first time project, no experience

[ewrock]

Hey I have a automatic 1978 Camaro type lt. It was a gift given from my dad when I graduated high school. I drove it for a year and then I parked it; however, I now want to invest a little money to get better performance. I want to swap the 305 8 cylinder engine to a 350 for more muscle, but if I can keep the 305 engine and add a few parts to the camaro, what would those parts be? Would you consider putting in rear end posi traction because at the moment it doesnt have it. I really need help. please consider the facts: I don't have much money to spend, I will be doing the laboring, and have no expirience in cars. Please let me know anything that is best for this situation, and consider all the facts that I mentioned, so please give me lots of details as possible. I would really aprreciate it and my father would be so proud if I just flipped the car into a beast or similar. Thanks I would really appreciate it.[IMG]file:///C:/Users/CASTIL%7E1/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.gif[/IMG]

[philly rs]

damn kid, i like that...you are going to get your hands dirty and spend your hard earned money on that project...i never had a 305 v8 and im not really sure what u could do with it..i hear alot of guys here talking about the 350 swap...and even on a tight budget im sure if u looked around u may be able to find alot of things for a good price....somebody with more knowledge im sure will come in and help u out, i wish u good luck on that project im sure your dad will be very proud when u are done!

[ewrock]

I have a camaro 78 with engine 305 8 cylinder and 2b carburator. I want it to run a lot faster than what it does. If I put a camshaft and a 4b carburator will that get me anywher. Or what should I do to add power to this machine.

[wrightz28]

Well, uasually I'm one to deffend the 305. But, in some cases, it's not the economical way to go. A motor swap is pretty straight forward. The problem is that it's all in the prep work. Ofetn times, the inexperienced will just start yanking wires and hoses thinking the new motor will be in an a hour and they will remember exaclty where everything goes.

This ain't NASCAR.

If you're inexperienced, stuff is going to break or get lost. If you're on a budget you're either going to get a deal or get screwed. 350's are a dime a dosen, and you could snag one from a 82-92 thrid gen, but again, not much power in those either in stock form.

My best and only advice right now, start small, get to know the car. Give it a full tune up, plugs, wires, cap, rotor, air filter, fuel filter and check over that chinese noodle bowl of vacuum lines for any broken ones. This will undoubltadly put a little pep back in it. Then you can get a little adventurous, play with the exhaust, a cheap investment. I do not recommecnd cracking the rear end open without someone who knows what they are doing. we could give you step by step detailed intruction, but none if it will be worth a lick when something unexpected happens.

EDIT - threads merged, a 4BBL and intake is something the novice can handle, again taking some time to note what cam from where!

[MrPbody]

To carry further what WrightZ28 has said, there are a couple other considerations.

Goals... Set specific goals for your car and yourself. Power output, driving style, handling, ride, etc. Be sure they are realistic.

Budget... Decide just how much money you have to devote to the project. MOST IMPORTANT!!! Be realistic with YOURSELF...

Stay on track... Once you establish a budget, make a plan to achieve your performance goals. Never "change horses in the middle of the stream". Making one change in your design can have a ripple effect on all the other choices you've already made, and a dollar effect having to buy stuff a second time because what you bought the first time won't suit the change you just made.

But yes, get familiar with your car BEFORE you start tearing into it.

Jim

[gorgepr]

my opinion on this, I already try with a 305, put bigger valves, bigger cam, edelbrock perfomer intake, 750 holley, shorty headers, posi rear end, msd super conductor cables, msd coil, msd 6a box, what happened? burned the 700r4, drop a 350 tranny on it, burned out too, and it didn't run like I was specting, so what was the next step, drop a muncie m22 with new cluth disk and pressure plate, then broke the engine, so my advice to you put some headers with dual exhaust, and leave the 305 stock or put a cam just for the fun of it, find a job, save some money, then buy yourself a 350 with a good pair of heads, a good cam and if posible stroke it, but in your and my case that would be a lorng term invesment, im telling you this because im only 20 years old and I have already been on that position, so please dont waste money with the 305 you will not be happy with his numbers
just my .02 cents

[GreyGoose006]

besides, although its only 45 cubic inches bigger, a 350, with a mild-hot cam will nearly double the stock outbut of the 305.

[wrightz28]

Again, albeit I am normally one to defend the 305, but in this case it might not be a option. But, again, diving into something like a engine change is for further down the road.

Plus gentleman, when someone is just learning, why learn on something that cost you a bunch of money and you know nothing about and probably learn a unexpected lesson (or two) the hard way? i certainly hope you don't learn and get accustomed to porting and polishing heads by ordering new ones and going to town on em Me, no, i had a warped worthless head from 3.8 Buick and developed my technique and learned on that befroe jumping on anything else.

That said, ewrock, learn with what you have. Get yourself a nice detailed manual and read through each procedure BEFORE you do it, and make sure you have all your parts, tools, and are comfortable with what you have to do, and to guide you if you happen to hit a tricky spot.

You will come to find you can learn a lot about what's going on with your though simple maintnance.

Partwise for the ignition system, stick with what the doctor perscribed, good ol Ac/Delco parts. May be a little more up front, but worth it in the long run. On the radiator support or hood, you should find a decal that will list your tune-up specifications, and even corresponding Ac/Delco plug number and gap size. Compare this information to your manual for any service changes that may have been made.

The true thing to watch with plugs and wires is the wires. Do them ONE at a time. When you get your new wire set, lay them out you find them all to be of different length. For each old wire you remove, identify it's replacement by comparison length. NOTE - pay attention to how the old wire is routed from cap to plug before you remove it. Check all spots of the wire closest to the exhaust maniflods for any discoloration or flat out melting, this will indicate if you need to reroute the wire away from the heat.

Plugs, fairly straight forward, just be graceful on breaking the old ones free (no pun intended). You need to hold the ratchet straight and ensure it's fully seated on the plug evenly, if not, and you muscle it, then you are going to have huge problems. When you put the new ones in, set the gap correctly, a dab of antisieze on the threads, and snug em up, don't go crazy and get em super tight, snug is good (once the thread fully seats, just a little 1/4 turn and you're done) NOTE- You'll find this a nice trick, put each old plug into the the new one's box and label which cylinder it came from and hold onto them. They may come in handy later for diagnosing a developing problem as you are getting to know your engine.

The cap and rotor are stratight forward. most rotors and caps only go on one way with the BAT + and TACH pointed 90* toward the driver's side. Again, when replacing the cap, ONE wire at a time.

Once this is all done, check your work, test drive noting any difference in sound (turn the radio off ) or performance and if all is well, try and sneak in a cold one for job well done.

Then we'll move on to checking and setting ignition timing and the the fuel system.

Good luck and have fun

[ewrock]

what do you mean by caps and rotors?

[wrightz28]

Distributer for the ignition system.

[chevyrulespops]

Listen, This is my advice...Junk Yards are a gold mine at times!!!! Another mans garbage is another mans treasure!!! Plus you can get things pulled for you if u dont want to get dirty. You can learn how to take things apart in there as well. U can make mistakes there that wont hurt your project car. Purchase a manual and like the others said, get acquainted with the service procedures. I bought a 350 with the tranny for 175.00 with everything on the engine. Plus they turned it on for me b4 I took it. I sold it on ebay for a 100.00 and it was a High Output engine. Alot of young people wreck their cars and they wind up in the junkyard!!! I was there two weeks ago and saw a few 4th gens laying around..It even helps to suck up to the owner and grease him for any lead on a new camaro going into the yard. And remember Lt1's were made for taxi's and there are some of those in there. Another word of advice that could go a long way for you. Use the technical schools in your area. Alot of them do machine work and the whole nine for peanuts and crackers. Take your time and get lots of advice from anyone willing to help. Good Luck with that project! opcorn:

[89IROC&RS]

a key thing to remember here, is that ALMOST any modification you do to the 305 is going to be something you can directly swap to a 350 core when you so chose to do so. I started off with a 305, and they can certainly be made to run. they are not high rpm motors because of valve shrouding and small ports, but at low rpms (lets be honest, thats really where we all drive on a day to day basis) they will put out plenty of grunt. More than enough to smoke most DD honda's all day.

My suggestions are to ignore big engine mods for the time being. really, you want to build your drivetrain up first anyway. if you drop a powerful engine in the front, you start finding the weak links in your drivetrain and chassis the expensive way... IE, things start breaking.

Two of the biggest seat of the pants improvements i made to my IROC were headers, and a rebuilt transmission with a stage two shift kit. the tranny is not a cheap way to go unless you have a "guy" to go to. one of the guys i worked with built mine for 200 bucks, with me supplying all the parts and the core. but normally expect to pay 1000-2000 for a built tranny.

headers on the other hand, are relatively cheap, and will be easy to do on your ride, and will be a direct swap to a 350 later. also look into aftermarket ignitions and coils. the intake swap, and a 4 barrel will definatly wake up that ride. and again, will directly swap to a 350 later.

something to keep in mind... to turn that 305 into a 350, all you need is a 4in bore block, and the correct set of pistons. everything else will swap over. even the crankshaft and rods.

the posi will definatly be a good upgrade. i recomend the torsen unit out of a fourth gen camaro. youll have to find out if your car has a 7.5in or 8.5in rear axle. i cant remember off the top of my head what a 78 would have.... come to think of it its probly a 8.5in... so the fourth gen torsen wont fit. but if you do posi, do some gears. 3.23 or 3.48 gears are plenty fun on the street, and will be somewhat decent on the highway with what im sure is a non overdrive tranny.

[big dwag]

Originally Posted by ewrock

I have a camaro 78 with engine 305 8 cylinder and 2b carburator. I want it to run a lot faster than what it does. If I put a camshaft and a 4b carburator will that get me anywher. Or what should I do to add power to this machine.

to the gas station faster

[89IROC&RS]

not necessarily, a q-jet will actually get better mpg than other carbs if you lay off the skinny pedal. but when the 2in secondary valves open.... good night.

[ANGER_TRAIN]

Originally Posted by ewrock

Hey I have a automatic 1978 Camaro type lt...I now want to invest a little money to get better performance. I want to swap the 305 8 cylinder engine to a 350 for more muscle,...Would you consider putting in rear end posi traction because at the moment it doesnt have it...I don't have much money to spend, and have no expirience in cars. Please let me know anything that is best for this situation, and consider all the facts that I mentioned,...

you need experience. both working on cars and understanding what is important and what is not. that comes with time and can't be rushed.

the only way to get it is to read, listen to others, and do as much work as you can on cars in a general sense as far as being a general "mechanic" goes. once you have more experience and solid mechanical skills under your belt, then i'd start in on a project. not that there's anything wrong with a 78 Camaro, but a 78 Camaro would not be my first choice for a performance project.

cars are expensive, if you don't have much money, don't look for much in terms of improvement/performance with a low budget.

good luck.