350 vortex head on a 305

[Yav8]

I just used the GM numbers from their crate Ram Jet motor. I use a cleaned and honed vortec block and the factory parts just new ring rods mains and cam bearings chain . For head gaskets I use the steel shim which gives me a little bump in compression and around .040 quench. I have a Edelbrock air gap and a Holley 670 street carb and a set of roller 1.6 rockers. If I had the money I would just go out and buy the complete set up from GM. Very impressive with the FI set up and easy to install. For me its easer to just build off GMs ideas and improve it where it need to be.

 

[Clone TIE Pilot]

Not sure where your information comes from on the cost of a complete L31 vortec motor. These came in the 96-2001 trucks and vans. You should be able to get one in the yard for under $200 complete with or with out a exchange. Most will clean up very nice and with just a hone and new rings rods mains and cam bearings and a jet wash or lots of scraping scratching and picking in your back yard. You can reuse the roller lifters spider and dog bones for the roller set up and reuse the stock cam or like the article in Car Craft up grade the cam to the 383 or marine cam with the last three numbers being 395. When I do one of these motors with the 395 cam I always add a set of 1.6 roller rockers to match the factorys 350 ram jet specks. 350HP and 400 TQ, I have the same motor in my fun truck with weights 4425lb and runs 14.50 in the quarter mile at the local track. Take 1000lbs off something like a gbody or a S10 and its a easy low 13 second ride. Not much is needed just a intake carb and a HEI and a inline electric fuel pump some where back by the fuel tank. I have done well over 300 of these vortec motors and it always impresses me how much power these motor make for very little money. One other thing you can do is with drop in a stroker kit and make it a standard bore 377 or bore it and be happy with a 383. Add a matching hyd. roller cam a up grade the valve spring and your around 450-500HP for not a lot of money. If some one has question just drop a line and I will help. I am retired and do these as a hobby, just to have something to do in the evenings at the shop.

Just going by what the yards charge in my region which may be higher than other areas. I agree L31s are good motors if you can get one at a decent price which isn't always possible. Most of the yards in my area don't even keep anything older than 2010, they get insulted if you ask if they have anything older, lol.