Ole Betsy

[Perry]

The old girl has been good to me. I bought it in 2002 for the move to Nova Scotia from British Columbia.
It's a 91 GMC 3/4 ton pick-up with a tired old 305 motor. The odometer stopped 7 or 8 years ago at 200,000 kilometers (120,000 miles), so I don't have much of an idea what it really has under it's belt. I am the second owner.
The rear seal is gone, I've been leaving oil streaks for the last few months, and it smokes so bad (valve guides) that I don't have to light my smoker for the first while when I pull into one of my yards. I stopped changing the oil cause I am constantly putting in fresh stuff every few days.
Other than that it's been a great truck. The body is great (solid), no rattles and stuff. It doesn't have any options, you even have to roll down the windows (one of my nieces was stumped by that). No air except for the 2-50 kind (2 open windows at 50 mph).
Well, I thought about replacing it, but I would have to spend at least 5 or 6 grand to get something newer, with no guarentees that what I bought was going to be much better. I put an ad on kijiji, and as luck would have it I got a response from Ardoise Mechanical about 30 minutes away. The owner has just junked an 1989 GMC with a 305 targetmaster engine with only 70,000 kilometers (45,000 miles) on it. $750 installed!
I figure I'm better off keeping the old girl, at least I know what I've got, and I'm betting that I can get a few more years out of her yet.
My version of a good ole love story! 

[Riverrat]

Thats exactly how I would have played that one.  Put another motor in and driver some more

[Slowmodem]

The old girl has been good to me. I bought it in 2002 for the move to Nova Scotia from British Columbia.
It's a 91 GMC 3/4 ton pick-up with a tired old 305 motor. The odometer stopped 7 or 8 years ago at 200,000 kilometers (120,000 miles), so I don't have much of an idea what it really has under it's belt. I am the second owner.

I'm the second owner of a 1966 Chevrolet PU but it's only got 113,000 miles on it.

The rear seal is gone, I've been leaving oil streaks for the last few months, and it smokes so bad (valve guides) that I don't have to light my smoker for the first while when I pull into one of my yards. I stopped changing the oil cause I am constantly putting in fresh stuff every few days.

A new oil filter every other month will probably suffice.

you even have to roll down the windows (one of my nieces was stumped by that).

Take a tip from Red Green!

I figure I'm better off keeping the old girl, at least I know what I've got, and I'm betting that I can get a few more years out of her yet.
My version of a good ole love story!     

I think you've made a wise decision.   

[LazyBkpr]

Bolt a 350 in it instead of the 305..  Direct bolt in, everything interchanges..   a little more power for the same fuel economy.  I used to swap engines in those trucks in one day when i worked for GM.
  Good Play there Perry.. My 89 Chevy 4x4 has a permanent resting place in my driveway so long as I can still get parts to fix it.
   Like you said.. roll up windows..  its a TRUCK not a caddy!

[Perry]

I had to limit myself to a small block between 88 and 92 in order for the computor in my truck to work with it. The computors are more difficult to work with than the motor itself.

[Riverrat]

If Im correct I have always been told a 305 is a 350 with low compression heads. made so the engine would meet government fuel economy guidelines back during the oil embargo

[LazyBkpr]

350 is still a small block, and it is a direct bolt in even to the computer. I have installed about a thousand of them over the years..  My GM at the dealership Told me it would not work, I told him it would, and then proved it..  There are very likely still many dozens of 350's running around out there under 305 tbi's..  I have a 383 under a stock Tuned port in the Firebird, and am in the process of building a 388 that will go under the TBI in old Betty next spring.
   The greatest worry is the camshaft. Keep it mild and the tbi will adjust.  The TBI has a limited capacity to learn, and an extra 45 cubic inches is within that capacity.  Put on performance heads/Cam/Intake etc, and your going to confuse the poor TBI into committing suicide..   Bolt in a stock 350 with no more than an RV cam, a good exhaust system and you wont be disappointed.
    Wish you were closer Perry.  I would bolt the engine in for you for the company and a few beers. With a helping hand I can do it in one work day on a 4wd, less with a 2wd.

[Slowmodem]

I had to limit myself to a small block between 88 and 92 in order for the computor in my truck to work with it. The computors are more difficult to work with than the motor itself.

Get an older motor with a carburetor and you won't need a computer.

[LazyBkpr]

hehe TRUE,
   but he will need a fuel pressure regulator to keep from flooding the carb, or he will have to pull the in tank pump out and use the mechanical pump on the block..  the better option would be to just bolt the older motor in UNDER the TBI.. it will run fine as long as it wasnt hopped up a lot. Only difference in bolting it up is the center intake manifold bolts are angled differently so the holes will have to be modified, or a different intake purchased.

[Riverrat]

hehe TRUE,
   but he will need a fuel pressure regulator to keep from flooding the carb, or he will have to pull the in tank pump out and use the mechanical pump on the block..

Funny you should mention this I just bought a 1966 f600 ford with a knapheide all steel dump bed.  The truck was used at Cessna to fuel planes before someone bought it and put a dump bed on it. the muffler and exhaust was a give away as it is mounted under the front bumper to keep sparks away from the fuel. It still has the Cessna placards in the cab. no rust anywhere or dents good glss except for passanger door window on the cab but a pack rat ate some of the wiring.  The guy bought it 2 years ago and was having trouble with it flooding out. I got looking at it and it had an electric fuel pump and no regulator. Other than a little wiring a fuel regulator and a couple tires not a bad investment for $325.00.  Going to turn it into a hive hauling wood cutting dirt hauling handy truck.  Be like ole perrys betsy

[Perry]

I always thought it was odd for GM to crank out a 3/4 ton truck, and then drop in a 305 right from the factory. I wonder if it was a weird option or something? Why would you make a heavy truck and put in a smaller cubic inch motor? Fuel economy alone?

[Riverrat]

I wondered that when they started putting v6 engines in full size pickups.  The old straight 6 had a lot of torque but a v6 I will pass

[LazyBkpr]

It had a lot to do with gearing as well.  We owned a flatbed C70 that had a 350 in it with a two barrel carb from the dealer..    It did an admirable job even with a 4440 on the flat bed.
   Having said that..   I do not admire gm's 305 engine.. It had a place in the big caprice and station wagons etc, but I personally do not believe it should have ever seen a truck. The bore was 3.736 inches and the stroke was 3.48 inches. Introduced in 76 it didnt have much torque and wasnt any better than the 307.. in fact, I liked the 307 better. It used the 327 crank ( 3.25 stroke) with a 3.875 bore for at least a little bit of torque. Still, if your driving it and not hauling a lot of weight or towing a heavy trailer it is acceptable motivation.

   RR...   Finding a decent body and chassis is 90% of the battle in my eyes.  I am seeing three year old vehicles that have the fender wells completely rotted out..  Its stupidity in the extreme, but Consumers "appear" not to care that the new 30 to 70 THOUSAND dollar vehicle they just bought is made with CRAPPY metal.  We/They have the ability to build a car or truck that will NEVER rot out, OR, At least make the body out of metal that will resist rotting, like the alumanized pipes used for exhaust..  When vehicles are DESIGNED to last 5 years it makes buying anything new undesirable at least to me.  The local garage, and owner of new vehicles cant do much to fix them anymore. I saw the evidence of GM shifting in this direction when I worked for them in the 80's and 90's, and today they don't even try to hide it. If it needs work they want you to bring it to THEM, and they want you to REPLACE it in 5 years at the most.
    So, finding a jewel like you just did at that price is exciting. If you have to rebuild EVERYTHING on that truck it will not cost you ten grand to do it. Well cared for, that truck will serve you well all the days of your life!

[Slowmodem]

I always thought it was odd for GM to crank out a 3/4 ton truck, and then drop in a 305 right from the factory. I wonder if it was a weird option or something? Why would you make a heavy truck and put in a smaller cubic inch motor? Fuel economy alone?

At some point, the power/weight ratio will start to reverse.  An underpowered truck will get less milage.

[iddee]

I guess it's time to show my latest toy.

A '95 with a 350 engine. Uses no oil, everything works except the radio and AC. 183,000 miles. The bed in back raises up to make two opposing bench seats. I thought it to be a good deal for $800.00

[Perry]

That thing looks like it would be perfect for someone to take a nice trip somewhere, say, like, Nova Scotia?

[riverbee]

via wisconsin perry............. ..........

[LazyBkpr]

LOL  or drive it to Iowa and I'll fix your AC so its a nicer drive through Wisconsin to NS!   

   Nice looking van Iddee. Those are wonderful travel rigs. I drove one similar to that (older) clear across the US when I was 14 years old..   Didin't know a driving permit was only legal in the state it was issued in.. worked out good for me!

[iddee]

Sorry, folks, but this is Sept. All beekeeper travel for the next 6 months should be to the south.

See you when you get here.   

[riverbee]

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