Engine maddness!!!

[Phoenyx]

OK, as some of you know the 305 is pretty much dead in my Malibu. I was planning on putting a 350 in later this year or early next year. But now that the 305 is dead and this car is also my daily driver, I'm forced to find a 350 now.

I am unable to do an engine swap right now, so it's gonna have to go to a shop. It's gonna cost me $700-$1000 just for the swap.

So I have been looking for a used 350 locally, but had no luck. And the local machine shops don't exactly have a good reputation, so rebuilding one is out of the question. So that leaves me(unfortunately) with the most expensive option, a crate engine.

I'm not gonna be able to afford 400HP(and drive line upgrades) like I was planning. So that kinda changes all my plans.

Now, I have no clue where to buy a crate engine from (also, I live in Canada and don't really want to ship from the US). I want something cheap and reliable (lol if that's possible) with around 300HP. I was considering one of those 290HP GM crate 350s. It may not have big power, but it's new, from GM and should be good for future upgrades. But damn, once I have all the stuff ready to fire up, it's still gonna be around a $3500 (about $2500 for the engine, plus it needs a balancer, intake, carb, fuel pump, and complete ignition system)engine with less than 300HP. Seems kinda pricey to me.

What would you all recommend? Does anyone know of a good source in (western) Canada for crate engines? This is really driving me crazy. All the nice cars are out cruising, and I'm stuck driving a POS 98 Cavalier. I'm gonna go mad if I don't drive my Malibu soon.

 

[axisg]

park the car and find a shop / engine rebuilder / or a freind with access. Dropping $3500 into a gbody will likely get you another car with the motor you want and maybe a better car than the one you have now. Back when I lived in Calgary there was a do-it-yourself shop up in the NE where you could bring your car and they would rent you a bay, hoist, tools ect. I think it was called u-wrench

 

[Phoenyx]

Well there is just no good shops in my city, or a do it yourself place. As far as dumping another $3500 into it, it's not to big a deal for me. Already got about $15000 into the thing already.

What happened to the good old days when every car guy had five 350s laying around in the garage? lol

 

[monte olrac]

well on a good note you can use all your 305 stuff on the 350 to save some cash

 

[JBreu]

Check your local scrap yards.or take the drive to another town or even here in the states...I'm sure you will be able to find a decent 350 out there......Try RacingJunk.com. BTW, sorry to hear about your misfortune🙁

 

[axisg]

Well there is just no good shops in my city, or a do it yourself place. As far as dumping another $3500 into it, it's not to big a deal for me. Already got about $15000 into the thing already.

What happened to the good old days when every car guy had five 350s laying around in the garage? lol

what I was implying was buying a parts car with the motor you want and paying someone to rent their shop or pay them to swing motors for you. Price of crate motors here in Canada is crazy !!

 

[breeaad]

I think $3500 for a 290HP crate engine is retarded. Personally, if I wanted some power I wouldn't drop that kind of cash just to get the car going and not even have what you want. Furthermore, to have an engine built and add some go-fast goodies doesn't cost all that much. What you are paying for is a well assembled, reliable, long-lasting powerplant with a warranty. If you are going to tear into it in a few months or a year to slap a big cam or something else in it, you have wasted money buying value you didn't need.

So I have a few thoughts: Is driving a Caviqueer for a few months that big of a deal considering that you will come out better in the long run? Why is the 305 "dead"? Is it something that can be patched to get you through? If it has a spun bearing, drop the pan and slap some bearings in it. If not, you could buy a SBC running and reliable for around $400 anywhere. Go get one, slap her in, and start looking for one to build. Then, when you can build it, you can get what you want.

Here is my idea of the value of a SBC: My buddy just sold a new, never started, rebuilt 350 from Grooms with a 12K mile warranty for $400, and he had to search for a buyer. I have a 84 Camaro with a strong 350/350, runs and drives great, that I would take $800 for the entire car. This is why people choose SBC, they are cheap and plentiful.

It sounds like you miss your car, and I don't blame you. But don't drop a crap ton of cash on an engine that won't make you happy in the long run.

 

[RITTER]

The GM 350 reman 290hp is only like $900, go to your local GM dealership. You can use all of your extras off of your 305 on the new engine. That swap will be cheap, quick and easy 8)

 

[Phoenyx]

what I was implying was buying a parts car with the motor you want and paying someone to rent their shop or pay them to swing motors for you. Price of crate motors here in Canada is crazy !!

Ahh, that's a good idea. I'm, gonna be hopefully checking out an 80 Cutlass with a 350 in it. Just waiting for some more info on it (hoping it's a Chev 350 lol). From what I can see in the pics it looks pretty good. Silver T-top car with red interior. If it's as good as it looks in the pics. I should be able to part it out or sell it without an engine pretty easy.

I think $3500 for a 290HP crate engine is retarded. Personally, if I wanted some power I wouldn't drop that kind of cash just to get the car going and not even have what you want. Furthermore, to have an engine built and add some go-fast goodies doesn't cost all that much. What you are paying for is a well assembled, reliable, long-lasting powerplant with a warranty. If you are going to tear into it in a few months or a year to slap a big cam or something else in it, you have wasted money buying value you didn't need.

So I have a few thoughts: Is driving a Caviqueer for a few months that big of a deal considering that you will come out better in the long run? Why is the 305 "dead"? Is it something that can be patched to get you through? If it has a spun bearing, drop the pan and slap some bearings in it. If not, you could buy a SBC running and reliable for around $400 anywhere. Go get one, slap her in, and start looking for one to build. Then, when you can build it, you can get what you want.

Here is my idea of the value of a SBC: My buddy just sold a new, never started, rebuilt 350 from Grooms with a 12K mile warranty for $400, and he had to search for a buyer. I have a 84 Camaro with a strong 350/350, runs and drives great, that I would take $800 for the entire car. This is why people choose SBC, they are cheap and plentiful.

It sounds like you miss your car, and I don't blame you. But don't drop a crap ton of cash on an engine that won't make you happy in the long run.

I agree with you on most of what you're saying. I hate to spent that much on a stock engine. But I think it's going on almost two months now and I haven't been able to find anything. And the Cavalear is just being borrowed. So I don't actually have it a lot of the time, leaving me without a vehicle. So that is why I'm kinda getting desperate lol. And as for fixing the 305. I have no place to do the work. And mechanic fees are way to high to waste on a 305.

For example, I had a cracked head on a stock 350 years. Took it to what is supposed to be one of the best mechanic shops in town. So for a replacement stock head and to have it replaced... $2500. So that's why I'm trying to find something new or that I can hear running before I have to shell out $700+ just to have it installed.

And like I said earlier, I'm looking now for a running car with a 350 in it to swap out. This might be my best net. If I can find anything lol.

The GM 350 reman 290hp is only like $900, go to your local GM dealership. You can use all of your extras off of your 305 on the new engine. That swap will be cheap, quick and easy 8)

Hmm, didn't know about those. I will have to check into that.