I need help before I start anything. I have a 1979 el camino v8 305. I know this is a junk engine so that is the reason why I'm swapin to a 350. The thing is its a 305 with a maule choke and the 350 is from my brother in law 1989 chevy shortbed its a elected choke. He is putting in a 454 short block. He told me the 350 would fit but I want to know about the carb since my is a mauel choke and his isn't. He has a electer starter and my isn't. I want to know if I would be able to put his 350 yr 89 into my elco. And what would I need to do to make it work. Thanks for the help.
engine swap from a 79elco 305
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If the 350 engine is coming from a 1989 Chev pickup, then it shouldn't have a carburetor, it should have throttle body fuel injection. GM went to fuel injection on the V8s in their pickups starting in 1987. Physically, the 350 should fit your El Camino, with only minor differences. The fuel injection aspect will cause you some problems, unless you're willing to switch from the carburetor to fuel injection.
Oh ok I think it is fuel injection. Well what would I have to do to make my 79 el camino to fuel injection?
To make it short, you'd have to modify the fuel system, and the wiring harness, and install the ECM from the donor vehicle, to allow the engine to run normally with the TBI system. There are quite a few "how to" articles in print, and on the internet, on how to do this.
That's an impossible question to answer. The cost of the conversion depends on where you get the parts that you will need, and how much of the work that you can do yourself, and how much that you may need to farm out. You really need to do some research on this subject, before you go any further. There is a book titled "Chevrolet TPI & TBI Engine Swapping" by Mike Knell, that has alot of good information in it. Also, go through the info on this site, MonteCarloSS.com and Maliburacing.com. If you're serious about converting to fuel injection, go and do some reading, before you ask any more questions. Good luck.
It would be much easier to just swap the intake, carb and ignition system from your 305 to the 350 and drop it right in
That's what I hear too. But I wanted to make sure I wasn't buying the 350 for no reason. So if I just change that I'll be able to use the 350?
If you're going to run the 350 as a carbureted engine, you should be able to use the ignition system, and carburetor from the 305, but you'll need an intake manifold from an '87-'88 small block Chev that is carbureted (Monte Carlo, Caprice, etc), as the center bolt holes for the intake manifold in 1987 & newer small block cylinder heads are drilled on a slightly different angle than the same holes in 1986 & earlier heads. All of the external accessories should bolt up to the newer engine. If the 305 in your '79 Elky is original, the '89 engine will have the oil dipstick on the opposite side to the '79 engine.
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