cracked flywheel, bad oil pan gasket, I also noticed a milky white substance on the dipstick, It doesnt overheat but I know the motor is on its last leg. I wish I could go the Crate 350 route from Scoggin Dicky but funds do not permit.
Derick

[old Rusty C10]

Hi Derrick. Welcome to the site. Love your truck and i think a 350 will be a great mod to a great truck. Would you please take a minute to review the site rules and make sure that you follow them when you post? You may also wish to become a subscribing member.Keep the pics coming of the truck

[silveradotime]

Thanks for the info and compliment, I will be sure to read the rules and I will definitely be a subscribing member!

[PhilaTruck]

Hey Derick, nice truck! Welcome to the board. Since you have time, why not try building your own?

[silveradotime]

Hi, I am good with fixing things on the truck but I have never built a motor and I dont have the correct tools, it sounds like a good idea though but I would probably end up spending more than I wanted to on the motor

[Jonboy]

Go to Blaines and get a long block from them ( www.blainesmotorsupply.com ) and drop that in. They should be a good bit cheaper than SD and are local. Nice truck, by the way. looks like a great start.

[silveradotime]

Thanks, I contacted them, the price was about $950, they said they are not taking any 305's for cores so I would have to pay the full price, I only have about 500 right now

[Damien]

You could find a used engine with an unknown history or save a little more and get a new long block. You can reused your intake and exhaust manifolds, and everything else that is bolted to the engine. I wouldn't reuse the flex plate though.

[Jim85IROC]

With a $500 budget, I really only see one option. See what you can find from a junk yard. At least that way, if you install it and the motor is junk, they'll replace it. But, if you go this route, do it with the mindset that the new motor is a temporary upgrade until you have the funds to do a rebuild. A high mile used 350 (which is what will fall within your budget) is going to be on borrowed time. A search on www.car-part.com found a bunch of >$500 350s in my general region.

[silveradotime]

Yes I did see some on car part, I will see if I can find any close by.

[73step]

welcome to the board i have found some great info here and some really nice people. I agree with the others if you have a strict budget take the time and save up for something worth getting. if your anything like me dont do your own build my last one cost me a little over 10k

[silveradotime]

Thanks, there are great people on this site, I think I will be better off saving for the crate 350 with the 100k warranty, it may hurt in the short run but the long run it will be worthwhile, The cheapest I see are around 1400, has anyone ever bought a crate from autozone, pepboys, oreillys? If so let me know how it turned out.