Opinions! Chevy engines vs. Olds

[DoubleV]

Re: Opions! Chevy engines vs. Olds

Luke Skywalker - "Is the dark side stronger?"
Yoda - "No. Quicker, easier,more seductive..."

Which engine would be better without the all the aftermarket support and cheaper cost of SBC parts? :wink:

Of course the OP's question can't really be answered because both engines have advantages and disadvantages depending on what your goals are. Neither are better but I say if you have a Cutlass, man up and put an Olds engine in it. If you have a Monte, put a Chevy in it.

 

[G-Body_Vet]

Re: Opions! Chevy engines vs. Olds

Can o' worms!

I used to be diehard Chevy back in the day until I wanted to try something different. Chevy is plentiful, reasonably priced, HUGE aftermarket support, and fits into about anything.

FWIW, the machinist that's rebuilding my Poncho 455 seems to think Olds engines have the best design and metallurgy of all the GM engines, with Pontiac, Buick and Cadillac a close 2nd. I have a friend who loves Olds. His uncle has always been an Olds nut too.

One advantage about Chevy is that it became the corporate engine and development continued by GM. Pontiac and Buick V8's ceased to existed after '81 (I think that's right), Olds kept putting engines in Caddys until about '90 or so, but Chevy kept forging ahead. They clearly have the factory parts advantage...such as vortec heads.

I'm with Bill though, TORQUE. Torque makes for a fun street car. Even if you want to build a 6K plus screamer, where can you wind it out on a regular basis?

 

[CHRIS.O]

Re: Opions! Chevy engines vs. Olds

I'm with Bill though, TORQUE. Torque makes for a fun street car. Even if you want to build a 6K plus screamer, where can you wind it out on a regular basis?

Everyone always says that, I just dont see it I guess. I mean I know sometimes they have higher torque numbers but lower HP numbers. My opinion only so nobody get all jumpy but I would rather have a 300hp/300tq engine than a 225/325.

I understand torque is important but it is important to an extent. As far as 6k on a regular basis, hmm I guess I hit that anytime I go WOT in my Formula haha. I have always wanted to do a diesel conversion and make a stroker out of an Olds. One of my "someday" engines hopefully.

Stock for stock maybe Olds has an edge, I don't know, I haven't sat down and looked at every spec sheet to compare the two. I haven't looked at who has the better oiling system, lighter parts, more reliable parts, etc.

Who leaves their engine stock anyways? I know I sure can't.

 

[rustyroger]

Who leaves their engine stock?.

I like my engines as they left the factory, just as I like the rest of the car to be that way.
Makes getting correct parts a no-brainer and servicing is simplified, I'm pretty sure engine life is maximised as well .

Bear in mind I take my car for cruises and shows, if I was was taking it down the strip that would be another matter entirely.

Who makes the best engines?, simple - Oldsmobile for Oldsmobiles, Cevrolet for Chevys, Buick for Buicks, dare I say it but Honda for Hondas as well.

Roger.

 

[olds307 and 403]

Re: Opions! Chevy engines vs. Olds

I would rather have a 300hp/300tq engine than a 225/325.

That is what I have, except hopefully a bit more hp/tq than 225/325. I blew up my 2004r and installed a good TH350C I had on my garage floor. After a few runs, I missed OD and my 2400 flash stall converter. Pulled the pan and much black goo was found. The torque is very nice but kills transmissions. I like the distinct Olds exhaust sound and just being different is good. You can use cheap SBC piston and rods on a 330 Olds stroker and on a 350 Olds, stroked or not. I have a set of custom pistons on Scat sbc 2" journal rods that will go in my 403 someday. There is a 400+ cfm head just coming out, using that and a diesel/nascar block will produce big power. Our factory Olds 307 and 350's just lasted many more miles than the sbc powered vehicles we owned.

 

[TeezySupreme]

Re: Opions! Chevy engines vs. Olds

Dude, you didn't even spell the title of this thread correctly....christ

I'm going to say for small blocks I would go with Chevy. Big Blocks, it's hard to beat a BBO 8)

Pretty much everyone switches a Cutlass over to Chevy power because of the cost of Olds parts. There's just not as many aftermarket parts out there for Olds, so everything costs even more. Also, because there's so many more Chevy engines out there, you can always find used Chevy parts for cheap....

My freaking bad no need to put christ in here is it better now?

 

[fly1]

As a olds guy ima have to say olds. But that's because you are almost forced to build an olds engine correctly. There is no $2500 crate motors in every magazine for olds. You need to make sure it is machine correctly understand the weaknesses of olds engine and address them right. End result you have a bad *ss tire smoking torque monster that works better than viagra. If you try to build an olds with of the shelf parts like a Chevy you won't be satisfied.

 

[Brick442]

Same sh*t . . . in the end they are both just big chunks of metal that will hold up about the same when built correctly.

I've built both Olds and Chevy engines for my 442. Yes, I agree that parts forSBC are generally cheaper. I also feel that most engine shops can build either just fine, but it is when you get into radical stuff like building strokers, bracing the bottom end, etc. that most engine builders know the nuances of a SBC better.

One thing that I can't stand lately is how Olds guys are so friggin sensitive about the olds/chevy thing. They way I look at it, if a GM car was built after 1977 when they started mixing and matching cars and engines among the divisions, who cares what engine it has? Look at todays GM's . . . they put foreign motors in some of their cars.

 

[G-Body_Vet]

Another plus for Olds is the plug location. Try changing SBC plugs with headers compared to an Olds with headers. If it weren't for SBC's, you'd never hear about burned plug wires!

 

[TeezySupreme]

As a olds guy ima have to say olds. But that's because you are almost forced to build an olds engine correctly. There is no $2500 crate motors in every magazine for olds. You need to make sure it is machine correctly understand the weaknesses of olds engine and address them right. End result you have a bad *ss tire smoking torque monster that works better than viagra. If you try to build an olds with of the shelf parts like a Chevy you won't be satisfied.

I, like this cause it's very true in my eyes.