New motor in a 78 monte

[Mike Geepers]

Hello forum, long time lurker here, and being the owner of a 78 monte carlo this is my go-to place for tech help. Lately, my 305 has been showing its age and i have decided to do a motor swap to a 350. Let me start by stating what i want. I want to have 20inch rims so i need more get up and go. I want to cruise it but have more power on acceleration. I want high compression heads and pistons, cam upgrade and better flow headers. I might upgrade to a 700r4 and want to change rear gears but use same carrier, the stocks out for like a 308. I am doing this on a budget and will mostly be doing this from work (autobody shop). All the blocks I come across are 010 or 638 from trucks and smog heads. My question is, what is the best combo for what I am trying to achieve? Will any of these blocks work? Do I have to stay in my gen or can i use an older or newer block? Again this is for a 78 monte. Am i just overthinking things? Please help forum, and thanks in advance. pic of my monte

 

[fleming442]

Sounds reasonable..... Get up around 10:5:1 for pump gas, throw a hydraulic roller in it, a good balance job, get the strongest rods and lightest pistons you can afford, and send it. Oh, wait, that's how you build an Oldsmobile.
They are sound principles nonetheless!

 

[xylorex]

I would suggest try to find a block with provisions for roller lifters... I don't remember what years they started with off the top of my head but the 350 that came in my 1987 Chevy truck had them, plus the 4 bolt main bearing caps.

 

[Mike Geepers]

I would suggest try to find a block with provisions for roller lifters... I don't remember what years they started with off the top of my head but the 350 that came in my 1987 Chevy truck had them, plus the 4 bolt main bearing caps.

I found a few roller blocks #638 for an 87-94 truck with the roller setup but a flat tappet cam in it. And it had 193 heads. Will that year fit or will my older parts be incompatible?

 

[xylorex]

I found a few roller blocks #638 for an 87-94 truck with the roller setup but a flat tappet cam in it. And it had 193 heads. Will that year fit or will my older parts be incompatible?

Right, the trucks didn't have roller cams but the blocks had the taps for the "spider" in the lifter valley and taps for the camshaft retainer...

I believe that as long as it's not an LT or LS style block you're good to go... As long as you're not wanting to re-use the heads with your old intake

 

[Bullett801]

I found a few roller blocks #638 for an 87-94 truck with the roller setup but a flat tappet cam in it. And it had 193 heads. Will that year fit or will my older parts be incompatible?

It will fit. I am doing the same. I have a 78 as well. try and get a 1 piece RMS too. #638 are gen 1 small blocks, 87-95. almost everything is compatible with that. and you can put a roller cam in it with no mods or anything, even if it has a flat tappet now.

 

[79 USA 1]

Don't discount the 010 blocks. They can be converted to roller cams and some were machined for 4 bolt mains. If the budget allows look into a crate 383 or even a stroker kit to convert your 350 into a 383. I have a 406 small block that is headed for the car in my blue 79, Cannot beat the torque these engines have down low.
Aluminum heads are the way to go if you have the budget, I've had good luck with ported smog heads but know that a cheaper set of aluminum heads will always outperform a set of worked over smog iron heads.


Just my $.02!

 

[Turbo Zach]

Beings you all are third gen Monte guys I have too comment too. The only thing you have to take into consideration is the newer blocks are not machined for a fuel pump. So you will have to run an electric pump. The vortex heads take a different intake too. I would look into a crate engine before I got too carried away. You probably can buy a short block cheeper than you can build one.

 

[pagrunt]

Depending on the budget you have you could just get a new GM Performance crate motor that has a roller, run on pump gas, get some fair power with some headers & a good intake/carb or F.I. set up. But being in the People's Republic how much will you have to deal with a emissions referee with the swap even if you pass the new engine off as a 305?

 

[Mike Geepers]

Beings you all are third gen Monte guys I have too comment too. The only thing you have to take into consideration is the newer blocks are not machined for a fuel pump. So you will have to run an electric pump. The vortex heads take a different intake too. I would look into a crate engine before I got too carried away. You probably can buy a short block cheeper than you can build one.

Yes, and will my power steering and alternator need modifiying on a new block for that year? I work in a body shop and have some connects to machinists, so that helps with $. like i said im probably overthinking things but i want more info on how to go about getting what i want out of this car