CUTLASS The new guy

DROLDS84

Master Mechanic
Feb 15, 2015
464
788
93
Northern Indiana
Nice Cutlass...been an Olds guy my whole life so I would definitely drop in another Olds motor but any G body I was building would get a factory engine no matter what GM brand it was. You would save a lot of time and money going with a 350 it would be pretty straight forward. Thinking if you painted your front and rear bumpers to match the body it would look even better and more modern. Hard to beat the look of an Olds engine in a Cutlass. 20220924_155555.jpg 20221002_180606_(1).jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users

SS_Malibu

Royal Smart Person
Supporting Member
Sep 27, 2021
1,130
1,974
113
Mesa, AZ
Oldsmobile blocks have more torque then chevy engines due to their 110° V8 instead of the 90° in a Chevy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

abbey castro

Royal Smart Person
Oct 31, 2015
1,042
1,303
113
Harker Hts TX
Thanks for the advice! Have you done a LS swap? Can you tell me how hard it is?
I run a ZZ4 Crate Motor. Neighbor down the street just put in an LS2 in an 82 Olds Delta 88 2dr along with the complete wiring harness from the donor 2006 GTO. He is pretty good at doing car stuff but he's had nothing but problems trying to figure out all the electronics of the OEM harness even with a schematic. Seems that if all the sensors aren't connected so the ECM can read all the parameters it just doesn't run right. He's just bought an expensive aftermarket harness with all the modules to make it run right. He still has his original engine and at times just gets fed up and wants to throw in the towel!
 

rfpowerdude

G-Body Guru
Jul 15, 2013
656
1,057
93
Palm Bay, Fla
Are you in Florida? Your house looks like Florida construction style. Looking forward to seeing your progress!

1679492750328.png
 

Osmobile Calais

Not-quite-so-new-guy
Mar 19, 2023
26
8
3
Nice Cutlass...been an Olds guy my whole life so I would definitely drop in another Olds motor but any G body I was building would get a factory engine no matter what GM brand it was. You would save a lot of time and money going with a 350 it would be pretty straight forward. Thinking if you painted your front and rear bumpers to match the body it would look even better and more modern. Hard to beat the look of an Olds engine in a Cutlass. View attachment 218143 View attachment 218144
Are you in Florida? Your house looks like Florida construction style. Looking forward to seeing your progress!

View attachment 218172
Yes sir,I’m not to far from you I. The Orlando area! What’s you take LS or 350 ?
 

rfpowerdude

G-Body Guru
Jul 15, 2013
656
1,057
93
Palm Bay, Fla
Yes sir,I’m not to far from you I. The Orlando area! What’s you take LS or 350 ?
That's a tough one. I am old school (read: OLD, 58) and have Olds power in my two. However, the allure of some modern GM hardware is not lost on me. I have considered doing the LS thing in the 70 Cutlass S in my sig since it is not a 442 or specialty Olds.

It really is up to you and how hard (or easy) it might be whichever way you may go. Ignore any haters, it's your car. Hell, put a Coyote Ford crate setup in there and just piss everyone off. :LOL:
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Oct 14, 2008
8,806
7,746
113
Melville,Saskatchewan
The big thing to consider is lead time at your local machine shop for considering between the two. A 45 to 50 year old motor will need machine work. There are multiple modern pistons and rods available for the Olds 350. There is even a 4" Billet stroker crank with a cheaper forged version coming available. Uses LS rods and pistons as part of the kit, I believe. Edelbrock is coming out with a 68cc head this Summer. Roller lifters are stupid expensive with an Olds V8. I personally am not a fan of LS, terrible as stock in trucks for their ratings IMHO. Good luck.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

Osmobile Calais

Not-quite-so-new-guy
Mar 19, 2023
26
8
3
The big thing to consider is lead time at your local machine shop for considering between the two. A 45 to 50 year old motor will need machine work. There are multiple modern pistons and rods available for the Olds 350. There is even a 4" Billet stroker crank with a cheaper forged version coming available. Uses LS rods and pistons as part of the kit, I believe. Edelbrock is coming out with a 68cc head this Summer. Roller lifters are stupid expensive with an Olds V8. I personally am not a fan of LS, terrible as stock in trucks for their ratings IMHO. Good luck.
Thank you very much, I'm considering all my options also got to think about my budget !
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

abbey castro

Royal Smart Person
Oct 31, 2015
1,042
1,303
113
Harker Hts TX
Oh, Oh and now the rest of the story. You gotta work with what you have a bunch of $$$$$$ or just few $

Have you seen the price of parts at any store, web or brick and mortar!
Ask the price of a machine shop by the hour or job? It worse than seeing a Dentist.

IMHO: Clean up what you have (make it look pretty). do some basic internal cleaning to get the junk out and a tune up. Use it while saving pennies in a coffee can. Good Luck.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users

83hurst

Not-quite-so-new-guy
Jun 23, 2022
29
14
3
Thanks Olds Calais. I need to get new hoses made for the AC. I'm looking at getting new oem condenser, evaporator, with new hoses for the 5.3 compressor. I need to conform, but I will need to tap into a wire at the ecm to activate the fans. The ac controller needs to be cleaned and make sure its holding vacuum. Not is a rush, but in texas we need ac.
The swap was done by a friend of mine. We bought oem frame clamshell mounts but used some adjustable ebay engine mounts to bring the engine as forward as possible. I took us about a year off and on, he fabricated the trans support, and ecm and fan brackets. If you have specific questions, let me know, I will ask my buddy for details.
I will post interior pics in a bit.
Thanks for your interest

Javier
 

GBodyForum is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

Please support GBodyForum Sponsors

Classic Truck Consoles Dixie Restoration Depot UMI Performance

Contact [email protected] for info on becoming a sponsor