I have just bought back my old 86 IROC Z Camaro that I had sold to my Dad years ago. It has a 305 in it. I am looking for opinion on what I should do with the engine. It is currently losing compression in a few cylinders. Should I just rebuild the on I have or should I bump it up to a 350? How hard would that be.... and I am fixing it up for my son which will start driving in about a year and a half. I will be driving it till I get my 2009 or 2010 Camaro (whenever it comes out)

 

If I was going to drive it I would put a 350 in it but if my son was going to drive it I would do a 305 or a V6 lol( I know when I was 16 and if I had a powerful car I would have probably killed myself).

 

For your son.... I would go 305 TPI......Strong little motor with low end grunt and weak top end. PERFECT for a new driver.

Good Luck

 

Put in a 350 crate motor, then spend a few hundred dollars to get it dyno tuned. That should make it reliable and upgradeable. There are plenty of good, cheap 350's out there that would cost not much more than the cost of parts for re-doing the 305. I suggest you get a post-1987 engine, with roller hydraulic valvetrain. The 1986 was a one-year-only engine with one-piece rear main seal (like newer engines) but no provisions for the hydraulic roller cam.

http://www.sdparts.com/catalog/crate...omyEngine.aspx

$1750 or so, and it includes shipping I think.

IIRC, I spent $1800 on just my crankshaft, con rods, and pistons.

 

well you didnt give any hint as to your budget OR your own technical abilities? SBC's are a pretty easy engine to work on and rebuild if you can do that sorta work. we need more info to go on.

I kinda agree with 1fastformula though. tpi's have enough pep for a new driver to feel fast, w/o actually being fast. the good part with that option is complete 305's are a dime a dozen. got one sitting in storage with no idea what the hell Im goin to do with it? just cant get myself to throw it away. lol.

if your goin to go with a 350, then for the cost of buying a complete eng., then rebuilding it on a tight budget, might as well buy a crate motor as dan suggested. some very good values to be had if you search for the best setup to match your pricerange.

I had a dodge omni, and then a HUGE 71 oldsmobile when I was 16/17. got my first fast car at 18 (81 formula with a 402 and a 4 speed) and still got into plenty of trouble with it. I know I wouldnt want my son to have a fast car for his first car. cool car sure. fast, no.

chris

 

I dont know how much i agree with the "no fast car" for a kids first car.

My 91RS (LO3) was my first car I got at age 16, and I still have it today, and a few months ago (age 22) it got its 350 L98.

But I would agree with the 305 TPI as a great engine, but depeding on the budget, the L98 350 TPI is an even better one

 

I think you misunderstood me. a 3rd gen is a fine car for the first car. but a built 350 in a 3rd gen, in MY opinion, is asking for trouble. stock L98, fine. your 91rs would be fine in my book too.

 

You could go with the 305 TPI, put a chip in it and a shift kit. Thats what I have in mine right now, and it's pretty strong, but not too strong for a new driver. I'm getting ready to swap it with a 327, If you need some parts or the whole thing I'll probably sell them.

 

In my opinion, if the car still runs sound (though some compression loss), not quite sure if rebuilding the car at the current time is worth the money. I say give to your son as is. This is a perfect car for young guy to work on. If you need to do something with the engine then that depends how much you can do yourself. The cheapest is the rebuild the 305. However, I am not a fan of the 305. If you are going to keep this car (it sounds like the car has been in the family for a while), then I would buy a rebuilt stock 350 and get a core discount.
FYI: I would assume that the car has some paint/body wear and tear; thus, maybe just rebuilding the 305 and spend the extra money on a paint job and loud muffler???? I think your son may appreciate a clean looking car that sounds fast (rather then just being faster). Thats my opinion, I dont know your son.

 

Well I am not quite sure what I am willing to spend quite yet. I am not on a tight budget but I don't want to put a lot of $$ into his first car but I do want him to have something he will be wanting to drive. the engine is just a small part of what I am doing. since this is an 86 I would like to get the suspension restored as well. I think I will stick with the 305 and let him drive it like that for a while and if he wants to change it out ill let him do it this way I think he will appreciate it more....
Thanks for you input though

 

Well actually I like you thought on the engine.... as for the body it is in good shape when my brother had it he put the big 92 wing on it and the 92 body effects than painted it... some day I will change it back to the classic IROC-Z look but that will be if my son decides to give me the car back. he wont have the option of selling it but he can keep it as long as he wants it. but that is another story... I really only have to work on the interior and suspension.....

 

What 305 do you have? The induction setup will determine your best route.

 

I have the 305 TPI IROC-Z

 

For a kid I'd keep it a 305 as long as possible then throw in a lower powered 350, it can always be upgraded.

 

I still say put the chip in it!!