Hi all,
My '87 SS just blew it's original 305. I've done some reading, and it seems almost everyone (including my mechanic) agrees that it's better to put in a new 350 engine than rebuild the 305.

I'm waiting for a quote from the local Chevy dealer regarding a crate motor. I also think the 373HP engine from Blueprint also looks appealing. Both come with a decent warranty.

Can I (should I) reuse the stock intake manifold and carb?

It looks like most of the nicer crate engines require a "vortec" intake manifold. Is that what the Monte Carlo already has? I don't know. If it does, is there still a reason to pay $ for a better intake manifold since the new engine will have more power - or is the stock one fine? Same question for the carb - do I need a better one for the increased HP engine, or is the stock one fine?

This car is a daily driver for me. I'm not looking for race car performance, but I don't want to make a dumb decision when I'm already going to have quite a bit of $ invested. I will have to pay a mechanic to do the swap - I don't have the skills needed. Thanks

 

Plenty of choices on engines as performance goes . As for getting a new carb and intake set-up it would be a good idea for performance and a new carb will definitely help in reliability. As for which parts to get , talk with the installer for advice. Good luck and keep us posted on the build.

 

Can anyone tell me with certainty that the stock intake & carb will work on a crate 350? The type of 350 that requires a vortec intake? (Is the stock intake a "vortec" style?) The parts guy at the Chevy dealer is still working on getting me a recommendation & price for a crate 350.

 

Without pictures of your cylinder heads and intake it's rather hard to know what you have. Good luck

 

The stock 305 intake from 1987 does not fit on Vortec heads. GM changed the bolt pattern in 1986 so the stock manifold won't work on the pre '86 heads or the later Vortec heads. Edelbrock makes different intakes that fit all of these. If your stock quadrajet is working good I would keep that as it is connected to the CCC system which controls the spark and fuel curve. If you add a new carb you will also have to change the distributor to get rid of the computer control.
I have a 1987 El Camino SS so went through all of this stuff about 20 years ago.
Dave

 

Thanks!
That is exactly the info I'm looking for!

So I can get a new crate 350 with vortec heads, buy a new intake, but still keep the carb & computer - which is what I prefer. I didn't know if adding a new vortec style intake would still allow me to use the current carb & CCC - sounds like it will. Thanks!

 

So this is what I'm thinking - correct me if I'm wrong.

I could order a crate 350 with vortec heads, like
https://www.gmperformancemotor.com/parts/19210007.html
or
https://blueprintengines.com/product...lock-bp3503ct1

Would need a new, vortec intake manifold, like the Edelbrock Performer 2116
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/e...rand/edelbrock

which can work with either square or spread (like the stock quadrajet) carb - and keep the CCC

correct?

 

Yes that will work. Only thing I haven't researched is how the egr works on the Vortec heads, the 2116 manifold does not have a port for the egr valve on it. And if you don't have the egr valve hooked up it will give you the engine light.

 

Looks like Edelbrock does not offer a vortec intake with an EGR. Chevy performance does. Costs more though.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/nal-12496820

 

Looks like the GMPP intake is the only option then, you will be able to use the stock egr valve and carb with it.