Just read through this and want to say you are doing a great job on this car!

I just wanted to mention a possible issue with the distributors. The later 89 350 is a roller motor so that motor should require a melonized distributor gear. If you use the large cap distributor from the the original 85 305 you should swap the gear over. If you cannot swap the gear due to shaft size differences on the distributors then I would just use the small cap setup. The wiring is practically the same you just have to swap over a couple connectors.

The melonized steel gear is a different hardness required for the roller cams. The 85 305 gear is not melonized and therefore if you use that gear on the roller cam you could possibly tear one of the gears up sending metal filings through the motor.

 

oh nice, thanks so much!! as you probably read. this whole motor building thing is brand new to me. that is why its taking me FORRRREEEVVEERR! so yes all the oppinions and feed back is most welcome. i hope to see if it starts this weekend.

 

OK, I feel like such a newb! So I took a ton of pics taking my motor apart, and ill be damned if I took a pic of how my throttle cables hook up. Would someone post a pic side shot of the throttle body where the cables hook up? I cant seem to get them right. Something just isn't lining up.

 

If you are using an 89 throttle body it should look this. The bottom pin is for the cruise control. If you are trying to use the 85 throttle cable it won't work. You need an 89+ cable.

 

AAAHHHHHHHHHHH that makes sence now!!! i dont feel AS stupid now, alright ill change out one or the other. man i thought i was going mad there for a moment. i was like it cant be that hard !!! thanks so much!!!!

 

I would suggest finding an 89+ cable as it is a much better setup. The progressive throttle makes it much easier to cruise at a given speed.

Plus I can't remember off the top of my head but I think there are issues using a early TB on a later plenum regarding the IAC pathways (idle control). I think you can put a later TB on an early plenum (like mine) but you can't go the other way around.

 

K, i was leaning to that anyway. Good to know. thanks so much!! I hope i can start this pig this weekend!!!!!

 

closer! lilski, thanks for the advice on the throttle cable, the 89 one worked beautifuly!!!!!! I have another question now for you mechanics out there. I am getting ready to screw in the oil pressure switch at the back of the block under the distributor. It appeared to have some kind of putty on there from the old 305 I took it off. Do I need to put some on there when I re-install it? I have the threads all cleaned up and was going to put it on but thought I would ask you guys first.

THANKS!!!!!!!!

 

I usually use a couple wraps off Teflon tape on the threads.

 

that sounds good enough. ill do that. thanks!

 

Cool Ken! I will be in the paint booth tomorrow morning so hopefully we both return tomorrow with great news!! On the oil pressure thing,I usually just put a dab of rtv around the threads..I have tried the Teflon tape but somehow I always manage to get it on backwards or bugger it all up in the process of trying to get my hand down in that tight little area to turn it...besides,I think I also remember reading somewhere that it's not recommended to use that because it doesn't hold up well against oil and heat..I could be wrong,but like I said,(I think I remember reading that)..good luck bro!

 

ITS ALIVE!!!!!

I still have some wiring and cleaning up to do, but she runs!!! now time to get back to what i know best ... BODY WORK! i so cant wait!!!!!!!

 

Awesome Ken!!

 

to me it looks if someone has put earlier model heads on the 350, due to the center bolt holes being angled different.

 

Dude that engine bay looks great. Turned out real well for someone who "isn't a mechanic"!!

Also I hate you as I was just going to paint my engine bay black when I paint my car, but now I think I'm going to do it body color. More work but man that looks nice!

As far as I know there is no difference between center bolt valve covers, they are all the same. My vortec valve covers would bolt right up to the earlier center bolt heads. I know as I have done it.

 

thanks guys! I was so scared to start it up, LOL and as far as the heads go, who knows, I have no clue. everything on this engine build is thanks to all of you guys!!! this site is so awesome. The personal help and also the old threads from days past totally helped me. I would NOT have done this without every ones help. That being said, I would have to admit.. I kind of enjoyed it. It may be a week till I get to some body work as I have a few side jobs I have to complete.

THIRD GEN RULES!!!!

 

KBD85, earlier in this thread I read where someone and mentioned that you should change the dist gear on the 86 to the 89 dist gear due to the 89 being a roller cam engine, he is right, I didn't read where you had made the change, Glad to hear its alive, really want it to stay alive, if you haven't changed that gear, I would, that roller cam is made with a stronger material and it will eat that metal dist gear up and ruin your engine, that metal will eat your bearings up.

If you have changed it great, keep up the good work, if you haven't you can get one from jegs , summit, even most auto parts stores can get them as well, they are very cheap and will save you a head ache down the road.

p.s. I really like your the color, makes me wanna do both my cars that way!

 

OMG!!! i dont know how i missed that reply!!! i just read it from LilSki. I am not sure what that all means? where this gear is. the two shafts looked exactly the same, but dont know if there was something there that may look the same but isnt. I will look this up, in the mean time if someone has some pics that would be awesome! or a link to another thread dealing with this. Thanks so much for the heads up!!!! i most definatly would not want to lunch my motor.

Ken

 

I Remember researching it when I went to my current vortec 350 with roller cam. I ordered the gear for the small cap but then I figured I would reuse my large cap HEI as it was already wired that way. When I went to change the gears the shaft sizes were different so the gears could not be swapped. I ended up swapping the wiring over and using the small cap HEI.

So I did some research for you again and this is what I found.

LARGE CAP HEI
Part # 10456413
Shaft size .491"
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/acf-10456413


SMALL CAP HEI
Part # 19052845
Shaft size .425"
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/na...2845/overview/

If you have the distributor from the 89 motor you can just throw it in there and swap the wires like I did. Or just buy the 10456413 gears and install it on the large cap since it is what you have wired up. If I had to do it again I probably would have bought the gear for the large cap as it looks a bit cleaner than the small cap with external coil.

 

thanks so much!!! yeah i just found some of that info too. funny when you google that how much stuff comes up. I have learned so much on this its crazy!! thanks so much again. I will do one or the other cuz like you say, would be nice to keep the motor together. LOL thanks again!!

 

KBD85, its thread 101 I think. look at the dist you did not use the gear on the bottom of it is what we are speaking of.

LilSki, if you call jegs or summit, they sell different sizes of these gears, its a brass gear. look at jegs website (distributor drive gear) it will show you multiples to choose from, just measure the diam of the dist shaft then pick the correct size.

My son has a 1990 GMC Jimmy, when I bought his new dist, (aftermarket) I had too tell them I needed the bronze gear. I use them on both HEI style dist and multiport style electronic dist.

Hope this helps keep your engine alive and all those that didn't realize this as well.

 

Sounds good to me, like I said its a really nice build, would hate to see it get ruined over a small yet very important part!

 

if you change your dist gear, you can do this, if you look at the side of the gear there will be a hole, you will see it on the new gear as well, there will be a roll pin in the holding it together, take a punch support the lower end if the dist on a block of wood in a vise between two blocks of wood, knock out the roll pin and pull the gear off, on the side of the dist housing will be a white dash, on the dist gear there will be a indentation line those up and reinstall the new gear with the roll pin. Sometime that roll pin can be a pain to start once it does its really easy to get it back in there, JUST make sure the roll pin isn't stickin out either side of the gear. then reinstall your dist and be good to go.


Another note, before you take your dist out of your newly started engine, bring number one cylinder to top dead center, (put the 0 on the balancer to the 0 on the timing tab, make sure the number one cylinder is on the compression stroke, then remove the dist, if you already know this, great your ahead of the game.

 

I listed the two sizes and which distributor they go on. I don't recommend using a brass/bronze gear as they often don't last very long. The two I listed are the OEM melonized steel gears and are what it would have from the factory from 87+ when roller cams started.

 

thanks so much guys!! this will realy help. I will be doing this asap. here are just a few more shots with the sun out. the last three were on a stormy day, they just look a little different.

thanks again!!!

 

WHAT TO DO! WHAT TO DO! WHAT TO DO!

so here is what I have, as you know (the 2.3 followers that I have ) I just finished rebuilding my 350 basically stock. Now a guy I work with, his son, smashed his 87 bird. His dad is a major gear head, (builds race cars) he has put about 7 grand into this motor, roller everything, hot cam flat top pistons bla bla bla.... and had a computer built for it because of the radical build. anyways, I picked it up for 400 bucks, he just wanted it out of his yard. here is what turns a lot of people off. Its a 305. what do you all think of it? I cant decide if I just pull the aftermarket large intake off and the nice headers off and put on the 350 I just built. ORRR do I swap and put the 305 in????

 

Is it a tpi intake? If so I would def put it on the 350 with the headers..I wouldn't pull that motor if it were mine..

 

I think I totally agree Timmy, I think that is what I will do. Yes the TPI is the larger one, instead of the two side by side tubes its the large oval that does both. Ill post some pics when I get it Sunday. I am glad you think the same. Helps me decide to stay with my 350.

 

I agree, stick with the 350 and swap intake and headers to your engine, you will be much happier in the end!

 

alright guys, so here is yet another parts car! I think I have a problem. I keep buying these damn cars!! LOL so anyway. what I ended up getting is a 87 trans am which got hit really hard! this is the one that has the hopped up motor with all the goodies in it and a modified computer to run it. anyway, I started it up and it feels really strong. I am wondering if it is really a 350. I really cant imagine this guy not knowing that tho as like I have said before he is a real gear head. BUT... anyway, here are the pics I promised earlier.

 

Seems crazy that someone would put that much intake on a 305..

 

Yes, I totally agree. How can I tell it's a 305
For sure? I'm guessing cast numbers after I pull it out? I wish I could post video. It sounds so good!!

 

Yeah..casting numbers..should be able to see them with a good flashlight..

 

if it is a 86 (maybe 87) and newer block it will literally have 5.0 or 5.7 cast into the block on the drivers side behind the head.

looks like this

 

thanks lilski! ill have a look this week. im going to take it out as this car is trashed! I will grab a look then.

 

........Hi my name is Ken, and im a third genaholic....

so sorry I have been gone so long, ive been striping down another third gen. I am going to start the body work today!! hope to have some pics of the rear bumper painted next weekish.

just a shot of the birds ive been taking apart. LOL

 

Alright my engine super freaks!! I picked some headers off of the car i took apart. I sand blasted them all up, and now I am currious about some ceramic coating. They had the fiberglass wrap and they rusted like crazy!! I would rather something that looks better anyway. What is the best thing to keep these cool??

 

here is the part number if that matters...

 

Nice Ken! I'm guessing those are what came off that wrecked car?..my ta I had I found a local guy that did the jet hot ceramic coating in his powder coat shop..stuff looked great and held up well!

 

oh nice!!!! i have a neigbor that does powder coat. I wonder if he could do that for me. Ill ask, and yes those are what came off the smashed car. Gota get the intake all cleaned up and painted and back on the motor. We have some family stuff coming up for the next few weeks, so the inflow of information to this site will be slow. But i will be working on it as I can.

 

OK, it has been FFOOORRREEEVVEERRR!!! since I've posted. its been a way busy summer and this car is my toy which puts it way low on my priority list. I have been doing little things on it all summer but have not really posted the slow progress cuz i didn't want to bore you to death. I did finally get the motor all back together and running, the fan isn't kicking on but i have not checked fuses, relays, ect. wanted to get the car painted while it was warm. So.... here are some pics.

 

Here are some pics of the paint. All i have done to this point is the body and doors. the rest will come quickly I hope. I custom painted the modern looking bird in the sail panels. That was really fun! I love the paint part as that is more of my specialty.

 

just a few more of how flat the clear layed out!!!

 

Well, got it all unmasked, here are just a few pics of the body. I am trying to get some shots of how the color looks in the sun. hopefully within a week or so i will have some shots with the doors on her!!!! finally putting things back on her!!! i have to get a weather molding kit now for the whole doors and t-top areas. I am dreading how much those damn things are!!!!! anyone have a favorite brand of what to buy? or which ones to totally stay away from??

 

doors are on!!!!! and a few shots of the paint

 

Looks at the shine on that thing. Pretty!

 

well, its coming slowly!! I hope to have this all painted before cold weather. I am just about done! i have the rear deck lid and fin, and the hood which i am going to be putting that bird that I painted on the sail panel on the hood. I have to get the file to my graphic place to cut me a template this week. So here are the parts i painted this week. man its hard staging all this ****!!!!!

 

a few more

 

the "silver" pics turned out like dark gray. I think it was the sun the way i took the pic or something. anyway, I hope to get some pics of this put together within two weeks at the max! enjoy

 

Looks fantastic! Can't wait to see the new bumpers on the car with it all painted up.