kristopheer

how much would this cost? and what all would i have to do so this would work? (i have a 92 camaro rs right now with a 305)

82355

Why in the he!! would you want to do that??? Go from a bad block to a worse? The only differemces are the dipstick location rear main seal and the roller block. Dipstick location is no big deal, but the one piece rear main seal and the roller block are both superior to a boat anchor 305 from the seventies.

Bad idea.

Martin

kristopheer

oops, i meant 72 - 78 350 block...

the guy said it would cost unreal to change everything over, but he didnt go in detail what i'd hve to change.

can anyone help?

Error404

hm... I'm not to familier with Camaros yet (just getting into them, I'm a truck guy), but from what I have seen/heard in the world of trucks and mustangs, an older block won't be as good as a newer one, unless you have it machined out. If you just plop the older block in with all the old parts in it, don't expect the power of a newer block, even if the older block is slightly bigger.

With out any machining or newer parts, I wouldn't expect neck jolting power that you might be expecting from a larger block, especialy if you are putting a 30 year old engine against a 10 year old engine...

If you can have it machined, new innerds (pistons, rockers, and so on) and a good carb, then I expect you would be pleased with it But, that will cost you, you might be better off with a crate engine? I don't know how much all the machining and new parts would add up to.

Good luck with it which ever way you go!

DarthIROC

Ick if your gonna put all new guts in the engine the blocks arent all that different but thats about the lowest hp range in history. After 72 the american hp went wayyyyy down. And didnt recover till near the 90s when FI was being perfected

82355

The block has little to do with horsepower potential. The advantage of the newer blocks are: the one piece rear main seal, which gains no horsepower, just less problematic; and the roller cam provisions, which roller cams are a lot better (more expensive also) than a flat tappet design. For more money than it would cost to install a roller cam in a OE roller block you can use retrofit roller lifters and put a roller cam in a non roller block. So the idea that a different age block will make noticable power is a pipe dream, akin to thinking a four bolt main will gain power, itr won't it is a durability issue.

So back to the original question, yes you can put a '70s vintage 350 block in place of the boat anchor in there now, without to much difficulty (with only subtle differences the Small Block Chevy retains the same external dimesions and features from 1955 to the ones installed in 2002 Chevy fullsize vans).

Martin

Jim85IROC

There will be some headaches associated with the swap, namely getting the toliet bowl injection to work well with the 350. If you're planning on building a real mild 350, then you can probably get away with it with a simple injector swap and maybe a new PROM. If you plan to get any power out of the motor, you'll probably want to consider swapping to a carb, TPI, or an aftermarket fuel injection setup. Carb would definately be cheapest, with TPI a close second. An aftermarket fuel injection configuration would obviously be quite expensive.

I'm not going to get into the merits of each induction setup (that's fuel for another thread), but you do want to keep it in mind while you're making your plans. In terms of physical problems, you should have very few if any. You will need headers in order to use the driver side dipstick, but everything else will be a direct swap. The 350 has the exact same external dimensions as a 305.

87ROC

If you wanna know how much it will cost make a list. List the parts combination you are gonna use, the cost of refreshing the block(overbore and what not) and like Jim said cost of type of fuel induction you will use.

The flexplate may be different for the 2 piece rear main seal and the older heads (pre-87) have the 2 center bolt holes at a different angle for easier installion. But all that takes is to elongate the holes in the manifold so the bolt will fit.

Keep in mind a mid 70s 350 in stock form is probably no more powerful than the 305 you have.