Affordable engine replacement?

[Pender1]

Sadly, I think my stock 305 is approaching it's last days. It's burning oil more than ever and I'm getting huge amounts of blowby. It's not really worth fixing when I can move up to a 350 so easily. The problem is I'm working on a budget (as most of us are).

My question is, what's they most economical way that I can get a new/rebuilt 350 with >250hp? Should I buy the $1500 long block that Summit sells and modify it, or am I better off going down another path? I've got some experience working on engines, but I've never built one so I'm hesitant to go the short block route. Any advice would be appreciated.

Oh yea, I want to stay carbureted and I already have long tube headers.

 

[mistaake]

what about these?

http://www.westcoastengines.com/

 

[Pender1]

what about these?

http://www.westcoastengines.com/

Looks like good stuff, but not exactly cheap. They charge a $400 core charge.

 

[mistaake]

Looks like good stuff, but not exactly cheap. They charge a $400 core charge.

i figured the $2300 for the complete engine that does 300hp with no mods required would be acceptable. i didn't realize there was a $400 core charge.

 

[Pender1]

i figured the $2200 for the engine that does 300hp with no mods required would be acceptable. i didn't realize there was a $400 core charge.

Yea, for $2200 OTD that'd be the ticket, but add the core and shipping and it's too high. Thanks though.

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

My brother bought a 1971 four bolt main 350 short block off Craigslist a few months back for $450. It came with the main accessories an engine needs to be viable also, and we were able to give the bottom end of the motor a good inspection. It has a moderate cam in it, too, but I've since forgotten the specs. We got a nice set of late sixties - early seventies camel hump heads for 300. They had been machined to the specs my brother wanted. The long block plus intake, starter, HEI distributor, fuel pump, valve covers, oil dipstick and tube, Quadrajet, and all the bolts (that came with the short block) were there for $750, and I built the thing so that was free. He's put money into other trinkets that you wouldn't need, but the moral of the story is he's got a four hundred horsepower engine give or take with the nice heads, moderate cam, Edelbrock performer intake, performance headers, and zero emissions setup for $750.

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

Here she is. He's supposed to finally start the sum bitch tomorrow. We'll see how that goes. Everything you see there minus the paint, plugs, and headers was $750.

 

[rich weyand]

Buy the Chevrolet Performance 10067353 engine at JEGS for $1500 delivered. Put the Comp Cams 12-235-2 cam in it before you even run it. Use the springs and lifters that are already in it. Put a dual plane manifold like Edelbrock 2101 or 2701 on it.

290 hp @4000, 415 lbft @2500.

 

[74propu]

a few years a go I bought a 350 from a local machine shop that had not been picked up when they were done with the rebuild. it was 30 over new pistons new cam vortec heads hi presser oil pump all the good chit thay just wanted there money back out of it I gave around $600 for it stuck it in my truck and loved it .so try the local machine shops for abandoned engines

 

[Pender1]

Buy the Chevrolet Performance 10067353 engine at JEGS for $1500 delivered. Put the Comp Cams 12-235-2 cam in it before you even run it. Use the springs and lifters that are already in it. Put a dual plane manifold like Edelbrock 2101 or 2701 on it.

290 hp @4000, 415 lbft @2500.

That's impressive for the price. Got any dyno charts to back that up? One of the reviews on Summit says those intakes won't work with a Holley 4150 carb (what I have). Any suggestion on an alternative that will?

 

[rich weyand]

That's impressive for the price. Got any dyno charts to back that up? One of the reviews on Summit says those intakes won't work with a Holley 4150 carb (what I have). Any suggestion on an alternative that will?

That's from the Camquest simulator. Yeah, yeah, I know, simulators. But it compares well to the stock setup, which the simulator predicts well.

Holley has dual-plane manifolds as well, or you can ask Summit what will work.

 

[Pender1]

That's from the Camquest simulator. Yeah, yeah, I know, simulators. But it compares well to the stock setup, which the simulator predicts well.

Holley has dual-plane manifolds as well, or you can ask Summit what will work.

Ah, I'm a bit new to this and didn't even know about that simulator. Looks like a spacer may fix the carb issue. It's just a linkage making contact apparently. I'll do some more research into it, but I may end up going this route. Looks like I could do it for $1800 + small parts... so $2000-ish.

 

[rich weyand]

You'll be happy with it. Lots of torque, pretty nice high end, pretty cheap. Not a ton of lift, so it won't be a short-lifetime deal tearing up the valve train.

Your performance will be very dependent on how well tuned you get the carb. I strongly recommend dropping $300 on a good, wideband Air/Fuel Ratio (A/FR) meter so you can dial it in. I did, and, despite my best efforts without it, I was way off.

 

[Green79Scottsdale]

Ah, I'm a bit new to this and didn't even know about that simulator. Looks like a spacer may fix the carb issue. It's just a linkage making contact apparently. I'll do some more research into it, but I may end up going this route. Looks like I could do it for $1800 + small parts... so $2000-ish.

The plan Rich laid out is pretty sound. But may I offer another route.

Check out the L31-R long block. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/nal-12530283/overview/ Compared to the "cheaper" long block, the L31 has Vortec heads, a roller cam, and a one piece rear main seal. It is rated at 255hp/330ftlbs right out of the crate. You don't need to add a cam that will void the warranty right off the bat. And it's only $2070, which in the grand scheme of things is only a breath away from the route Rich suggested. Either way, just something to think about.

 

[rich weyand]

He can also run the stock Chevrolet Performance 10067353 with a dual plane manifold and headers, and not replace the cam, for $1500. That nets 250 hp and 350 lbft. Not quite as beefy a torque curve -- not as high, nor at as low an rpm -- as the 12-235-2 cam, but then he wouldn't void the warranty.

The only big mistake would be spending $500+ more for the Chevrolet Performance 12499529 350/290 engine. That is a crate engine with the cam from a high-compression engine of the late 60s in the 10067353 low-compression crate engine. Big mismatch. It has no stones at low rpm, and is a terrible choice for a truck. 50-90 time for burning up the two-lanes is awesome, but from a stop it helps if you get out and push. BTDT.