Noob here. Just bought a 1971 Elky and it needs help! Someone replaced the original motor (350 I think) with a 305. Not sure how to tell which trans or rearend it has.

This is what I "know" I want it to do...smoke tires, launch fast, handle good, sound good and look good. Same as everyone I guess.

This is what I "think" I want...350 with 350hp, turbo 350 trans, 3:73 posi rearend, new shocks & springs, heavier duty sway bars, headers with Deltaflow 50's, 15x8's in front 15x10' in rear. Gonna need bucket seats and console too. I'll deal with the paint a little later.

Prollum 1) I don't know if what I "think" I want is what I "really" want.
2) I don't know where to get the stuff or how much I should pay.
3) I don't know how to match the components up properly.

So basically I don't know much about it, but need to learn.

Comments, suggestions, questions will all be accepted and appreciated. Thanks,

here are some links that may be useful, a turbo 400 would be stronger than a turbo 350 but probably not nessacary for 350 hp. your block casting number will help you identify your block your suffix code will be more descriptive though. your casting number is located on the driver side near where the transmission mates to the motor. the suffix code will be the last 3 letters of a longer code in front of the passenger side head. it may not be there if the block has been decked.


turbo 350 (http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/th350.htm)turbo 400 (http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/th400.htm)other transmissions (http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/transmission_gateway.htm)
casting numbers (http://www.mortec.com/castnum.htm)
suffix codes (http://www.chevy-camaro.com/chevy-camaro-engine-codes.asp)

Thanks for the reply. These are the numbers I have...
Left rear block 355909
Right rear block c 5

Haven't been able to get to the other locations yet so I don't know if it has stock 305 heads or something else. And I don't have the engine manufacture date yet.

The 355909 indicates a 305 by my literature
The C 5 indicates March 1975, I think.

According to Chevymania.com that casting # could even be a big ol' 262 cu. in.

Welcome!!! Always good to see another 3rd gen in the crowd!!!

Pretty easy to do what you want. Start with a crate motor from GM or any good aftermarket builder and you're on the way. I would suggest an overdrive tranny and a 12 bolt rear with 3.08 - 3.42 gears and a posi unit. Overdrive trannies have a low first gear and with 350hp you will be able to light the tires up with no problem. Do a search on 200r4 and 700r4 trannies and you will find lots of good info here. I would also suggest a rear wheel width of 9" instead of 10", use 5 1/4 or 5 1/2 backspacing and you can get some pretty big tires to fit with ease. Make sure all your front and rear suspension bushings are good and repair and replace as needed. A bigger front and /or rear sway bar will be needed also. Another good source of info is HERE (http://www.chevelles.com/forums/). Between that site and here you'll find everything you need to know about 3rd gen elkies.

Yeeha! Gettin some good info here. :-D Thanks ya'll. I also saw that about the 262, but I just couldn't believe that's what it was :-( Wishful thinking I guess. Doesn't matter, I'm gonna replace it anyway. Can you actually buy a GM crate 350 with 350hp? Great idea on the OD trans. I will probably replace all the suspension bushings because I just don't know what condition they're in. Plus I would probably replace the springs and shocks if I knew what to replace them with. I'd kinda like a little rake. I'm not sure if I understand the part about backspacing. Is that the wheel offset, the distance between the center of the wheel and the inside edge? Thanks for all the help and the links. I'll probably be asking a lot more questions as time goes by so don't give up on me. Thanks again.

How about 355HP
HERE (http://www.crateenginedepot.com/ZZ4-Crate-Engine-350CI-355HP-HO-with-Aluminum-Heads-24502609-P4C2.aspx)

Backspacing explained, and more HERE (https://www.rsracing.com/tech-wheel.html)

Lots of aftermarket shocks and springs available, remember, the search feature is your friend!!!

Thanks bigjames for the links. I checked out the 355hp link. Nice motor, a bit pricey. I was sorta thinking I would spend about $5,000 on everything, engine, trans, rearend, suspension. That might be a bit optimistic but $3800 just for the engine would take a real big bite out of the 5k. Got any other suggestions for an engine? Maybe less hp but in the $1,500 to $2,000 range? Thanks for the wheel offset link. That splained it all. I will be searching for other info as time permits. Just want to get it all worked out in my head first before I go buy stuff. I see my storage bldg. full of everything I intend to use/put on the elky before I ever lift a wrench. Then do it all at one time. Maybe that will work, maybe I'll run into more problems that way. That's why I want to work out as many of the details as possible before I start. Thanks again for the info and please keep it coming. M

Nobody said it would be cheap!!! :cool:

Have you seen this post?
http://elcaminocentral.com/ftopict-21499.html

You know you could get a 290hp 350 crate engine for under $2000 then just bolt on your own parts to build it up to the specs you desire.

http://www.crateenginedepot.com/350-Crate-Engine-290-HP-HO-12499529-P824C2.aspx