#1067540 - 08/06/20 03:22 PM
Re: Engine Swap
[Re: NolesAlumni]
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,130
Buick Runner
10+ Year
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10+ Year
Member

Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,130
Dharma station 1 the Hydra
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Its always expensive to hire someone else to do the work for you. Even with professionals, you never know how professional their work will be. With only 50k, your 05 should have plenty of life left in it. Also being an SS, the 305 you have should be the high compression one which responds to mods much better than the low compression 305s which is the version most people b#### about.
Forgot to say, your car being an 86 means its the first year of having the one piece rear engine seal. Something to remember if you ever do replace the engine later on, the one and two piece seal blocks each use different flexplates. So you must match the flexplate to the style of block.
Last edited by Buick Runner; 08/06/20 03:31 PM.
SBC powered 1987 Regal with TES headers, ZZ4 intake, ZZ4 PROM chip, mini starter, THM2004R, 2500 stall converter, 2040 cam, CCC system, and 3.73 posi rear.
2008 ex NPS P71 Crown Victoria, cop motor, cop shocks, cop brakes, and Jmod.
Never argue with an idiot. They will just drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.
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#1067546 - 08/07/20 02:16 AM
Re: Engine Swap
[Re: NolesAlumni]
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,912
BadSS
20+ Year
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20+ Year
Member

Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,912
Pearl, MS, 39208
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If the car doesn’t hold any sentimental value, then it probably would be best to do what you need to do to get it running and sell it, putting that money and the “swap” money towards a newer LS powered car. If the SS is in good shape at 50K miles, then you should be able to get decent money for it – add $6,000 (more if you include exhaust mods) to it and you’re in range for a decent LS powered Z/28, T/A, Camaro, GTO, or G8 GT.
That would kill a few birds with one stone – getting you a more modern platform that more people can work on as well as having a better handling car right out of the gate. Minor mods like a cam, headers, and tune can add upwards of 100HP on most LS engines and most shops are capable of doing those mods – suggest you get HP Tuners so you can tune it yourself (if you have a couple weeks to learn how).
If you’re set on keeping the SS, with only 50K miles on it (and if it was running fine before), I think I’d lean heavily towards doing a head swap (use stock intake) along with a mild cam (requiring little tuning to the stock carb). Add some 1.625” long tube headers and true 2.5” dual exhaust with Magnaflow or Borla Pro XS mufflers (if emission laws allow).
Here’s a cost breakdown for engine parts for pumping up the 305 to around the 300HP mark. It’s under $1600 (not including exhaust) – labor would probably be half of swapping an engine.
Trick Flow 175 Aluminum Heads - TFS-30310001 - $1,100 ARP High Performance Series Cylinder Head Bolt Kits 134-3601 - $83 Chevrolet Composition Head Gaskets 10105117 $26x2 - $52 Trick Flow Intake Gaskets TFS-30400921 - $15 Lunati Voodoo Cam and Lifter (207/213, .466/.484 -112) 10120700LK - $180 Cloyes Timing Chain Set C-3023X - $23 Summit 1.6:1 Long Slot Steel Rocker Arms SUM-G6801- $63 SCE Timing Cover Set Gaskets 11103 - $11 Fel-Pro Valve Cover Gaskets VS12869AC - $12
Cam above using the stock rocker arms and adding headers and exhaust would give you about 245 – 250 horses but once you have it torn down enough to do all that, adding heads probably wouldn’t add more than 1-1.5 hours to the labor.
Original owner of 1985 SS black hardtop w/gray interior. Frame-on restoration in progress. 406 sleeper w/ heavily ported FIRST TPI. 1.875" headers and dual 3.5" Borla exhaust. TH400, Ford 9", anti-roll bar, and notched frame. Dropped 2", 18" wheels, and F/R disk brakes. 10-point cage w/swing-out bars, custom gauges, and audiophile stereo system.
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#1067559 - 08/08/20 01:21 AM
Re: Engine Swap
[Re: BadSS]
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 24
NolesAlumni
Junior Member
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Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 24
South Florida
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If the car doesn’t hold any sentimental value, then it probably would be best to do what you need to do to get it running and sell it, putting that money and the “swap” money towards a newer LS powered car. If the SS is in good shape at 50K miles, then you should be able to get decent money for it – add $6,000 (more if you include exhaust mods) to it and you’re in range for a decent LS powered Z/28, T/A, Camaro, GTO, or G8 GT.
That would kill a few birds with one stone – getting you a more modern platform that more people can work on as well as having a better handling car right out of the gate. Minor mods like a cam, headers, and tune can add upwards of 100HP on most LS engines and most shops are capable of doing those mods – suggest you get HP Tuners so you can tune it yourself (if you have a couple weeks to learn how).
If you’re set on keeping the SS, with only 50K miles on it (and if it was running fine before), I think I’d lean heavily towards doing a head swap (use stock intake) along with a mild cam (requiring little tuning to the stock carb). Add some 1.625” long tube headers and true 2.5” dual exhaust with Magnaflow or Borla Pro XS mufflers (if emission laws allow).
Here’s a cost breakdown for engine parts for pumping up the 305 to around the 300HP mark. It’s under $1600 (not including exhaust) – labor would probably be half of swapping an engine.
Trick Flow 175 Aluminum Heads - TFS-30310001 - $1,100 ARP High Performance Series Cylinder Head Bolt Kits 134-3601 - $83 Chevrolet Composition Head Gaskets 10105117 $26x2 - $52 Trick Flow Intake Gaskets TFS-30400921 - $15 Lunati Voodoo Cam and Lifter (207/213, .466/.484 -112) 10120700LK - $180 Cloyes Timing Chain Set C-3023X - $23 Summit 1.6:1 Long Slot Steel Rocker Arms SUM-G6801- $63 SCE Timing Cover Set Gaskets 11103 - $11 Fel-Pro Valve Cover Gaskets VS12869AC - $12
Cam above using the stock rocker arms and adding headers and exhaust would give you about 245 – 250 horses but once you have it torn down enough to do all that, adding heads probably wouldn’t add more than 1-1.5 hours to the labor. I owned an LS1 SS camaro about 15 years ago or so. Did some minor bolt ons wound up putting down like 360/370 or something. It was getting up there in mileage so I dumped it and have been leasing ever since. I won’t be selling the MCSS, more than likely just let it sit until I come into money or someone locally wants to cut a nice check. Cost me next to nothing to insure for the year,
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#1067560 - 08/08/20 01:52 AM
Re: Engine Swap
[Re: NolesAlumni]
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Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 11,980
86ttop
20+ Year
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20+ Year
Member

Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 11,980
Brooksville, Fl
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Leo Paugh It's not an attitude, it's just the way I am. POW*MIA You are not forgotten If things improve with age, I must be approaching magnificent.
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#1067650 - 08/15/20 10:50 AM
Re: Engine Swap
[Re: NolesAlumni]
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 253
86SS86LS
15+ Year
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15+ Year
Member
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 253
Eastern SD
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So I got my first quote back from a local shop: Blue print 350 - 373/400 $4000 15 hours labor $1800 plus fluids
So roughly $6000 and a 30 month/50k mile warranty.
It’s not grossly expensive, but not something I can afford unfortunately.
Crazy that in 2020 these archaic motors with no bells and whistles are still so expensive. Good thing I have other hobbies lmao. If I were in your shoes, I would buy a used 350 off of CL/FB. As an example, a year ago, I sold a low mile turn-key 350 HO crate motor for $1k. Then find someone local to swap it in their garage over the weekend......around here, it wouldn't be hard to get it done for $5-700. If you are resourceful your total cost would be in the $2000-2500 range.
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#1072011 - 09/13/21 02:55 AM
Re: Engine Swap
[Re: NolesAlumni]
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 928
Fred SS
10+ Year
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10+ Year
Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 928
Glassboro, NJ
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Thanks, I saw this one while searching. Of course there’s no price listed. Jegs has the long block version of this motor, part # 19355658, for $2100. You should be able to swap over your oem intake and CCC. Link is below: https://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/sto...logId=10001&langId=-1&q=19355658
87 SS, Harwood hood, UMI trailing arms. Hooker 2050 Headers (Jet Hot Coated). Hooker Cat-Back Exhaust, Goodwrench 350, Ported TPI, Trick Flow 56cc alum heads, SLP runners, Comp Cams 260AH-12 cam, Trick Flow roller rockers, TCI 2400 stall converter, Denny's 3.5" Driveshaft, GBodyParts GNX Replica Wheels 18x8 & 18x9. F-Body Serpentine Belt Sys.
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