The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Choosing a V8, advice please

I have a 59 Apache Fleetside. I purchased a 1985 Scottsdale as a donor for a modern drivetrain as the 6 cyl 3speed is wore out. The donor has 4wd auto/overdrive and a 305 V8. I get alot of conflicting information on what engine to choose. I want to build a nice street engine but most people say the 305 is not a good starting point and that I should scrap it and start with a 327 or 350. I have an old 283 hi torque from years ago that could be rebuilt also. What I need is a reliable street truck that is dependable, easy to drive, gets decent gas mileage and is strong enough to ocassionally pull a medium sized boat. I know there must be a way to build the engine without getting buried in costs. What would be the best all around V8? Am I in the right forum for this type of information? Any advice? THANKS!

hello emil and welcome to the forum. this is a great place to come and share your truck interests.i would give you my opinion about a choice of the motors you have available, but i am worried about what you concider to be a medium size boat,and what do you mean by occasionally towing it. the best all around motor might just be the original straight six. after all ,it has been around and working in the truck since 1959, if it is the original engine. the v8s are more powerful, and finding parts for them is no problem,but some swaps from 6-8 can be tricky. i agonized at great length about this same choice. i have a 1955 first series truck and a few sbc engines around to put in, but i went with the 235 straight six for now. it is basically stock with new rings bearings and gaskets, and a home made dual carb intake with to two rochester model b carbs. it ranks an 11 on the 10 cool chart. a t5 tranny and the stock rear finish off the drive line. so let us know more about the boat thing and we can go from there .i am sure that others on the forum will chime in also. good luck.

As far as cheap goes, a 350 Chevy is about the least expensive engine to overhaul. Lots of high performance parts are readily available as well as lots of building tips to make these virtually bullet-proof engines.

Having said that, and I do like small block Chevys, I would consider building a 261 Chevy six or a 292, just to be different. The 261 would be a bolt in--the 292 would be about as much work as installing a small block.

It seems many people do not like the 305, and I know there were some that were gutless wonders. However, with careful camshaft and performance parts selections keeping in mind your specific application, I think you would be able to build a 305 that would suit your needs.

Nothing beats a 350 chevy for cost effective reliability.

Emil Welcome: The 283 would be nice for last resort but the 350 is sooo easy to work on and do what ever. My boys have a 350 in their race car putting out 4oo +hp with not much work. I have a 350 in my 4X4 150,000 mi change oil and plugs. My 59 Apache Step will have a 350 sits right in truck changed motor mounts easy. Of course it's all Edelbrock sitting in corner of shop with wasp nest hanging on carb. Long way to go before it's back in truck but it is ready. Maw's seen the wasp spray. Ben (popcorn)

Welcome Emil-

I am just a bit ahead of you in the rebuild of a '51 to a daily driver with many of the same goals. For performance and ease, I was going to replace the original in line six with a 350 small block coupled with a 350TH automatic transmission, a great combination. As I looked for a suitable engine, I discovered a 305 from a wrecked van that the owner was selling for a great price. I researched the performance lost by going with a 305 and realized that I would lose some horses, but gain some fuel economy in my daily drive. As others have noted, the Chevy small blocks have plenty of parts to chose from during your rebuild and are great to work on. There's plenty of information available regarding the swap. Wise parts choices will help you retain performance for your towing needs. I still think you'll find plenty of power when you step on it.

51PhatBoy

My first car was a 76 el camino with a 305. Since then I have driven plenty of autos and currently have a 5 litre vortek equivalent to 305. As a 16 year old kid in the country doing anything just to see what will happen, I have done more than alot of people. I know from experience the 305 will tow up to a 25 foot ski boats/ fishing boat, a fully loaded 2 horse trailer (approx 3500-4000 lbs), or 2500 lbs of oats with absolutely no problem. A transmission fluid and oil cooler is a good addition. The 305 itself is a simple engine to work on in and out of the truck. My personal opinion is the only difference in the 305 and 350 is the horsepower and fuel usage. The 305 will get between 15 and 18 mpg stock. On the street the 305 is a great machine, and with a few aftermarket products it will lay a strip of rubber on the road.

Thanks gentlemen for the responses and warm welcome. I apologize for posting a question and then leaving, as I had to work out of town. I plan to do a complete driveline swap and will not be using any of the original components, but the new components will be all Chevy. At this point It appears we may swap the entire frame. My brother in law is actually doing the work, I am assisting and learning (and paying). It took a while to find a good 4X4 automatic w/od drivetrain in the Oregon area because so many older bodies are around and good wrecks with modern drivelines are in high demand, so we bought a complete 1985 truck for a reasonable price. We will be leaving the 305 in for now, as it runs OK, but I am cautioned by many that the 305 is not the best designed Chevy V8 engine to use because of problems with the cam (?) and since we are going to rebuild it anyway....pick another. Any of you guys with 305's agree with this? I just want to get decent gas mileage, within reason, without having a dog that can't get out of it's own way but at the same time not go broke building it. Is 25MPG out of the question with either a 350 or a 327? I'm sure alot will depend on the intake, carburation/fuel injection and your driving habits. Figuring this out is getting more fun and interesting every week. That's why we are all here, I guess. Thanks again for all your help and suggestions.

For what its worth, if a good 305 is available, and for the application you described, I think the 305 would be fine.

If you have to overhaul it, it will cost exactly the same to overhaul a 350, so the 350 crate motor looks like a better bet.

I had a '77 Nova with a 305. It had great torque and outstanding gas mileage. I had one of the early ones with soft camshafts, and I replaced it with an Engle RV cam. It helped the gas mileage but really hurt the torque (it lost over a second in the quarter mile!).

I wouldn't worry about pulling a 4000 lb or so trailer with a 305 - you'll be fine.

---> Bill

UH Emil: You want a V8 and 25 mpg while towing a boat. Maws Vortex might get that if I pushed the car. Race car gets about 12 laps to 100 gals. 88 4x4 gets 12 if I stay in 2 wheel drive. Just a thought if gas mileage is tops try a GM V-6. Had a Olds 98 that got 33 mpg. Good luck if you find the right secret let me know. Going to tow Harley with my 59. popcorn

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't there a difference between the '70s 305 and the '80s 305?? Compression? Heads? Something.... They were all marginal at best. Tell anybody you got a 305, and watch 'em turn green and look for the pepto.

IMHO, the 350 is the standard by which all other mouse motors are measured. If you want a V8 that will do anything for the low-low cost, get a 350 and a 700-R4 OD tranny.

I've driven one 327 powered car, a '79 camaro with a '68 327. The engine was just sloppily thrown together with mis-matched parts, and I was still impressed. If looking for a little originality & some serious zing, get the 327.

I've also wanted to build a DZ302. Take a 283 crank, drop it in a early 327 small-journal block, with custom pistons and high CR heads, and get a DZ302. 8,000 RPM baby.

chip

Don't forget the Duntov 30-30 camshaft and the #461-#462 "camels hump" heads w/ z-28 valve springs................not many of those DZ motors running around anymore.

Chiphead: Haven't heard of a DZ302 for a least 30 yrs ran one in a 61 Impala Convt. of course had 2 buddies that had the motors in 57's Awesome!!

Popcorn3023: I agree that it is unlikely to get 25mpg towing but I would like to get 25mpg on the highway commuting. The only 350 I had experience with was a 72 chevy 4x4 auto and it sucked the gas bigtime. That's why I came to the forum to see what's possible. I heard about the V6 and it might be a viable alternative.
What Locobreath said pretty well sums up my situation for now. Meantime jury's still out on the 305 and I will research what Chiphead said about the early-vs-late 305's. Lots to do before locking in a choice....thanks again for the info I am much further along now than I would be going it alone.