Why do so many frown upon swapping Chevy engines into Olds?

[V6UnderPressure]

I completely understand it. But even GM put Chevy engines in Regals and Cutlasses from the factory. I guess I'm hoping someone will just tell me its ok. I want to build a 350 rocket for my future Cutlass but a Chebby is just so much cheaper! I'd like to hear your opinions.

[Evan's 85]

mainly because it sets our cars away from every1 else's and is the correct brand for our car. Everyone and there brother has a Chevy Engine.

this is why many choose to run an olds engine.

but i understand that it's cheaper, but you asked for the reason and I told ya...lol


Its also cool to say you got an Olds under the hood when the dude you outrun asks what ya got

BUT TO EACH THEIR OWN, I'M NOT GONNA HOLD A GRUDGE, I'M JUST GLAD PPL ARE FIXING THESE CARS UP

[AlanB]

It's OK to put a Chevy engine in your Cutlass. There, I said it. It's OK to put any engine in your Cutlass. After all, it's your Cutlass. You may find the Olds swap to be much easier since all accessories bolt right up.

[redboy504]

My uncle has been trying to convince me since day 1 to put a chevy 350 in my Cutlass, for a million and one reasons. I just can't do it. I'de rather see it sit there and not run forever than put a chevy engine in it. I could have a chevy engine in my car by this weekend and be finally driving it for the first time. But it's not gonna happen. It just wouldn't feel right to me. I understand a chevy engine would be cheaper and easier to find parts for, but I'm willing to deal with that. I'm not telling you what to do but I just can't do it. I see Cutli(Cutlasses) and Regals all over with Chevy 350's in them. They're ok too. But I wanna be able to say I have a 455 Rocket in my car. Even people who have no idea what that means will be like WOW. I'm just giving you my point of view. I'm sure your car will be cool either way. Do what makes you happy! Cuz that's what really matters. That's why we buy 30 year old cars and work on them all the time. Put big rims on them or put small rims on them, or whatever we like. Cuz it makes us happy. So go and make yourself happy. I'm trying to trademark the (Cutli) thing. LOL.

[CHRIS.O]

Brand loyalty and uniqueness. Yes Chevrolet's are in everything thing. There are a couple reasons for that, hp/dollar ratio and availability. I have had 3 g body cutlasses. All had Oldsmobile engines, 260, 350, and a 455. They all came that way. In my area people act like an Oldsmobile engine is rare. If those cars didn't have an engine I would of put a Chevy in it and not looked back or cared what anybody said. I am not gonna pay 500 for a 350 olds core and rebuild it for another 2500 and still be in the 325-350hp range. I would rather buy a chevy core for 100 bucks and spend 2500 and be over 400hp with a completely fresh motor, aftermarket heads and all. I think people worry about the heritage of these cars and their disappearance. They believe you suck the soul right out of it when you remove an olds and add a chevy. I say it's my car, tuff titty.

[Intragration]

Some people are idealists, they value something not because it's cheaper, or easier to find, or makes more sense to the masses, they do it because it's personally important to them, REGARDLESS of any complications. Other people don't really even think about the concept of matching an engine and car, it's not something they value. They may not feel the same brand loyalty or need for consistency as the idealists, or they want the absolute best bang for the buck, or they feel comfortable with their chosen motor, and it doesn't matter what specific platform it goes into.

You can do whatever you like of course, it's your car. If you feel you want to hear someone tell you it's ok to put a Chevy engine in your Cutlass, it's pretty safe to say that you're not an idealist in this way. And so if you decide to do this, you may save some money, and you may make things simpler on yourself (or more difficult) depending on the issue. Just remember, a guy who doesn't care about mixing brands -- just doesn't care about mixing brands. And a guy who does care -- he feels that way for a reason.

[Justink]

My cutlass came with a 305 so really I see no issues swapping in a chevy as the Canadian cars came factory with a sbc.

[67rstbkt]

I completely understand it. But even GM put Chevy engines in Regals and Cutlasses from the factory. I guess I'm hoping someone will just tell me its ok. I want to build a 350 rocket for my future Cutlass but a Chebby is just so much cheaper! I'd like to hear your opinions.

I think this goes back to a previous era of car. It used to be that Olds, Chevy's, Pontiac's. and Buick all had their own line of engines. At some point (late 70's I think), the GM "corporate" engine philosophy came about. GM was actually sued for putting a "different" brand engine in their cars, even though it was all GM.

My personal opinion is that if you own the car, put in whatever you like. Chevy engines are typically cheaper to build, not necessarily because they're any better, but because they are so available and so many people use them. Still, I think it's pretty cool if you can put a brand matching motor in your car. I never used to think that way, but when I got my Firebird I got to thinking how many I see with Chevy small blocks, big blocks, and LS motors, but not that many with the original poncho. It cost me a bunch more, but I guess I like to be a little different.

[V6UnderPressure]

This is all good feedback, but I am definitely on the fence. Thing is, I'd like to supercharge it. Ideally, I'd like an olds 350. problem is, I don't see any superchargers for em. So this is kinda making me lean on the chevy side. Hey its all GM anyways. Could be worse, it's not like its a Ford block!

[CHRIS.O]

If you really dig an olds then put one in. Just be prepared for more money spent, more hassle finding certain parts, and having no more "value" than a chevy. Except you can say it's olds powered. Thats really all you need to look at. Do you wanna be able to say it is olds powered? Is that more important than availability, flooded market of used damn near free go fast parts, and "value?" If it is then rock on with the Olds. I totally understand wanting to have an Olds in an Olds. Damnit just come to the dark side already and pull the trigger on a Chevy

[84cutspreme]

I was just gonna say up where I am...there's Chevy, Ford, Mopar or Tuner =(. I agree with the whole idea of it being all GM anyway. That being said I have always wanted and loved both the olds 455 and the chevy 454 and LS engines as they progressed. I have had 3 cutlasses.
1st was rust-bucket maroon 85 with 231 Buick junk and 200c junk 3spd, I was still in high school and on a serious budget. I ended up falling into an 84 Regal with Olds 307 and a junk 200c that was hit in the rear and totaled. So there was my 1st motor swap and it was great. Sold that one and made some cash.
Next I got a gray 86 cutlass with 307 and unfortunately another 200c junk and bench seats...was in better condition than previous rust-bucket, this is still my daily driver now. She is bruised and battered from NY roads and weather.
When I got my 3rd cutlass (the one in my signature) it was an 84 beige cutlass with Buick 231 and 200c junk again, but this one had everything else I wanted. Dark briar brown interior, bucket seats, floor shift, rallye gauges, rallye rims and it was real clean with the exception of the d/s door rot. I went the Chevy route with this one b/c in my opinion the sheer fact that they are a more popular motor there is the direct correlation that parts will be cheaper, parts will be easier to obtain, more diversity of parts(brands, designs, materials), and finally more research & development to design better quality and performing parts. So now my 3rd cutlass is powered by a Chevy 355 and a 700r-4. I felt with 350 & 455 Olds engines like I was limited to such few choices for parts. For example I could really only find 3 different intake manifolds and they were all about $200 more each than Chevy. So another factor became where as much as everyone might have a Chevy...it seemed all the Olds must look almost the same.

That being said the 4th cutlass that my dad owns is a gold 87 cutlass with an Olds 455 and 200-4r, and it's freakin badass lol. The only thing that scares me into maybe going 454 or LS with my next build is watching him get aggravated trying to find parts that he needs, and parts that he likes(he gets jealous that nobody makes shit for dressing up a 455, like sheer amount of valve covers, intakes and pulley systems they make for other brands like Chevy and Ford. I do have hope seeing builds like FE3X's and I thing someone on here was also building a badass looking and performing Poncho 455 I think.

Sorry for the rant. It's Okay to put a Chevy in your Olds. I love the car either way and get compliments all the time. I love doing all the work myself. To me the biggest thing about any build is the quality of the work and that is up to you and not the brand title.

[burgundy83]

I don't see anything wrong with it, I'm even considering it. THing is, everybody swaps SBCs into everything. Restoring a 40s roadster? Put a 350 in it. Restoring a truck? Put a 350 in it. Nothing's wrong with it, it's probably the smart way to go, because the more popular something is, the more parts there are, more variety, and everything will be cheaper. I'm just one of those guys who wants to be different, so I'd vote for an Olds or Buick. That's just me though, price and difficulty doesn't matter if you have a passion.

[V6UnderPressure]

I honestly don't think it's an issue. But if I did put a Chevy motor in the car, it would NOT have the valve covers, air cleaner, etc. that has Chevrolet written all over it. Hell, I am contemplating putting in a Caddillac 4.1 V6 in my GN. As long as GM parts stay with GM cars, and Ford stays with Ford, I don't think it would bother me. However, I'd like to keep the original way the car was built in tact. For example, I would NEVER put a V8 in a Grand National. It's got the power 6 all over it. It originally was a V6. So I would have no issue installing a different V6 so long as its GM. On the 442 side, I would make sure that it has a 4 barrell, 4 speed and dual exhaust as it was meant to be. Everything else can be left to the imagination. Call me anal, but that's my opinion on how things should be done.

[Phoenyx]

I think since (at least up here) a lot of the non Chevy gbodys came with 305s anyway it's not a big deal. I would go with what looks more original and would be easier to swap. When going from a V6 to V8, go with what you can afford.

I would rather drive a Cutlass with a cheap built SBC than look at it in my driveway/garage waiting until I can afford a built Olds engine.

[bill]

mainly because it sets our cars away from every1 else's and is the correct brand for our car. Everyone and there brother has a Chevy Engine.

this is why many choose to run an olds engine.

but i understand that it's cheaper, but you asked for the reason and I told ya...lol


Its also cool to say you got an Olds under the hood when the dude you outrun asks what ya got

BUT TO EACH THEIR OWN, I'M NOT GONNA HOLD A GRUDGE, I'M JUST GLAD PPL ARE FIXING THESE CARS UP

exactly.....
True..GM put chebbys in oldsmobiles, and buicks in oldsmobiles...but GM wasnt concerned about brand loyalty and most customers back then didnt care about what engine was in what car. I think the fact that Olds is out of business, as is Pontiac, makes keeping an Olds/Pontiac even more important and if its got a real Olds/Pontiac powerplant in it...it only adds to the originality of it...JMO