yellow_lilies86

Okay, I'm new here so please bear with me! =]

I have a 1986 Trans Am - 305 4bbl 5.0L V8 (automatic transmission). I bought this car pretty cheap from some moron who thought he was a mechanic. I was told there was quite a bit that I need to have replaced on the motor. I was also told if I was going to spend that much money I should either have the motor rebuilt/overhauled or just replace the motor with another.

I can't really find an actual mechanic around that would rebuild it. However, I know several that would change the motor for me. So, I'm really leaning towards finding another motor. However, I don't really think I need to buy a brand new motor considering I'm not racing the car or using it for anything as such. So, here are my questions:

1.) Would it be better to rebuild the motor that I have? Or just swap?
2.) If I was to swap, is it bad to use a used motor if I know it runs good and doesn't have a lot of mileage? If not, where are good places to find a rebuilt motor?
3.) If I was to swap, should I get another 305 or 350? (I've been told by a lot of guys that the 350 is better and the parts are cheaper?)

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!! Thanks! =]

BtownZ28

Welcome to TGO

1. What exactly is wrong with your current motor?
2. If you are considering a swap 95% of people on this board will say go with the 350 (me being one of them).

Atilla the Fun

Odds are it's an LG4, not the L69. If it's the LG4, you can just get another one for a much easier replacement. LG4s in Caprices and such usually haven't been messed with.

madmux

just my opinion here brother, but you can #1) purchase a remaned 0 miles 305 from kragen/autozone/pepboys, etc.. bolt in reliability to the tune of about 800 bucks give or take.

or#2) consider a craigslist or junkyard used motor, most parts (other that internals such as rods and pistons) are the same between 350 & 305, and are cheap and easy to find for both, infact they should be interchangable (265-400 except 307) *i could be wrong, i doubt i am.

for the power the 350 is the better choice in my opinion/ you can do a lot with it in the future.
hope i helped.

yellow_lilies86

Well, I knew that I needed to get the valve covers replaced because they're leaking really bad. I also need the valve cover gaskets, the rocker arms. I need to get my oil pan replaced. I was told I needed some rings replaced. There's some others that I can't really remember, but they told me if I was going to do all of that to just go with a different motor.

yellow_lilies86

Yeah, mine is an automatic so I think it's LG4. From what I've read the L69 was only in the manuals. (Obviously I could be wrong, but that's just what I read).

I have a friend who has a lot of connections with car people (like mechanics and junk yards and parts places). He found me a used motor with about 130,000 miles on it for $250 and it runs great. I'd be charged $150 to pull and $150 to install, so $550 all together. I'm thinking about going with that option.

madmux

130k for $550, i dont know man you could do better than that if you were able to do the wrenchwork yourself.

yellow_lilies86

lol, well I do envy those girls who can do their own mechanical work, but I am not one of them. I can change spark plugs and fluids and tires and what not, however I do not know how to change a motor. If I knew how, I would definitely do it!!

Atilla the Fun

I think $550 is a good price, and I think 130,000 miles is not TOO many for it to be worthwhile. Ask your friend about a new timing chain set. That's the first thing I'd do to the 130,000 mile engine before installing it.

yellow_lilies86

Actually! It already has that done. It's from a Camaro that was totaled in the rear-end. The guy who owned the Camaro said he just got that replaced a week before he wrecked it. I trust the guy doing the work not to lie, plus he said if I had any problems with it to come back and he'd fix it. Oh, and I had the mileage wrong, it's only got 103,000 - which is about half what I got on my old motor.

Primetime91

iTrader: (15)

$550 seems like a really good deal to me since someone else is doing the labor. Thats less money than a lot of shops will charge to replace the fuel pump.

yellow_lilies86

Yeah, I'm really fortunate to have some connections. My boyfriend works at a body shop and then my brother-in-law's family is full of mechanics.