PONTIAC Best 305 Rebuild Kits?

[g0thiac]

Right now there are some very good reasons people haven't mentioned for you to think about another direction... and it's all about the long term.

Rebuilding a motor isnt cheap... at least not done right. You're probably looking at an easy $500-1000 or more on the low end by the time you've torn down, hot tanked, honed/bored, bought new parts etc.

Considerations

1) going to roller cam setup - flat tappet cams require lots of extra diligence as they keep reformumating oils, which they did yet again recently. With a roller you don't need to worry about the lack of metals (zinc etc) in modern oils and pricey additives.

2) building an e85 friendly motor. Let's face it, war has been declared on the ICE. Maybe you don't have longterm plans on the car. But if you do, its time to invest wisely for the future. My bet is you see ethanol content raised again with the idea being EV or e85 hybrids. In a carb motor, e85 is about 25-30% less energy than regular gas and needs to be planned for accordingly- both fuel volume and all you various rubber/plastic parts and seals from tank forward.

3) if the idea is to have the correct motor... but you swap out the original heads, carb, ignition system, etc... it does t really count as numbers matching motor, just original block. Beyond displacement, tere are benefits to the 1pc rear main seal, to getting a motor with roller cam already in place, serpentine setup, all down to even running a slightly reworked l31 motor without rebuilding it or some such similar option.

The idea isn't necessarily kill the 305s... it's more a case where people new to the hobby and type of cars may not see the long game, and the cost vs benefit. Replacing a 305 doesn't have to mean an ls swap. Theres many other acceptable options to think about.

If you are set on doing it, you'll wind up with better quality parts overall if you pick components individually. The "kits" are basically just the cheapest Chinese junk thrown in a box and marked up in price for the uninitiated when you're ordering for a smog era 305.

Those are fair points. But keep in mind also, the 305 has low KM as well. So the block, metal wise might be able to take a beating, more than a used 350 with high mileage.

I'd just hate to waste something, that still has potential. And also, getting a 350 delivered to where I am in the country, would be a challenge. I have no access to a pickup, or an engine hoist. My friend has a block and tackle, and thats it.

I have to tow the Pontiac to his house, via CAA for him to do the work.

$500-$1000 seems unreasonable for sure, but keep in mind in comparison I can't afford a $4000 crate motor either. I'm on disability, and my goal here is to get the vehicle back up and running.

 

[08Malibu]

Sorry,I guess I came off like a dick but it’s just not worth it. I picked up a good 97 vortec motor for $300. A few weeks later I got a 98 for $125. The parts to rebuild will be the same and in the end I’ll be ahead. I have a good running 305 I put in my car. I was going to freshen it up, but I don’t want to waste my money.
It’s your car and you can do what you like. As long as you’re happy with the end result, that’s all that matters. Again my apologies. Good luck with your build.

 

[g0thiac]

Sorry,I guess I came off like a dick but it’s just not worth it. I picked up a good 97 vortec motor for $300. A few weeks later I got a 98 for $125. The parts to rebuild will be the same and in the end I’ll be ahead. I have a good running 305 I put in my car. I was going to freshen it up, but I don’t want to waste my money.
It’s your car and you can do what you like. As long as you’re happy with the end result, that’s all that matters. Again my apologies. Good luck with your build.

it's fine, I understand where you are coming from. I appreciate you saying that though.

The real issue for getting a 350 in it, is more so getting one with decent mileage and having it delivered to where my friend can actually install it.

If you know somebody in the Ontario area, who can do it, I suppose I COULD consider it, but right now a 305 rebuild is more friendly to my budget, and disability income.

 

[MrSony]

They're just speaking from experience. The site probably gets about 20 or so new people a month asking on what they can do to a 305 to rebuild it or beef it up.
It's your car, do what you want, but in the words of people that have done it before, don't bother. If it runs right now, doesn't burn oil, just keep it in good tune. If it does actually need taken out, blown apart, you might as well do this, then do that while your in there to get your money's worth.

If you cant handle someone elses input being different from yours, you're gonna have a rough time on this site. We like to dig at each other, especially n00bs. But it's generally all in fun.

 

[MrSony]

But, rock auto, any decent parts store, idk if they ship to canada but I use Northernautoparts.com for a lot of engine stuff (rebuild kits and the like) and they're prices are generally pretty good.

 

[08Malibu]

Once I rebuild my 350 I’m going to give my 305 away. Unfortunately with the way things are going, it’s going to be a bit.

 

[ck80]

Those are fair points. But keep in mind also, the 305 has low KM as well. So the block, metal wise might be able to take a beating, more than a used 350 with high mileage.

For what it's worth, metal fatigue based on block mileage won't be an issue. If anything, vortec engines and the like, whether 305 or 350, have a longer service life/duty cycle than any 80s smog motor.

Don't let that factor influence you.

I'd just hate to waste something, that still has potential. And also, getting a 350 delivered to where I am in the country, would be a challenge. I have no access to a pickup, or an engine hoist. My friend has a block and tackle, and thats it.

Try car-part.com they list some Canadian salvage yards. Just to comparison shop, or for other used parts needs. Its worth keeping in mind.

I have to tow the Pontiac to his house, via CAA for him to do the work.

$500-$1000 seems unreasonable for sure, but keep in mind in comparison I can't afford a $4000 crate motor either. I'm on disability, and my goal here is to get the vehicle back up and running.

Understandable. But even with a friend's free labor, I've got to wonder... honestly, what kind of rebuild are you going after and what do you think it will cost?

There's a big difference between a $4000 crate engine with 500hp, and a stock-ish v8 whether it's a 305 or 350.

You're talking to a guy who, in better years,, changed out a FULL gas tank in a 87 cutlass on Thanksgiving morning in New England on the side of the road because contamination was clogging the sock and it wouldn't run more than a minute. I've done my share of... rigged up work?

That said... doing a motor rebuild without owning a hoist, and I assume stand... I don't know. I guess you're welcome to let your friend try, but I'd think someone who has the experience to do that work for you would have more tools.

I echo some of the above though. You're not going to find a more knowledgeable group than here, BUT, they do rib, they have opinions.

Realistically though... what do you think this rebuild will cost you, why are you doing it, and what do you expect the scope of work to be?

Odometer in these cars start over, you hit 99,999, and next thing you're back at 00,000. Many a "40k" car is really 140k. If they're well taken care of it wasn't just heard of to hit that mileage at 12 years, 15 years old, then get put away in the late 90s or 2000s. And all the carfax or autocheck in the world didn't keep or report records back in the day like they do now.

 

[malibudave]

Search Facebook marketplace and find a good running but clapped out body vehicle. Express vans, suburbans, tahoes, caprices, road master, etc with good running 350 engines. Tbi or vortec 350 from about 1991 to 2002. Even high mileage 350s with fuel injection usually have little wear. Buy it and drive it over to do the engine swap.

I bought a 1994 suburban for $500. 250k+ miles. Ran good and didn’t smoke or leak oil. Body and interior were wore out.

 

[g0thiac]

They're just speaking from experience. The site probably gets about 20 or so new people a month asking on what they can do to a 305 to rebuild it or beef it up.
It's your car, do what you want, but in the words of people that have done it before, don't bother. If it runs right now, doesn't burn oil, just keep it in good tune. If it does actually need taken out, blown apart, you might as well do this, then do that while your in there to get your money's worth.

If you cant handle someone elses input being different from yours, you're gonna have a rough time on this site. We like to dig at each other, especially n00bs. But it's generally all in fun.

I'm not disputing that, and thats fine, unfortunately it became seized.

And a differing of opinion of one thing, it's how you word yourself is what matters. And i don't mind things in good faith, as time goes on there, but as an introduction? Sometimes, isn't always the greatest first impressions.

But I appreciate all relevant input, including yours 😀

 

[g0thiac]

For what it's worth, metal fatigue based on block mileage won't be an issue. If anything, vortec engines and the like, whether 305 or 350, have a longer service life/duty cycle than any 80s smog motor.

Don't let that factor influence you.

Try car-part.com they list some Canadian salvage yards. Just to comparison shop, or for other used parts needs. Its worth keeping in mind.

Understandable. But even with a friend's free labor, I've got to wonder... honestly, what kind of rebuild are you going after and what do you think it will cost?

There's a big difference between a $4000 crate engine with 500hp, and a stock-ish v8 whether it's a 305 or 350.

You're talking to a guy who, in better years,, changed out a FULL gas tank in a 87 cutlass on Thanksgiving morning in New England on the side of the road because contamination was clogging the sock and it wouldn't run more than a minute. I've done my share of... rigged up work?

That said... doing a motor rebuild without owning a hoist, and I assume stand... I don't know. I guess you're welcome to let your friend try, but I'd think someone who has the experience to do that work for you would have more tools.

I echo some of the above though. You're not going to find a more knowledgeable group than here, BUT, they do rib, they have opinions.

Realistically though... what do you think this rebuild will cost you, why are you doing it, and what do you expect the scope of work to be?

Odometer in these cars start over, you hit 99,999, and next thing you're back at 00,000. Many a "40k" car is really 140k. If they're well taken care of it wasn't just heard of to hit that mileage at 12 years, 15 years old, then get put away in the late 90s or 2000s. And all the carfax or autocheck in the world didn't keep or report records back in the day like they do now.

Fair enough then, I won't take that into much of a consideration.

And sure, I'll take a look at them. As for tools, my friend has an engine stand, just not a hoist, but as I said a block and tackle.

I wouldn't be quick to think he doesn't have alot of tools, he's got quite a bit, just not a hoist.

Cost wise, most kits I've found are under $1000. Cost of a 350, with low mileage, is starting at around $1500, PLUS the rental of a vehicle, and gas to go get it, when most people selling them, live very far away from myself.

As for the rebuild reasons, it's because the engine is seized, and has low KM from what I understand, but you are right, the reading could be false, that's just the risk you take with older vehicles such as these ones.