Is "all original" worth keeping a 305?

[68c10owner]

Originally Posted by hatzie

If she's smoking and feeling her age and you want an easy drop in replacement get a 350... Unless you have to get by the smog Nazis.

Why do you think the 350 won't smog? 350's were a optional engine for these trucks so it is 100% legal to swap in a 350 and it's not even considered a engine swap. It's a direct replacement.

[cadillac_al]

Originally Posted by BaseModel

Confession time: I'm more of a Ford guy, and my favorite engine of all time is the ford 300 inline six.

I have a rebuilt 1989 Ford 300 six, complete oil pan to throttle body, and I can't even sell it for $50.

[slotard]

Originally Posted by Liberty

Didn't the 305 like to chew through bearings?

I have never heard much good about those Engines. In today's world folks want the 350. That being said, there's no reason you can't keep the 305 in storage and plop a 350 in there.

that seems unlikely to me... why would a 305 be any more prone to spinning bearings than a 350? I'm not saying it's a desirable engine, if I wanted a smaller abc I'd go 327 or 302 with more reasonable cam than stock, I just don't see why it would spin bearings any more than a 350 worked the same. Maybe people spin them too fast or something, trying to get every last hp.

[MalibuSSwagon]

I ran the hell out of my 305, I can't say enough about it. Plenty of towing cars, ran it up to 5k rpm as much as possible, poor tunes on both the carb and the TPI as well. Only issue was a little smoke at startup.

[gmachinz]

I don't know about "junking a 305" and that they aren't worth anything. It depends on the vehicle. Now, granted in a square body unless its a low mileage "survivor" in showroom condition, IMO there is no reason to worry about keeping a 305-especially if its giving you issues. I had a chance to buy a 79 Malibu many years back and it had its "numbers matching" 305 and everything else. No way would I mod it or pull it for a different motor....why? Because it was a showroom nice, 16K original mile yellow/black 2-door with a factory 4-speed, buckets/console, power everything, etc. and the guy was wanting $8500 at the time. Truly a time capsule car. No way would I NOT keep it 100% stock.

Having said that, in no configuration do I see a squarebody truck with a 305 having any scarcity to it....so, as long as it a tastefully done engine swap and jot a hack job, I'd say go for a motor swap but keep it factory appearing and it'll retain or increase its value in the long run.

Now anything with a factory BB is just cool truck or car so that's a different argument there. Older, survivor BB trucks are worth keeping stock IMO.

[hatzie]

Originally Posted by 68c10owner

Why do you think the 350 won't smog? 350's were a optional engine for these trucks so it is 100% legal to swap in a 350 and it's not even considered a engine swap. It's a direct replacement.

My impression was that the government was a lot less reasonable than you describe.

[motornut]

I have a 305 in my 79,runs ok,(under a 100,00 kms)
I'm sure will be even better with a new carb/intake next year.
I heard the 305s had probs when a lack of oil changes,wiped off lobes?
I've run quite a few,blew up one but it was making noise going in.
Just be sure to be able to document the replacement with a "real" 350,
many stories of 350s turning into 305s once they are "outed"

[slotard]

Originally Posted by hatzie

My impression was that the government was a lot less reasonable than you describe.

Yeah, I thought you needed a BAR ref to sign off on it unless it's the exact same engine, but haven't done it myself and could be wrong.

[68c10owner]

Originally Posted by hatzie

My impression was that the government was a lot less reasonable than you describe.

This is a direct swap. 350's were a optional engine for this year. It would just need the correct smog equipment which may be the same as the 305.

If the 350 was not available in this year then yes, it would be considered a engine swap but since they were OE equipment it is not a problem.

[hatzie]

Is Sacramento easier than So-Cal?
I've read horror stories about Referees and other fun interactions with your fine air resources agency people for much less than changing the displacement.

[slotard]

Originally Posted by 68c10owner

This is a direct swap. 350's were a optional engine for this year. It would just need the correct smog equipment which may be the same as the 305.

If the 350 was not available in this year then yes, it would be considered a engine swap but since they were OE equipment it is not a problem.

Aren't you still supposed to go to a BAR ref to have it checked?

[68c10owner]

Originally Posted by slotard

Aren't you still supposed to go to a BAR ref to have it checked?

Why would you do that? This is not a retrofit like putting g a TBI or ls engine in there. Putting a 350 in there is not illegal and requires no notification to anyone except the smog guy next time it's due. The smog and tune specs may be different between a 305 and a 350. As I've said before, since the 350 was a optional engine there is nothing illegal about this swap. Maybe you should contact the BAR and ask them. This is not that difficult. This happens everyday. I don't know how else to explain it any clearer.

[68c10owner]

Originally Posted by hatzie

Is Sacramento easier than So-Cal?
I've read horror stories about Referees and other fun interactions with your fine air resources agency people for much less than changing the displacement.

There is no reason to go to the BAR for this type of swap unless you are looking to get hassled. It's pretty simple, these trucks were available with the 305 and 350 engines
Both are legal to install.

[Jrgunn5150]

FWIW, to me, very little is sacred. I'd happily swap a 305 or any other factory engine in any square and never look back.

Even now, very few people care about a numbers matching six cylinder Tri-5, but will happily buy a 350/TH350 one.

[73kay]

Basemodel,

I'm at hood too. Let me know if you ever need a hand or some tools for your truck. As for the 305, I got the crate 350 and never looked back. 1500 for piece of mind and a lot of flexibility to fix and restore when you want. Everything should bolt from the 305 to the 350 I believe. Just another opinion, a new motor is always nice. Just keep both "just in case" lol

[BaseModel]

Originally Posted by cadillac_al

I have a rebuilt 1989 Ford 300 six, complete oil pan to throttle body, and I can't even sell it for $50.

I'd definitely give you $50. Where do I send the money?

[BaseModel]

Originally Posted by 73kay

Basemodel,

I'm at hood too. Let me know if you ever need a hand or some tools for your truck. As for the 305, I got the crate 350 and never looked back. 1500 for piece of mind and a lot of flexibility to fix and restore when you want. Everything should bolt from the 305 to the 350 I believe. Just another opinion, a new motor is always nice. Just keep both "just in case" lol

Heck yeah!

[BaseModel]

Well guys I believe I have been convinced that a 350 swap is in my future. Cadillac Al, I'm serious about your engine as well... I have an '86 GMC that wouldn't mind a bit of Ford muscle... It's rough as they c one so I'm not even *slightly* concerned about collector value there haha. But it's got a super straight frame and a few good components, might make an interesting combination.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by 68c10owner

Why would you do that? This is not a retrofit like putting g a TBI or ls engine in there. Putting a 350 in there is not illegal and requires no notification to anyone except the smog guy next time it's due. The smog and tune specs may be different between a 305 and a 350. As I've said before, since the 350 was a optional engine there is nothing illegal about this swap. Maybe you should contact the BAR and ask them. This is not that difficult. This happens everyday. I don't know how else to explain it any clearer.

I have no idea how Cali smog checks are, but technically the 350 was not available in the 86 C10 truck. It wasnt "optional" as you suggest, it was only available in C/K 20 or C/K30 trucks. My knowledge is a bit fuzzy on what years got what, but I believe from 81-86 the 305 was the only V8 available in light duty trucks.

[Malo83]

You are Correctomundo! 305 was the only available v8 in Cali

But with the new E-Rod 5.3, 6.2 you eliminate all the old smog gear and run the new emission control package
http://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/de...o/D-126-30.pdf

[hatzie]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

I have no idea how Cali smog checks are, but technically the 350 was not available in the 86 C10 truck. It wasnt "optional" as you suggest, it was only available in C/K 20 or C/K30 trucks. My knowledge is a bit fuzzy on what years got what, but I believe from 81-86 the 305 was the only V8 available in light duty trucks.

You are close to correct. The Cali only LS9 350 K10 is probably rare enough that it's just splitting hairs to say it was available...

Almost all of the GM 1/2 ton light trucks in 1986 were limited to the 305 V8 or 4.3L V6.

In 1986 the LS9 350 was available in California... but only on the K10 with the 700R4 transmission and 6100GVW chassis. I'd be interested to see if they actually built any...
The Cali C10 got the LF3 (Cali Emissions) 305V8 or LB1 4.3V6 only.
So unless you have one of the California only 1986 HD K10 trucks you aren't putting a smog legal 350 in it in Cali. I bet the refs look over the carburetor #s etc pretty closely if they even admit it was possible. Good luck sourcing some of the 1986 Cali 350 1/2 ton only emissions parts they'll be looking for.
If it passes the tailpipe test and has all the correct LF3 emissions bits I doubt they will look at the block casting #s... But they could.

BTW the 1986 49 states CK10 trucks got three engines none of them the 350. The LH6 Diesel, 49 state LE9 305V8, or LB1 4.3V6 were all you got unless you bumped up to 3/4 ton.

Pages 20 & 21 of this document from the GM Heritage archives.
https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/...../Chevrolet-Trucks/1986-Chevrolet-Truck.pdf

[hatzie]

Back to the OP question.
There's no such thing as a rare 73-87 1/2 - 1 Ton light truck. If it's more than 10K on the clock and it's not in museum condition do what you like.
As long as you aren't in a smog state you can put whatever engine in her that floats your boat.

[68c10owner]

I stand corrected. What the **** do I know anyway?

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by 68c10owner

I stand corrected. What the **** do I know anyway?

A whole lot more about Cali smog laws than me. I just recently had to point out the 305 only feature when it was brought up about the 84 Sierra I bought had a 305.

[cadillac_al]

Originally Posted by BaseModel

I'd definitely give you $50. Where do I send the money?

I wish you were closer because you would own it. Maine to Texas would be a hefty freight bill. I would haul it to NH though.