engine help, don't crucify me

[oneowner71]

As a college graduation present for my sister, I am tossing around the idea of fixing up her car so she can have a chance to drive it again. She's got a 68 Impala (I know, its a chebby, which is why I have to ask the stupid questions) and has a 307 V8 & auto in it. I'm wanting to swap in a 350. How much work am I in for? all accessories mount up? top end stuff a match? Tranny pattern the same? Auto vs std differences in the motor?

I know its the wrong brand and I'm tainting the forum, but I trust your expertise and advice, and even though we are dodge guys to the core, someone out there also has to have a background in Chebbys...

[motomatt383]

i'm not 100% sure but i think about any smallblock 1985 and earlier with drop in, same for accessories. around 1985 they changed the rear main seal, valve covers went to center bolts, but about everything else interchanges.
back me up guys

matt

[wideblock]

being a converted, well almost, chevy man. i can help you out in any and all aspects of this swap. unbolt the 307, bolt in the 350. its that simple. 265, 283, 307, 327, 350 and small block 400 are all direct bolt in swaps. the 400 uses a different fly wheel, but other then that its a bolt in. youll have to make sure the starter matches the fly wheel, and the water pump matches the pully's. chevy has a short and a long water pump, youll need to stick with the one thats for the cars pulleyset up to keep everything in line. but a short will bolt in the same place as a long and vice versa. now if you get a newer 350, thats a whole differnt line. these are noted by the center bolt valve covers and not the perimeter bolts. perimeter bolt covers will be a direct swap. center bolts depends on the year. if you are looking at a center bolt motor, check for the manifold bolts on either side of the heat riser. if those are there, its a direct swap, if not, then you run into some conversion issues that are easy to address, but make it not quite a bolt in swap. you gonna cam it up?? or just go stock. if you need some help feel free to email or just post here.

[bearstoys]

drop in 350 turn key deal drive it

[oneowner71]

I'm not really planning on doing anything to the engine. I need to get the car up and running so she can drive the car and remember all the little quirks to it. It's been in the garage for the last 10 years, and she has no idea what she really wants to do to the car... stock, mod, etc... so she needs to drive it a bit and find out. That 307 was always too small for that car anyway.

Cool, thanks for the help and info. Anybody got a running 350 sitting around near texas they could be convinced to part with??

[MountainMoparRobin]

Oneowner71 it would be good to get it going so you could have more room for MOPARS any leads on car to take its place???

[Seabee]

Nothing wrong with a 68 Impala. I had one for a while... should've kept it

[wideblock]

i have had numerous impalas, i love the cars.
1959 2 door post, 283 3on the tree
1960 2 door hardtop, 348 4spd
1972 4door police package, 454 auto
1976 4door, 400 auto
1983 4door, 454(485hp) auto and posi
1985 4door, 305 auto
1989 4door police package, 350 auto

and yes clint, i have a 1968 350 block, bored 30 over, a set of pistons for it with corvette rods, and various accesories. its in my storage room in houston. right now its a bare freshly machined block, new cam bearings and freze plugs, the pistons are new as well with the freshly resized rods and new rings. youll need to get some heads for it, but the intake, exhaust and all the other stuff will swap over from the 307. $300 and its yours. all i got to do is get dad to dig it out, its waaaaaaayyyyy in the back.

[oneowner71]

Robin, no plans for what will fill the spot in the garage. Right now I'm so far in the hole on the house and the challenger, if it ain't free or real darn close to it, I simple can't get any more vehicles. I've got the Satellite stuffed in the bay next to the impala, and the Dude is still sitting out in the field at the farm (makes me cry, but no choice), so no more vehicles for now.

Trey, that sounds like a hell of a deal on a hot motor, but its more work than I can sign up for. The only time I can work on the impala is when the Chally goes for paint, and I've got to save money on the motor, since she may want to keep the car stock (it's all still original) and put the 307 back in (makes me cry too). Since I've still got some time before the chally can take paint, I'm hoping for the same kind of deal I got from you on the 383 last year...a running 350 for cheap, just to get her on the road. But if I talk with my sis and she wants to go the HO 350 route, I'll definately give you a call first.

[wideblock]

tell her the 307 is by far the biggest piece of dodo chevy ever made. besides, no matter what she puts in, unless she tells someone, youll never know she swapped it. even the 305 is a much better engine. if you want, my dad is about to have a running, but smoking, 307 you could probably get for free. it will need a valve job, and possibly rings to not smoke, but it runs on its own power as is. dads droppin in an HO 305 and trashing that crappy 307.

[oneowner71]

I agree the 307 is junk. And in that 4-door boat, it will never have the muscle to make it any fun to drive... since it never did. I appreciate the engine offer, but I couldn't look myself in the mirror in the mornings if I didn't add a little more power to the car. I want her to enjoy it enough to get out and beat the crap out of it for a while.

Good luck on the new truck, by the way. I am officially jealous since you now have the platform for your dream truck you and Robin discussed a while ago.