corvette_dude97

i bought a 79 a few months ago without a trans or engine, i was able to salvage a 305 from a 79 camaro rally sport. the engine and trans are in the vette now and im slowly finding out that there are alot of differences, i know this isnt a common thing to do but does anyone know what kind of changes i have to do to adapt this engine to the car?
so far i know that the fuel pump is different, the water pump is different, the exhaust manifolds, and the pullys are all different. im not sure if i need the correct intake manifold, or if the fan is different. im not sure how different all the vacuum fittings are. so if anyone could shine light i would greatly appreciate it.

derekderek

you have 3 choices. 1 run what you got. water pump is longer everything is as you say different. 2 start rounding up orig corvette brackets, water pump, pulleys, etc. 3 go with an aftermarket serpentine setup like March products. does the car have exhaust in place? then you need real corvette manifolds. no exhaust? buy headers and start over. under no circumstances can you justify butcher-rigging camaro manifolds to some other stock-style exhaust system. the 305 itself is dimensionally the same as the 350 it is replacing. intake manifold? probably fine for now. does it have a fan shroud? if not best setup is electric fans from a C5 corvette. 100 bucks on ebay. way less than the shroud which won't fit any fan you put on the wrong water pump anyway. DO NOT DO OR BUY ANYTHING YET!! take this partial list and start doing research. what trans came with the engine?

Kacyc3

If you want to restore it then go the route of gathering pulleys and brackets, if you dont care go to a local junkyard and find a late 80s to early 90s camaro/firebird caprice and take the serpentine brackets, power steering pulley, crank pulley, water pump pulley, these will bolt on with no changes needed for the engine or car. you can reuse your stock power steering pump on the new brackets, you will need a power steering pulley puller so borrow one from the parts store. After you get the parts from the junkyard you will need a new water pump for the car you took the brackets from and an ac delete pulley for a 91-95 chevy truck. Headers add alot of under hood heat and make your feet sweat while driving if they are not coated so if you buy some spend money and get the coated ones, if not find stock manifolds for the car. The transmission will probably require you to modify the stock driveshaft as I believe vette had the short shaft transmissions and camaros had the normal length. When I did the serp swap it cost me $125 for the brackets, pulleys and an ac compressor, $15-30 for a water pump, $10 for a new upper hose, $30 for a belt. It also requires an electric fan, I have had focus,taurus and volvo fan on my car you can google them and see how to install them. The focus fans will be the easiest to find in a junkyard as not many people are looking for them and they should cool that engine.

Fast81

You are NOT going to be happy with that stock 305 under the hood,
If it were me in your shoes, i'd pick up a 350 shortblock and use the 305 heads you already have so you get more cubes and higher compression on the cheap. The 350 short block also gives you base to build upon in the future where the 305 will always be "MEH" unless you wind it to the moon for the HP..............and spending all the $$$$ to make that posible is better spent on the 350 short block !

derekderek

In a way I agree with Fast81. But, the motor is paid for and installed. Get it finished off and running. Then decide what the next motor will be.

Fast81

IF, and this is a big IF, you can use the 305 "AS IS" -- then your present plan will be ok. I grew up wrenching on cars in the 80's when HO305s were the top motors available, except Vettes thank god.
These days, every Honda/Kia/Hyundai will bury you from most rpms while getting 2-3X the mpg.

i have a 92 Camaro Convertible with a 350 wearing 305 heads (done by the Prev Owner) and she is respectable from 0-70 -- not scary fast but respectable

derekderek

If it doesn't work as-is there is something wrong with the motor. If so, he has a usable setup now and just needs to deal with the motor. The "How do I hook all this stuff up?" is taken care of.

DAD111

Just went thru this -
1. If you use the long pump you must use a alum radiator with elect fans for clearance. If you go with original vette set up, then you are going to have to source all the parts for the Vette water pump or serpentine belt.
Protunning lab.com - 73-76 Chevy Corvette V8 MT Aluminum Tri Core 3-Row Bolt-on Cooling Radiator W/ Fan Shroud - 3rd gen $ 250.00 + had to buy the wire kit off amazon $35.00
2. .I used parts from a 72 C-10 truck - Alternator is on the drivers side - so all the brackets should fit your 305 block

DAD111

Alwyn678

Go with a 350,427 or a 454. Sell or trade the 305.

Fast81

I was referring to "I'm not looking to mod this 305" = AS IS

Any mods going forward would be wasted effort with little impact