Thought I would start a thread about the build I am beginning.

My Dad bought a K5 in two-tone blue back in 87 while I was in high school. I always liked the truck. He quit driving it 10 years ago and the sad lil 305 was smoking a bit from the valve train I suppose. Well he gave it to me recently and I did some cleaning, got rid of the cockroach home of pinestraw and gunk. Had to rebuild the TBI and drain 20 gallons of 10 yr old fuel! (into a plastic trash can with a few liners)

Replaced the plugs, new battery and it fired up. I need new wires, vacuum lines, one injector, etc... and then it will run for a while.

I have decided to do a close to original restoration. It will need new paint (a few rust spots bubbling up the size of a dime)
new seat covers, new carpet, new door trim, new dash pad.

These items can wait and I will do them as I go a little each month however the BIG question was how much to put into that wimpy 305 motor. SO....

I bought a 350 engine disassembled from a guy out in the woods where the banjos play, took a chance for $100
Sold the heads,crank,pistons to a guy for $50, intake and carb to another guy for $40 so now I have $10 into a 1st gen mid-70s block.

Took it to the machine shop and it is being boned over .030 and clearanced for a 383 stroker kit... this ought to be a tad more fun!

So far here is the build plan of parts: (items noted with * are ordered)

• *Brodix IK180 heads
• *Block machined and Eagle cast crank, I-beam rods, Hyper pistons (10:1 compression) rings, bearings, etc...(Eagle specialties kit)
• Comp Cams extreme 4x4 hydraulic flat tappet cam
• roller rockers
• standard pushrods
• edelbrock Air Gap performer intake dual plane
• HVH 1" carb spacer (4 hole to open)
• BG Speed Demon carb 750cfm with annular boosters
• New HEI ignition
• timing set with 2 piece cover
• billet aluminum valve covers
• deep oil pan with pump

That's the general info of the build. I'm not much of a wrench but I am doing this myself with some help from a neighbor that is a mechanic and races. My goal is a good strong motor with HP and TQ in the usable range.

Hoping to see numbers at least 375 horsepower and 450 torque

Anyone that know engines want to give me thoughts on this setup? I have spent a good deal of time talking with manufacturer tech support folks and local wrenches as well as my machine shop guy. It should be a fun vehicle as compared to stock!

This is going to become a very expensive endeavor i'm afraid

 

BTW, I will add pics as I go, vehicle is still in SC at my father's house so it wont be here for a week or so

 

I am doing a similar project. 1987 k5 with a 305. It is pretty staright but need an update. I plan to go to 350 and beef up the tranny. New paint and interior. It runs fine now but underpowered and well worn. I am considering a minor lift. Any insights you can provide would be appreciated.

Mustang

 

How far can you rebuild a 1987 350 TBI engine and still use stock fuel injection and converter? Interested in changing cam, so what would be the largest cam I could use?

 

A stock rebuild you can use everything that is stock... If you are talking about building it for power, you will need to upgrade the injectors along with am ECU tune.

The catalytic converter should be replaced anyway as the stock style converters leave a lot to be desired in terms of performance both relating to engine output and emissions efficiency.