Help!!!
I'm currently rebuilbing an LX sedan and at the stage of looking at motor combo's (308, 330, 355 or 383). The car currently as a 308 in it (originally 253) Th350 and a 9inch. My dilema is that after researching various posts/topics on this site, many are of the opinion that it would be "cheaper" to go the SBChev rather than rebuild a 308. I would like to use the car for the occasional run at the drags and some street cruising. It's not my only means of transport but i would like to keep the car street registered in NSW. I have a budget of $5000 for the motor.
My question is has anyone recently transplanted a SBChev into a LH/LX, if so what engineering/rego hassals and requirements were they faced with.
Were there any unexpected costs that would deem this whole exercise pointless?
Any feedback will be greatly appreciated
Lee
350 chev into lx sedan
Started by
_lee13k_
, Dec 06 2006 12:38 PM
14 replies to this topic
#2
_T0rana_
_T0rana_
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Posted 06 December 2006 - 01:16 PM
i just did the convesion... the chev motor was cheap, its the conversion parts that hit you pretty hard,
Extractors
engine mounts
Sump
Small starter motor
radiator
and the rest...
need around 2grand in conversion parts,
i got my 350chevy for 2grand delivered to my door, and its a full rebuild with all brand new gear on it, from a business. but its only stock.
cheers,
Extractors
engine mounts
Sump
Small starter motor
radiator
and the rest...
need around 2grand in conversion parts,
i got my 350chevy for 2grand delivered to my door, and its a full rebuild with all brand new gear on it, from a business. but its only stock.
cheers,
#3
_lee13k_
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Posted 06 December 2006 - 01:32 PM
Thanks TOrana,
I tought my budget would be enough for the hardware.
Was tere any added cost for engineering? and what did you ave to do to get it registered?
Regards
Lee
I tought my budget would be enough for the hardware.
Was tere any added cost for engineering? and what did you ave to do to get it registered?
Regards
Lee
#4
_T0rana_
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Posted 06 December 2006 - 07:31 PM
im my uc (same as LX)
i did the booster and springs, thats all that is required, a blue plate (engineering) will cost me $200 all up with gbox as a mod too.
for a 350 in qld a brake test is required, so call it a 305ci for the day to escape a brake test. its nearly impossible to tell a 350 from a 305, there numbers are usually identical, even down to the numbers on the crank.. weird stuff
there isnt even a tag on the block saying 350
i did the booster and springs, thats all that is required, a blue plate (engineering) will cost me $200 all up with gbox as a mod too.
for a 350 in qld a brake test is required, so call it a 305ci for the day to escape a brake test. its nearly impossible to tell a 350 from a 305, there numbers are usually identical, even down to the numbers on the crank.. weird stuff
there isnt even a tag on the block saying 350
#5
dattoman
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Posted 06 December 2006 - 08:14 PM
If you've only got $5k to spend then spend the money on the 308
Chev is cheaper if your starting from nothing
For you since you already have exhaust,box,tailshaft,diff inplace I would go with a strong 308 build myself
Chev is cheaper if your starting from nothing
For you since you already have exhaust,box,tailshaft,diff inplace I would go with a strong 308 build myself
#6
_ChevLX_77_
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Posted 06 December 2006 - 09:53 PM
Beware they are a very tight fit. just have a look at the pic below
you can pick up mounts from castlemaine rod shop
i have a sump for sale its a mega sump to suit a Chev into a torana make me an offer. im in Canberra if your interested
as for exhust i ve just got standard rams horns.
the stater motor is in its standard chev place makes for a tight fit.
you can pick up mounts from castlemaine rod shop
i have a sump for sale its a mega sump to suit a Chev into a torana make me an offer. im in Canberra if your interested
as for exhust i ve just got standard rams horns.
the stater motor is in its standard chev place makes for a tight fit.
Edited by ChevLX_77, 06 December 2006 - 09:54 PM.
#7
_ChevLX_77_
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Posted 06 December 2006 - 09:55 PM
forgot to mention but Parts are cheaper for a chev than a holden V8 
#8
_lee13k_
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Posted 07 December 2006 - 09:09 AM
ChevLX_77 that sure is a tight fit!!!! 
One of the reasons why i thru this question out there was because i have noticed that chev parts are generally alot cheaper.
In saying that, what dattoman wrote makes alot of sense as well. i mean $5k on the existing set up should get me more than to start from scratch with a SBC.
Thanks TOrana for the info
Still unclear as to what is required to get the thing rego'd in NSW??
I Guess I'll just call the RTA and try and make sense out of the very vague protocoled dialogue they dish out to me.
One of the reasons why i thru this question out there was because i have noticed that chev parts are generally alot cheaper.
In saying that, what dattoman wrote makes alot of sense as well. i mean $5k on the existing set up should get me more than to start from scratch with a SBC.
Thanks TOrana for the info
Still unclear as to what is required to get the thing rego'd in NSW??
I Guess I'll just call the RTA and try and make sense out of the very vague protocoled dialogue they dish out to me.
#9
MRLXSS
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Posted 07 December 2006 - 04:46 PM
I think the Positives FAR outweigh the Negatives tho!
#10
_rorym_
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Posted 07 December 2006 - 05:14 PM
No mod plates needed if you stay 308..$5k will build a tough 308. Ask MRNOS...Mine will be less than that...just! and it has VN heads..my expense is the inlet and extractors.
R
R
#11
_lee13k_
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Posted 08 December 2006 - 12:41 PM
rorym. You stated that your build will be just under $5k. Apart from the VN heads what else have you done? If i'm gonna stay 308 any ideas will be great.
#12
_MRNOS_
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Posted 08 December 2006 - 03:32 PM
Mine will be around the 5k cost, but Ive got alloy heads for mine that I scored for a bargain
#13
LXCHEV
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Posted 08 December 2006 - 03:47 PM
I agree in your situation and with that budget, you would be better off sticking with the 308 and spending the cash on it. Buy yourself some awesome heads and work the rest out from there. Everything else in your driveline is already there, so no other money to spend, no engineers required, no hassles, no mucking around!
If you were willing to stretch your budget though, then Chev it!!!
I put a SBC in my LX (in Vic), and to do it properly, I needed all the conversion stuff as mentioned by TOrana (extractors, mounts, sump, starter etc etc)... I also did the full HQ brake upgrade, CRS chassis kit, CRS crossmember etc. Sailed through the engineers with flying colours (cost me just under $600 all up for engineers). But all the other parts I just listed certainly added up too.
Enjoy!
If you were willing to stretch your budget though, then Chev it!!!
I put a SBC in my LX (in Vic), and to do it properly, I needed all the conversion stuff as mentioned by TOrana (extractors, mounts, sump, starter etc etc)... I also did the full HQ brake upgrade, CRS chassis kit, CRS crossmember etc. Sailed through the engineers with flying colours (cost me just under $600 all up for engineers). But all the other parts I just listed certainly added up too.
Enjoy!
#14
_lee13k_
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Posted 28 December 2006 - 10:47 AM
Thanks for all the advice. I have decided to stay with the 308. just scored a set of vn heads, a 355 stroker kit and the inlet manifold to suit the heads for $1800 for the lot (of a bloke who lost interest in his project). I'll post some pics and figures once the whole car is complete.
Cheers
Cheers
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