Junkyard 305

[jimboh247]

Picked up a 1976 305 long block for $125. I'm clueless as to it's condition, but it turns freely and you can hear compression when you turn it over wiith a wrench. I pulled the valve covers, timing chain and oil pan. Inside looks fairly clean. I plan on re-gasketing it, replacing the cam, oil pump and timing chain and stabbing it in my 85.
Is there anything else I should check?
I pressurized the cylinders with air, and their is a little blow by the rings, but that is without any oil in the cylinder. There is a little movement to the rods, side to side, at the crank when the crank is at the bottom of the stroke.
Should I pull a rod cap and a main cap and check the journals?

[Pyrotechnic]

Any way you can rig up some kind of test stand? I've seen people stick the oil pan in a sturdy tire to support the motor and splice a garden hose into the lower radiator hose. A car battery, a gas can and some fuel line, and you can run it for a bit and make sure there's nothing obviously wrong with it. After you've heard and seen it run and it's to your satisfaction, then you can feel a lot better about spending more money on it. To me, this is best test for a junkyard motor you know nothing about.

I wouldn't go as far as messing with the bearings though.

[mopar346]

Rigging a test stand is a great way to check the vituals, just becareful and use your head. Check the bearings is actually no big deal and is a good way to get a read on the condition of the engine.

Not to be mean but I personally wouldn't waste any time, money or effort on a gut less 305. If you can get your money back I would and find a 350, with a little patence you can probably find one you can here run for $300 or so give or take. Just watch craigslist and the likes and you will find someone parting out a vehicle or maybe a running vehicle for $500 or so and scrape the body for the weight after you get what you want.

Again, I don't intend to be mean or insulting just hate to see people pour good money after bad trying to polish a frog.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Pull number one main cap and the thrust cap with the oil pump the bearings should be clean and scuff free. With very small scratching if anything. Crank journals should be smooth. Cylinder walls should have light cross hatching
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[frog210]

Originally Posted by mopar346

Rigging a test stand is a great way to check the vituals, just becareful and use your head. Check the bearings is actually no big deal and is a good way to get a read on the condition of the engine.

Not to be mean but I personally wouldn't waste any time, money or effort on a gut less 305. If you can get your money back I would and find a 350, with a little patence you can probably find one you can here run for $300 or so give or take. Just watch craigslist and the likes and you will find someone parting out a vehicle or maybe a running vehicle for $500 or so and scrape the body for the weight after you get what you want.

Again, I don't intend to be mean or insulting just hate to see people pour good money after bad trying to polish a frog.

Im a frog lol
but yea just save up for a 350
i have a 305 it dose the job, but i want mo powa lol

[mopar346]

No offense Frog.

[Skunksmash]

I have kind of a strong opinion on the 305. The word boat anchor comes to mind. But I have seen people build them to be decent. I'd go though that motor for sure though. Slap a H/C/I combo on it as well and it won't be a bad motor imho

[MalibuSSwagon]

My little 305 did quite well pulling along 8000+ lbs of truck and loaded trailer many a time. That was with an extremely worn timing chain, SM465 and 2.73 gears! Its survived much detonation by way of the old ESC distributor and now my learning on how to tune TPI's. Gutless? Maybe so.

[chebyshortbox65]

I don't belive the 305 came out until later then 76 are you sure its a 305?
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[Your41Plague12]

Originally Posted by chebyshortbox65

I don't belive the 305 came out until later then 76 are you sure its a 305?
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True, could be a 307 in that era. Let us know what the casting numbers are.

[jimboh247]

Shortbox, according to wiki, if you can believe it, first year of the 305 was 1976. Last year for the 307 was 73.
Guys, i'm trying to go ultra lo-buck on this little engine. I'm not looking to built a stump puller, track truck or anything like that. I certainly wouldn't be messing with a 305 if I was.
I'm trying to get a running engine for as little money as possible without having to change the POS out next week. I'm looking for is an engine that doesn't burn oil, or leak it!
Thanks for all the responses.

[jimboh247]

But it is a good thing I decided to at least pull the cam. Rounded lobe on #1 intake. If nothing else, this engine will be a good experience for my son. He's learning a lot about what can be wrong with a used engine.

[mopar346]

Hmmm........

Definitely good learning experience to let the boy go through it, take it apart, put it back together and repeat.

[chebyshortbox65]

Hmm I always thought the 305 came out in the early 80's see you learn something new everyday.I had a 305 that I got for free in my old 74 shorty that came from a van.it had one of the timing chains with the plastic gears on the cam that all the teeth were gone.I swapped in a used timing set and put it in I beat on that truck for 2-3 years and it never blew up I don't know how many times I tried to kill it it just wouldent die.I had a buddy that was suppose to be a good engine guy build me an engine since I was slammed at work and he owed a favor.well I purr the new engine in and i must have pulled that thing out 5 or 6 times for diffrent issues and always broke down I ended up giving up and putting the 305 back in it and got another couple years out of it then sold it.if it were me I would leave it stock maybe a timing chain.in my past experience if you open it up and change cans and heads and such then the bottom end usually ends up coming apart.and your not going to notice to much of a diffrence between a stock 305 and a stock 350 only in the towing department in my opinion biggest problem 305 have is timing knock
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[bk2life]

Originally Posted by jimboh247

Rounded lobe on #1 intake.engine.

yeap, now all that metal is in the motor.. pull a main cap and a rod cap and check bearings. you can re-ring it and new bearings pretty cheap. bottle brush/dingle berry hone the cylinders.

personally take it back to the parts yard. swap it for a different one as they usually have some sort of warranty

[hatzie]

The 305 is no performance motor and neither is the 350. It will get the job done.

If the bearings look good and the clearances are OK and there's no metal filings in the pickup screen you should be OK... Look over the piston skirts and bores for damage.

If you're satisfied it's OK I'd just go for it. Put in a good cam, lifters, timing chain set, and new oil pump. Then prime it and run it.

[85Bowtie]

Originally Posted by jimboh247

Picked up a 1976 305 long block for $125.....

Sounds like you already got screwed....

[71maligreen]

i made an engine cart out of an old camaro frame and some other crap i had lying around!! works good and makes problems alot easier to figure out and fix!!!
works great for breakin in new motors etc... i use an empty 4 speed trans to bolt it down