noob

[ohbiskits]

My name is Corey..new to the site have an 84 monte carlo project that I am trying to put back together. Money is tight so its slow moving right now. I dont know too much about g-bodys, been more of a honda guy most of my life. I need to gather quite a few parts and have some questions.
-I need a cross member for an 84 monte carlo that I am putting a 305 with 400 trans in. Is there a specific one i need?
-I've heard that the drive shaft i need is shorter than the stock one. Is this true? Where do i look?
-Is there a specifice flywheel and tq converter i should use?

I got the car with a 305 and 400 trans sitting next to it so im trying to get it running as cheap as possible right now. Does the 305 have pottential or shoudl I look for a 350?
Thanks for any input.

 

[MD13ailey]

Welcome to the site. I dont think you need a special cross member I would just try and find one that is close to your year I actaully think all of them are the same. And depending on what transmission came in the car, you will just have to meaure to figuer out what length drive line you need. as for the 305... they were good for what they were intended for not alot of power lower emissions and some what good fuel economy. My 78 regal came with a 305 and we did alot to it to try and make it faster different cylinder heads, carburator, camshafts, headers, intake manifolds, ignitions systems I mean everything and the fastest we ever got it to go was a 14.4 seconds at 91 mph in the quarter mile. we switched to about a 350hp 350 and ran a 13.39 at 100.37 mph. In the honda world it would be like comparing a hopped up CVCC to a hopped up B16. There is a world of information and alot of knowlegable people on here so you should have a problem finding what your lookin for. If you have another car that is your daily driver I would scrap the 305 and save your pennies for a 350 and if not the 305 will get you around not to fast but you will get around

 

[Blake442]

Welcome!

How you plan to run your exhaust will decide what you do for a trans crossmember.
If you just want it stock, you can use a crossmember from a 200-4R car.
It's a good idea if you plan to run true dual exhaust to get an aftermarket crossmember because the stock single hump crossmember would need to be modified if you were to use that.

There are three different tailshaft lengths for the TH400. Short, med, and long. Which do you have?
The short shaft is preferred, and the driveshaft info pertains to that, if you have one of the longer ones, you'll have to shorten the driveshaft even more. TH350's are a little better suited for what you've got, but you can worry about that later if you're trying to save your pennies for now.
You will need to have your driveshaft shortened 1/2 or 3/4 of an inch, and you'll need a matching slip-yoke for your trans.
The 305 isn't a very powerful motor, and TH400's take more power to run.
The result will be a painfully slow, but reliable car.
When your funds allow, a 350 is the next step in the right direction.

 

[RITTER]

I would probably say that the 305 with a TH400 transmission is nopt a good idea. The 400 trans is a heavy duty trans and you be lossing ever more power from the already under powered 305. So you're really going to either have to buy a different transmission, or spend the money on a used complete SBC 350 and mate that up with the TH400