Hope some of you would be willing to give some advice on the following:

I bought a damaged '91 Z28 Conv 305 TPI with 170K on the odometer (Salvaged) with plans to have it restored and use it for weekend driving - no track or drag racing.
After having it sitting for 10 months I have had the front corner repaired and re-painted the entire car by a reputable shop.
The next step is the engine. The original 305 has a leaking head gasket between Cyl 6 and 8 and I would need to either
A: Get the top end done -Got a quote for $1200, - for both sides.
or
B: Buy a used complete LS1 with tranny and make the swap.

Either way my objective is to get 275 to 300HP on pump gas with a throaty sound so a modified cam with cold air intake and a flowmaster was planned either way. Problem is I don't know the history of the 170K on the current drive train so a complete overhaul would probably be the smartest and done by a professional.

I do work on my cars but have never taken out or installed an engine before. Is the swap difficult and are there issues I should look out for? I have some help available from a friend (mechanic).

Thanks

 

drop in a ZZ4....

 

Have not given a crate engine options much thought as I believe it would cause some problems trying to change the salvage title to a rebuild title in California before bringing the car to Illinois. Getting a rebuild title in Illinois need to involve a rebuilder of body shop in Illinois or the body shop in LA that did the work and that may pose different problems altogether.

Secondly a new tranny would add to the cost and I still need to complete the interior.

Thanks

 

What's stopping you from doing the head gasket change yourself? Pick up a haynes manual and have at it. It really isn't hard to do. The only thing that is tedious is taking LOTS OF PICTURES and MARKING WHERE WIRES/SENSORS/VACUUM LINES GO. These are so important, and although tedious will save you so much time in the long run.

Another issue is clearance, but if you did like I said and document your progress, you should have no problem getting things back together (particularly the smog system is in the way). But other than the smog system being in the way (and part of the A/C), you should be able to take the intake off, and then the heads will come straight out with no issues.

 

I say try and fix whats in there since your not trying to race it. Sucks that its on the pass. side but its not too bad,ive done it before on each side lol.

If you have help from a mechanic then your fine,its not as HARD as it is TEDIOUS and TIME CONSUMING. GOD DAMN TPI!!!

 

Well there are two reasons preventing me from doing it myself.

I've been told that there is a good chance head might be warped and would need to be machined.

Secondly, the car is in L.A. and I live in Chicago.

Since I can't re-title the car in Illinolis unless I have a re-builder lisence, I would have the car re-titled in CA before bringing it to Illinois. I can only get a new title after the car passes a smog test.

Eventhough I don't plan to race the car, I still would like an engine with lot's of torque. Any suggestions for a 305 TPI ??

 

Used 305 heads are everywhere if you need them. Sounds like you are at the mercy of the LA mechanics.

Even if they need to be milled to clean of the surface, it won't be more than $250. Aftermarket runners, headers and cat-back will give you more power and keep the torque.

 

maybe i can offer some help here.. $1200 is alot for a top end rebuild, you can buy a BRAND NEW set of cylinders heads for that much, which is what im going to suggest, from jegs, world products s/r 305 heads.. $380 each, 760 total, almost half what the shop quoted you. no machine work required.

http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...49777_-1_10187

also talk about crate motors.. i dont see how that affects the title in any way? also a zz4 or other small block chevy crate motors will bolt right up to your tranny, no need for a new one.

yet in your first post you mentioned an ls1 and tranny, then you mentioned you need money for the interior? an ls1 swap is really expensive, and alot of work.

 

From what I have been told, the law in CA requires that only approved engines can be used in an engine swab on any model car in order to pass the smog test. In this case a 305 or 350 the Z28 was available with in '91. Without passing the smog test I can not get the car re-titled in CA making it very difficult if not impossible to get a IL rebuild title(would need someone wth a IL rebuilder license to validate the repair and sign the paperwork)

I have not been able to find anything ion the CA DMV website to verify this, but I asked a smog test station when I was in L.A. last week and got the story from manager.

The list of approved engines and after market parts is listed at:

http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermk...es/amquery.php

As I understand it, unless the engine (or all its parts) have a CARB number, the engine must have been used in a GM passenger car sold in California. If the basic car is from out of state, it is a little different, but I'm not sure how.

Supposedly the only California approved turn key engines are Lingenfelter's.

If/when I fix the top do I risk the "bottom end" goes out - rings etc.?? Anyway to minimize the risk. I would like to drive the car back to Chicago, but concerned ending up on the side of the road, somewhere in Utah, with more problems.