Want to build!

My 1981 chevy c-10 is just sittin in the yard. The 305 started running real rough last year. Some say that the cam is soft and acting up. I found a newer gm crate 350 sitting in a short bus in a field. They want $700 for the whole bus. Engine and trans. have 1500 miles on them. Been sitting for a couple of years. If I get it i would like to build it a little but need it to be reliable and able to withstand hauling loads in the back of my truck. Any thoughts would be nice. Should I replace all seals and gaskets? In a few weeks I hope to have more info on the engine.

First thing I would want to see are receipts for the engine and tranny. Lots of people say they have a crate or rebuilt motor, but it turns out that is not the case in the end.

Don

Get it, open it up and see what you got. Gaskets, seals, inserts, oil pump are all cheap and easy to do when the motor is out. New cam, lifters, timing chain set all part of it. Let the cylinders condition dictate what you do with the heads. Rebuild the carb and you're ready to tear up some highway. You can never go wrong with Comp Cams XE262H cam. Good all round.

What 18436572 say's is true . I would use that camshaft also . Pull the heads have a .020 mill cut made install new valve springs to match that camshaft . Gasket match the ports . Install an Edelbrock EPS intake with an Edelbrock 600 carb . And install a curve kit and High Volt coil in the HEI with a good set of plug wires . You will have a 350 with around 325 HP COOL .

I am going to differ with the flow here ..........I like the ideas previously stated ,but here is mine .

Use that 305 ,its not a drag race engine by any means ,but will do just fine for your needs and you already have it purchased and know the history,the trucks been sitting ,so a having it running while you do the engine does not matter.If it can sit ,then that just makes using the 305 ,even that much better!
Even if it needs machine work ,like most any used block does ,then the cubic inches go up and thats a good thing... ,with having to purchase the 350 engine ,opposed to having a free complete 305 engine that is application specific ,meaning every piece will hook back up again ,no new connectors ,no wire harness to make or buy ,etc.......
Here is a video of my 305 with the xe262h cam .
I am exspecting a honest 275-300 hp at the engine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld4vfbizOBI

Thats a mean 305! What did you do to it? I've considered building the 305 but I wasn't sure about reliability. The night my engine started acting up it was making some some horrible metal on metal sounds. I thought it would be more cost effective to build a 350. I don't need the trans. so I can sell that and I can make money back on the bus chassis. It would be fun to build the 305!