V8 Grief, Now what do I do? Options

[Howard]

Bottom line. Seller listed it as a '383 Chev with less than 300 miles on rebuild'. Also was supposed to have 'tall geared transmission'. Neither.

Thing was running incredibly rich and using 1 qt per 100 miles. Compression all over the map. Tried the obvious things, but gave up and took to a pro who tore it down.

It's a 305 that's .030 over (310ci??). Looks like a fairly fresh rebuild with good parts, but wrong valve springs, so cam went flat. Lots of metal in oil, needs new cam, springs, rings (never seated and cylinders glazed), bearings, oil pump, valve job, and several yada yadas.

Seller is a licensed CA auto dealer, I have copy of ad showing 383 and transmission mod's, so am confident he will get stuck with at least part of the bill if I go to court. But for now:

My wrench says he can put it back together just fine , but advises I go to a crate 350 for about $1200 more. 383 is out due to 901 transmission. It would be nice to try to stick PO for a fresh 383 ($2500) tall geared tranny ($3000) and ~ $2000 for installation, but don't really want to go that far.

305, 350, or the works??

[NoPorsche]

The only year that had a mass produced 302 was the 69 Z28. Anything before that was the 327 destroked.

Actually, 1967 (602 cars built, plus extra engines), 1968 (1800+ cars built) and 1969 Z/28s (20,000+ cars built) ALL had 302s. Each year used a block that was common to 302, 327 and 350, even 1969, where those three engine sizes could be found with the same casting number on the block. Just depended on what crank the factory wanted to install. The 69 did use a 4-bolt version of the block, but so did some of the 350s. The 67 and 68 versions were given an engine code of "MO", while the 69 was coded the "DZ"...


On the 305 heads, the lower edge of the head is also differently shaped from most other Chevy heads. It has a "scalloped" shape to the outer edge where the lower head bolts go (visible in that photo). I have heard that this was only used on the 305s...


Sorry to hear about the problems with the engine. I imagine now that the motor is out, and at a shop (3rd party), you are probably out of luck. I would think that the dealer doesn't want to pay, he will likely just say the engine in there was the 383, and either you or the other shop are lying... I hope the best works out for you...