350 building

Hey everyone, i'm kindof new at this, i have a 1985 z28 with a 305 in it right now and i want to put a 350 in it, i need to know what parts i need to exactly buy and maybe some pointers how to put it in, or the best way to. if you could email me what i need it would be appreciated. thanx branger2327@comcast.net

well my Z i bought it prolly about 3 or 4 months ago and it has some major choke problems, so its like hell to start up and then when i do get it running, it leaks oil prolly about 2 quarts everytime i go someplace with it, it leaks the oil from every where the engin is just worn out, it has a 305, auto, and carbureted. i don't want to go to fuel injected when i change it, i don't really want to spend a bunch of money on it, if i do spend a bunch on it i'll prolly just buy a crate motor, but if you have any suggestions, please do tell.

Hard to beat a good crate motor. All the parts are matched pretty well and they come with a warranty. You don't get that when you build an engine. :)

i know the crate motor would have the warrenty but, i thought about building a new one from scratch for the learning. i'd like to really know how to do that stuff

Learning is never a bad thing, but it can be expensive. Parts, machine work, and tools aren't cheap. Mainly all the stupid little tools that are necessary to properly assembly a motor is what kills most people's wallets when they build their first motor. I would recommend picking up some books on the subject and see if you still want to tackle the job.

My only major tip for the moment would be to remove the engine/tranny at the same time. Much easier to reassemble everything when it's out of the car. :)

The question everyone leaves out when looking for motor combos-----How much ($) ya got?

Then we'll tell you what to do. Heh.

well i have some money, but like i said i dont' want to spend a lot if i can just buy a crate for 1400ish, i'll check out some books to see what i need. but i just want some kindof idea of what i really need, tools arent' a problem either.

You ever consider doing a 406 instead of a 350? Lots of torque and you can build a screamer for about $2500 bucks. Plus it will bolt your engine bay and no one will know it isn't a 350. They're alot more fun than a 350. :)

The only crate you could find for sub-$1400 would be the generic GM Goodwrench 350 for ~$1200.

If I were you, I'd look for a used 350 Shortblock. They're cheap and have potential. I sold one a month ago for $175. Figure if you can find one for ~$200, that leaves you plenty for a nice set of heads. Maybe a cam, some other bolt ons.

BTW--I'm assuming you want to go carb?

Originally posted by Black6SpdTA
The only crate you could find for sub-$1400 would be the generic GM Goodwrench 350 for ~$1200.

If I were you, I'd look for a used 350 Shortblock. They're cheap and have potential. I sold one a month ago for $175. Figure if you can find one for ~$200, that leaves you plenty for a nice set of heads. Maybe a cam, some other bolt ons.

BTW--I'm assuming you want to go carb?

That wouldn't be a bad way to go either, as long as the bottom end of the short block was in good condition. :)

what would a 406 do for me instead of a 350, or whats the difference. i was thinking of going with to goodwrench 350 but if i can get all of the parts cheaper than the crate then i'll do that instead, can you guys give me a list of what i would need exactly besides everything in a standard rebuild kit?

oh and i do want to use a carb instead, or would fuel injected be easier or cheaper?

Carb will be sooo much cheaper/easier.

A 406 gives you more hp, more tq, and more "cool factor" :p The external difference is next to none. Try a search.

Originally posted by z28ranger
what would a 406 do for me instead of a 350, or whats the difference. i was thinking of going with to goodwrench 350 but if i can get all of the parts cheaper than the crate then i'll do that instead, can you guys give me a list of what i would need exactly besides everything in a standard rebuild kit?

Well, the neat thing about a 406 is that you can't really tell it apart from a 350, but it's super simple to get 500 hp out of one vs getting the same out put from a 350. Plus it will make power at lower rpms than a 350 so it will pull like there's no tomorrow. They're just fun motors. I had one in a s10 that made a little over 480 hp at the wheels on a dynojet on pump gas. It wouldn't be cheaper than the crate, but it would definately be more fun. :)

i was doing some research and a 406 is a mopar engine? am i right? are mopars better for performance than a 350? my z i'd like to make a nice performance car out of it but i also will use it for regular everyday use and with gas being around $2.00 or more its will get expensive in the gas factor.

if i did put a 406 in my z would i have to change the tranny and any other components in the car?

No, a 406 is a 400 small block chevy that's been overbored. Your tranny and accessories would bolt up fine, although you might want to beef up the drive train a bit. :)

The external differences are the three frost plugs or if they only have two there is still a boss for one, that just isn't one there. Those are hard to see with the vehicle in the car though. The easy way to tell them apart is by the size and look of the weighted balancer.