1st engine rebuild questions

[J.Rod22]

Hey, I need the help and advice from anyone on here who has rebuilt their own engine before or who has built up their own project car. Time and time again I log in and look at everyone elses progress on their cars and i wish I could do the same but my lack of knowledge and experience is inhibiting me from doing anything to my car 🙁 . I especially want to get rid of my 307 engine and upgrade to a 350. So while searching the internet I found a dvd that shows you how to rebuild an engine step by step and decided that I want to get my hands dirty and learn how an engine works and rebuild my own engine. But the one thing that is holding me back right now is the engine choice, 350 olds or 350 chevy (The car is my daily driver so I just want it to have some power but Im not trying to race it or anything like that I just want a reliable daily driver with some power). I hear that 350 olds is a direct drop in but that its harder and more expensive to find parts, and I heard that a 350 chevy is easier and less expensive to find parts but that you have to modify a lot of things. So which route should I take? All I want to do is rebuilt an engine for the first time in the most smoothest and less complicated possible way. Advice and comments will be really appreciated. Thanks...

Sorry for the long post I just wanted to show you guys where I was coming from lol

 

[crucial118]

Well, you have the internet, us, and books. There is alot of experience and ingenuity on this site...just ask away. I'm in the process of installing a 91 Chevy tpi motor in my 86 Olds car and the guys on this site have helped me alot.

 

[MrHernandez]

I'd go with the chevy 350 just because of the availability and cheapness of parts, can find parts on craigslist all day long, not really too many mods you have to do to make it work, besides, the experience will be good for you.

 

[larryo454]

X2 on the chevy 350 thing king of hotrod engines is the sbc for availability and cheep parts.

 

[tc1959]

:? If you go with the chevy none of your brackets pulleys ac hoses radiator ect will fit, also you will need a chevy trans to fit behind it.
350 olds is a good 100,000 mile motor and will fit in the car with no major mods.You will spend more money trying to make a Chev fit than it will cost to rebuild a strong olds motor.
Just my opinion tho.....

 

[pontiacgp]

a dvd is good but there is nothing like a good shop manual that has pictures and diagrams along with the instructions

 

[RITTER]

The Olds 350 will be a direct swap and the transmission will also bolt right up to it. As far as any ungraded performance parts for an Olds 350, you are looking at a lot more money. Just new headers and an aftermarket aluminum intake would cost you about $800.
As far as swapping in the Chevy 350, you'll have to change the motor mounts on the frame (3 bolts each) and you will more than likely have to get a Chevy transmission. Also, when I did my swap, the power steering pump didn't fit flush on my Chevy (it was hitting on the vavle cover) so I had to one from a Monte Carlo. The great thing about a Chevy is that you could build an entire top end and easily make 300hp for less than a $1000.

So, just some food for thought 🙂

 

[crucial118]

My 200r4 transmission mated to my sbc 350. Had to change brackets, frame mounts, and extend wires and hoses, but so far not too bad. Would be done by now if not for the efi.

 

[J.Rod22]

Ok so if I decide to go looking for a chevy engine for my car was year engine should I be looking for? I want it to be carb. not fuel injection. And do I need to get the wiring harness too or can I use the 307 wiring harness?

 

[crucial118]

If goin carb you can use your power harness and ditch your emission harness and computer.