Can someone set me straight 305 to 350

[ozkiwi]

I am going to buy a basic 350 crate maybe a 260hp to replace the original 305 in my 86 silverado shortbox.
I don't ever plan to add any performance mods to the motor I just want a reliable motor for my everyday driver with low end torque and similar economy to the 305.
What I need to know is will the exhaust manifolds,ignition,quadrajet and inlet manifold.water pump ,fuel pump all swap over ?
I am getting a shop to do the change over here in Australia and when getting quotes they all say different things concerning the the above.
Way too lazy to do the change over myself.

[Shane22696]

Yepp, it will all bolt right up

[ozkiwi]

Originally Posted by Shane22696

Yepp, it will all bolt right up

Thanks one more question as the crate 260hp has a 2 piece rear seal and the 305 a 1 they are saying it will need a different flex plate is this true and how much are they.

[meatwagon83]

everything will swap, and economy should be comperable

[chevblood]

oi mate, who's doin your swap over?

I'm in hallam.

truck pics?

[ozkiwi]

Originally Posted by chevblood

oi mate, who's doin your swap over?

I'm in hallam.

truck pics?

Have seen a couple of local guys but fast thinking of doing it myself and put the extra money into the motor as they want what seems like pretty serious money.
Pm me your number and I will give you a call.

[mrhino]

hold on a second. you said your new 350 will have a two piece main. if thats true. then your intake probably wont work, and neither will your valve covers.

the 2 piece main engines are older 85 and older and the one piece is 86 and up. I would not go to a 2 piece rear main unless I had two. Point is make sure your getting the the same generation engine your swaping to make sure all the stuff switches over

[88Jimmy4x4]

Yes the flex plates are diff from one piece and two piece rear seal, new flex is about $125 or so but before ordering count the teeth on old one. I wouldnt reuse old water pump or distributer though

Can you post a link to the exact engine your thinking if getting?
Posted via Mobile Device

[ozkiwi]

http://www.cmp.com.au/crate-engines/...te-engine.html

From what I can understand from reading here and elsewhere The LE9 in my 86 is sort of an odd ball year with one piece rear seal but a mechanical fuel pump.

Have looked into getting one shipped from the US but works out the same with shipping.

They also have this motor
http://www.cmp.com.au/crate-engines/...ylinder-h.html
but then I need a electric fuel pump inlet manifold .
Maybe I would be better buying a turn key motor from the US and get it shipped by the company that shipped the truck.That would take 6 weeks to get here.
Would be in no hurry but the 305 is very tired and wants to quit pretty soon.

As I said economy is more important than horse power for me but I suppose if I keep my foot out of the throttle there is no harm in having it?

[mrhino]

yes your engine in your 86 was right in the middle of the transition to newer engine and fuel injection. all of the newer engine should have the provision for mechanical fuel pump. your intake will not fit the vortex heads on the 330hp engine. you should have no problem with the other engines. Why dont you have your engine rebuilt. I would think it would be cheaper anyway?

[88Jimmy4x4]

Why not just have your 305 rebuilt? That new block gonna have made in Mexico cast on back
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[ozkiwi]

Originally Posted by 88Jimmy4x4

Why not just have your 305 rebuilt? That new block gonna have made in Mexico cast on back
Posted via Mobile Device

This is Australia!The most expensive country in the world for everything. To rebuild my 305 here would cost more than a new crate motor and I would prefer the extra torque of a 350.

[Redcap]

Originally Posted by 88Jimmy4x4

Why not just have your 305 rebuilt? That new block gonna have made in Mexico cast on back
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Why rebuild a 305 (ever!) if you can replace it with a 350?

There is no replacement for displacement.

[Low84]

Originally Posted by 88Jimmy4x4

Why not just have your 305 rebuilt? That new block gonna have made in Mexico cast on back
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[rollin thunder]

Originally Posted by Redcap

Why rebuild a 305 (ever!) if you can replace it with a 350?

There is no replacement for displacement.

I caught so much flak for swapping my 305 and choosing to go back to a 250. But I will say next truck I will go for the bigger is better philosophy. And my experience with 305s are pretty crappy so i agree get rid of the 305

[88Jimmy4x4]

I just don't like the made in Mexico cheap blocks

[Low84]

Originally Posted by 88Jimmy4x4

I just don't like the made in Mexico cheap blocks

That's quite a change of post from the one you deleted......

[80SPORT]

Originally Posted by ozkiwi

This is Australia!The most expensive country in the world for everything. To rebuild my 305 here would cost more than a new crate motor and I would prefer the extra torque of a 350.

GM actually make a service replacement 350 motor for the 1986

We actually use them in boats as it eliminates the leak issues in the rear main but the older intake and fuel pump work

PN 12568759

$1600.00 in Canada

[88Jimmy4x4]

Originally Posted by Low84

That's quite a change of post from the one you deleted......

ya....forgot what website forum I was on

[chevblood]

Originally Posted by ozkiwi

Have seen a couple of local guys but fast thinking of doing it myself and put the extra money into the motor as they want what seems like pretty serious money.
Pm me your number and I will give you a call.

you're ride looks nice, i must admit i never seen around before.

ph: 9796 5275 7am-3pm mon-fri ask for chris

[chevblood]

when people buy those cheap crate mexican engines locally, most people get them rebuilt no one stands by them, not even those who sell them.

why not get a smashed up vt-vx grab the ls1 outta there, i seen rear end wrecked cars go for 2K with ls1 and 150K on the dial.

that would be a mental swap and you have everything you need from the donor car.

by the same token aussie 5 litre 304 v8 outta vt low comp for forced induction

lots of choices

[88Jimmy4x4]

Originally Posted by chevblood

when people buy those cheap crate mexican engines locally, most people get them rebuilt no one stands by them, not even those who sell them.

Exactly
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[ozkiwi]

Originally Posted by chevblood

when people buy those cheap crate mexican engines locally, most people get them rebuilt no one stands by them, not even those who sell them.

why not get a smashed up vt-vx grab the ls1 outta there, i seen rear end wrecked cars go for 2K with ls1 and 150K on the dial.

that would be a mental swap and you have everything you need from the donor car.

by the same token aussie 5 litre 304 v8 outta vt low comp for forced induction

lots of choices

No mate I am an old man who plods around my rubber burning days are over plus I am old school(check out the ride height and old man gragars plus every bit of factory chrome still in place).LOL no fancy fuel injection for me.Everybody dumps on crate engines but local builders produce there own piles of crap plenty of times too.

[chevblood]

hahaha fair call ozkiwi

my missus is a maori

[Metalshapes]

I'm sure I will catch some grief for this but what the hell here goes. I'm not sure where and why 305s have gotten such a bad wrap, they are great little engines and can be made to perform very well, some one wanting to go from a 305 to a 350 for the extra torque is absurd. Both engines share the same crank they will interchange as will the rods, torque is based on stroke and the only way to increase torque is to increase stroke this is why the 383 is so popular. I would never swap just to have a 350, my truck currently has a 334 in it, (A 400 crank in the 305 block.) the small bore allows for some impressive mileage figures, while having the ability to out run most 355s.

I just had to get that out, it is all in what you want to do and the funds allowed, I have a little over 400 dollars in this engine and it has done well by me, thought I would stand up for the 305.