3.1 to 305 carb

[mac26dm]

I have had it with my camaro and just looked under the car today to find about half a quart or so of oil on the driveway (yay!). I believe the fuel regulator is bad, (see other post), and the rear main is leaking cause the oil. Now I want to swap in a 305 carb to just get rid of this engine. It ran fine to get it home, but now it's going to crap. How hard would this be as far as the computer and electronics. I know carbs don't require all the electronics and such, but do I still need to keep the ECU for the tranny. I am getting a perfectly good 305 for free and tranny if I need it from a friend. No rebuild req'd. I plan to do this at the hobby shop and my buddy has already built his own hotrod, so he's going to help. My buddy is actually my 50 something year old boss with way to much time on his hands. Just looking for info to help me out. Thanks

[01GPGT]

if you are going to swap a v8 in use a 350 the only good a 305 is fore is if the car came with one then a 350 would fit right in.

[mac26dm]

Ah yes, a 350 would be better, but I am getting the 305 for free. My wife doesn't want me to sink a bunch of money into this one like I did my last one. My new concern with doing this is am I going to pass emissions. I hate AZ for that. But, we shall see.

[01GPGT]

well then free is free :cool:

now for emissions that is why i like to live in michigan :P

[mac26dm]

Well, I talked to the DMV today, and was informed that I could not swap in a carbed anything. Being as the car is a 90, I have to stay with an engine that is 90 or newer. I can take the chance and hope that the guy at the emissions place doesn't know that it wasn't an option for carbed, or just rebuild the 3.1 that's in it. I HATE emissions. As of right now, I am going to rebuild what's in it and hope for the best. After that, I will probably look for an 87 or older third gen, so that I can get the carb. Damn I miss my Formula.:no:

[ezrollin]

Unless it's an HO 305 it's not worth the effort,you will have to change the trans. the radiator the ecm and other sundry items $$$. Perfomance with the lo po wouldn't justify the swap.

[jonx4x4]

How is it not worth the effort? He just said his wife didnt want him to spend a bunch of money on it. The 305 is free. This way, he doesnt have the cost of the engine in the V8 conversion. Once the conversion is done, he can start building a 327, 350, 400, whatever. I dont know about you, but it is much easier for me to pay some, enjoy the fruit of my labors, pay more, and really have something.

I mean, I could understand if he had to do even more work to make a larger displacement small block fit. He said he wanted to be rid of that engine because it leaked and ran like crap.

And as far as the carb, I believe as long as it meets emissions standards set for a 1990 model car, it shouldnt matter. I know you are not supposed to swap in an engine older than the car, but since the Chevrolet small block was pretty much the same from 1965, I dont think it would matter. I personally would lie a little bit. Tell them its a 95 model engine or something. Hell, for all they know, it could be a 95 model 305 with a carburetor on top of it.

Do you think theyre really going to look up the numbers on the back ledge of the engine block?

And passing emissions tests is easy, especially if you use a q-jet with lean jets. :D

[01GPGT]

he also said the DMV will not let him do it so this thread is now useless

[ezrollin]

How is not worth the effort ? Because fixing the 3.1 would be way cheaper than a V8 swap even if the engine is free and if it's a lo po 305 it won't perform much better than the 3.1