Likely cost of a engine upgrade/rebuild

[IROC-Z]

Hopefully someone on here will humour me!

One of my long, long term plans for my IROC-Z is to have the engine upgraded to either a 5.7 crate engine or a rebuild with performance components. It currently has a 305 TPI. I’d be hoping for an output in the region of 250-300bhp with a fairly mild tune, no choppy idle stuff just a smooth motor. I don’t have the knowledge or facilities to do the work myself so I’d have to pay someone to do everything. For example I’ve seen a company called Autopontiac will upgrade a 305TPI with a 350 crate motor and retain the TPI system, that sounds ideal.

I’m in no financial position to get the work done so I don’t want to pester the various suppliers and waste their time, so hopefully someone in the know here satisfy my curiosity?

How much to be rebuilt with performance components?

How much for a total swap, fully fitted etc?

Thanks in advance

[IROC-Z]

HD Adam said:

Have a look here http://www.britishamericanengines.co.uk/default.as...

Thanks for the link, I've seen these guys before and their prices give a good indication of what I'm getting into! I'm still none the wiser of how much a rebuild would be though

qube_TA said:

It's not that hard to do yourself and as it's properly expensive to pay someone to do it (£5K-ish) then I'd do the former.

It's not so much the difficulty, its the lack of facilities. Call it a confidence thing but it's a job I just wouldn't fancy tackling on my own.

MikePCG said:

Speaking as a 3 time Camaro owner, as mentioned it's going to be expensive no matter what option you go for when paying someone else to do the work for you. If you can't do the work yourself, your best bet is to get a car that's already had the work done, or sell the Iroc and look out for a 91/92 Z28 with a 240-245bhp 5.7 tpi motor and may be do a few minor bolt ons from there.

Why not look at a 4th gen with a 275-305bhp LT1 motor, although I have to say to to me they do look a little too Japanese sports car like in thier style.

I had considered this but I really like my IROC and I've spent quite a lot of money on it so far, I am planning to get the bodywork sorted too. That said for the cost of an engine, I could probably buy another Camaro!

I agree the 4th gens don't really do anything for me, they don't really look American enough.

[IROC-Z]

Thanks for the feedback guys, I just wanted to get an idea. Looks like the money will be better spent on sorting out the bodywork and alloys for now.

I've been looking at ported intake plenum, runners, manifold base and I'll probably go down the route of maximising the potential of the induction system, at least this is work I can tackle myself and the engine can stay in the car!

[IROC-Z]

Yep I'm keeping my IROC, I've put quite a lot of effort into sorting out the niggling faults and it's a tidy car. Those books you mentioned I have although they don't give any indication as to how much parts cost.

I've got a flowmaster stainless system on it and the cat has been removed at some point, so I guess I'm ahead there.

Excuse me ignorance but do exhaust headers replace the stock manifold and Y pipe?

Also, what is a stall?!

Thanks

[IROC-Z]

Wow I didn't realise the thread would generate this much interest! Thank you to everyone who has provided ideas and explained things to me. To summarise I am a lot more aware of what is possible and the various pitfalls. I don't want some fire breathing drag machine, just a car with a bit more punch and I think a rebuild plus some modifications to the air intake system would improve the responsiveness. Anything more serious then a rebuild of my 305 has cost implications in terms of suspension, transmission and rear axles that I don't really want to get involved in.

ss64ii: thanks for the offer but as with my original post I am not really in a position to get the work done at present, I am just after some ideas. I will keep you in mind as a rebuild of my current 305 seems the best option.