84 Chevy 305 stock; what to swap with?

[Kevin Hays]

Hey guys; I bought a stock 305/auto 3 years ago. Parked in yard due to a back surgery, started occasional. Getting ready to start back on project and not sure what to do? Get 305 running, swap out with LS, 350 crate. I went out to start yesterday and getting power at lights/horn, but no power at dash. Key would make noise and turn over when parked??

 

[Ricko1966]

What's your goal? Daily driver,garage queen,13 second street ride? Drive aroundbtown once a month just to be driving an old truck?

 

[HotRodPC]

Hey guys; I bought a stock 305/auto 3 years ago. Parked in yard due to a back surgery, started occasional. Getting ready to start back on project and not sure what to do? Get 305 running, swap out with LS, 350 crate. I went out to start yesterday and getting power at lights/horn, but no power at dash. Key would make noise and turn over when parked??

I hear of people doing LS Swaps all the time and selling off their 350 cheap. I've bought running 350's that smoked a tad at start up for $100 and used it for years, and then my bro offered me $200 for it when I was done with it and I agreed to take the $100 that it cost me being family and he put it in his El Camino. He sold that car with that engine in it running just fine. It was originally out of a 71 Malibu that a guy had bought just for the all the brackets to put a crate 350 in his sister's Jaguar. Just saying, there's cheap used 350's out that there if that's your goal just to get it running. I'd NOT settle for another WEE O FIVE, so don't fall for a liar on marketplace. Know your casting #'s when shopping for used. Believe it or not, 305's are more expensive to rebuild due to 350's are just so damn common, the kits are cheaper and noone wants Wee O Five blocks.

 

[75gmck25]

Determine your power goal and budget first. Basic 350 or 305 build (cam, intake, carburetor, headers and exhaust) is relatively cheap if you shop around, but you have to also add in the cost of the 350 engine if you go that route. The next step up in HP requires better heads (stock smog heads really suck for flow, and have low compression), and that will cost quite a bit more. With good heads it’s not hard to get HP up near 400, although it may be a little short on low end torque for a heavy truck

If you are starting out with replacing the 305, an LS swap may be better in the long run. Lots of engines in the junkyard.