350/th350 going into 82 Cutlass supreme w/ 260

[Blake442]

Trouble shooting ended up being my biggest hurdle.
Figuring out what to do with the dist. turned out to be quite time consuming.
Back when I did this I had the limited help of the old Gbody.org forum to guide me along... I haven't been to that site in years... I wonder if it's still going...

 

[dan2286]

Im sorry to have to continue this thread hi-jack, but I just wanted to mention some things. In a perfect situation, going from Olds to Chevy can be very easy, but not always.

How many people buy engines that are complete?? Most engines that I see for sale are just long blocks with no accessories and no starter. You would have to get those items.

What if you are trying to use a stock exhaust system? They are different between Olds and Chevy powered G bodies.

If you are keeping the A/C you would need to buy different lines and lengthen the wires to reach the other side of the engine.

If you are keeping the car computer controlled, you would need a different PCM. You would probably also have to move/lengthen wires to a different location. Also, you most likely would need to buy the different sensors.

What if your engine did not come with a trans or you dont have one laying around? You might not be able to use the trans that came in the car because it might not be a universal bolt pattern.

I am probably missing some stuff, but I think I got my point across. Of course all of this stuff wont apply to everyone, but in most peoples case the swap does not just take moving some wires and the battery and buying new mounts.

Yes you have a valid point but if one is planning on retaining the computer, a/c, and such then they wouldn't be planning on "building " a engine for there car. They would be rebuilding the stock engine or replacing with a stock engine. Can't use the stock computer with a built 350 olds motor either it is not calibradied for it. And such people probably wouldn't be using the a/c either. And the ascessories will probably be replaced with any new engine you put in. Because if the engine is wore out most likley the ascessories are to. And the remainder pulleys and such are cheap enough that it isn't cost prohibitive. Also if you building a perfomance engine for the car you are not going to use the factory exhaust. What I am saying is for someone who is building a performance motor not a completely stock rebuild. If I was just planning a stock engine build I would keep the stock engine. I don't want to step on anyones toes but it is a very easy process. Just to make myself clear if you are planning on a non computer controlled engine, having a trans built to handle the new power output, not using the a/c and using a true dual exhaust then this engine change is very east to do. And you basically just need to change the motor mounts, move the battery, and adjust the wiring to work. Which the mounts being probably wore out to would need to be changed.

You dont even know what he is trying to do with the car. It is not going to be the same in everyones case. You are assuming way to much to be able to tell him what he needs to do to get the swap done.

 

[gs dewd]

Im sorry to have to continue this thread hi-jack, but I just wanted to mention some things. In a perfect situation, going from Olds to Chevy can be very easy, but not always.

How many people buy engines that are complete?? Most engines that I see for sale are just long blocks with no accessories and no starter. You would have to get those items.

What if you are trying to use a stock exhaust system? They are different between Olds and Chevy powered G bodies.

If you are keeping the A/C you would need to buy different lines and lengthen the wires to reach the other side of the engine.

If you are keeping the car computer controlled, you would need a different PCM. You would probably also have to move/lengthen wires to a different location. Also, you most likely would need to buy the different sensors.

What if your engine did not come with a trans or you dont have one laying around? You might not be able to use the trans that came in the car because it might not be a universal bolt pattern.

I am probably missing some stuff, but I think I got my point across. Of course all of this stuff wont apply to everyone, but in most peoples case the swap does not just take moving some wires and the battery and buying new mounts.

Yes you have a valid point but if one is planning on retaining the computer, a/c, and such then they wouldn't be planning on "building " a engine for there car. They would be rebuilding the stock engine or replacing with a stock engine. Can't use the stock computer with a built 350 olds motor either it is not calibradied for it. And such people probably wouldn't be using the a/c either. And the ascessories will probably be replaced with any new engine you put in. Because if the engine is wore out most likley the ascessories are to. And the remainder pulleys and such are cheap enough that it isn't cost prohibitive. Also if you building a perfomance engine for the car you are not going to use the factory exhaust. What I am saying is for someone who is building a performance motor not a completely stock rebuild. If I was just planning a stock engine build I would keep the stock engine. I don't want to step on anyones toes but it is a very easy process. Just to make myself clear if you are planning on a non computer controlled engine, having a trans built to handle the new power output, not using the a/c and using a true dual exhaust then this engine change is very east to do. And you basically just need to change the motor mounts, move the battery, and adjust the wiring to work. Which the mounts being probably wore out to would need to be changed.

You dont even know what he is trying to do with the car. It is not going to be the same in everyones case. You are assuming way to much to be able to tell him what he needs to do to get the swap done.

I'm not assuming anything he said he has a chev motor and trans so I figured he wants to put it in the car. His concerns where he wanted to know if the driveshaft, motor mounts, and accesories would work. Exhaust he must not care about as he is planning on running headers. I think I have did a pretty good job at answering his questions without discourging him. So why we beating a dead horse here? If you would have read my post that you qouted then you would have seen where I wasn't directing that to just him. It was a generalization. I was speaking about people that build "performance motors" for there car and stating that there our other options if your on a budget like most of us are. There are alot of people that make the swap sound like it is very cost prohibitive when it's not. That the point I was trying to get across.

 

[DrRansom442]

Yes you have a valid point but if one is planning on retaining the computer, a/c, and such then they wouldn't be planning on "building " a engine for there car. They would be rebuilding the stock engine or replacing with a stock engine. Can't use the stock computer with a built 350 olds motor either it is not calibradied for it.

says who? CCC only controls the primaries and the dist advance. There are guys running 403s on a stock 307 ECM. Rejetting and some tweaks to allow the secondaries to open fully are recomended but not required. I had given some thought to retaining ECM function without the emissions crap, but figured it would be a nightmare and there is NOTHING stock about the Olds 350 replacing the 81s 260. I am sure for the extra grand you quoted I could find a used set of aluminum Olds heads but why? My second hand heavily ported 330 heads put them to shame - they were $250. You still haven't proved an Olds can not be done on a budget ... my gut-wrenching, over-spending is still well under your extreme budget. As for my comment about the Monte ... lets see putting a Chevy into a Chevy is as easy as putting an Olds into an Olds .... and you hack off less fans. Oldsmobiles had a reputation for performance ... W-30s often wasting LS6 Cheveles on the quarter. The 70s and 80s killed that image with such gems as our stock 260s. It is your car ... do as you will to it, but putting a Chevy in there kind of makes it no longer an Olds ... can you atleast put a Chevy bowtie on the header? Those of us that are proud to have an Oldsmobile would appreciate it. Mind you I am no expert ... I won't claim to be ... Sure I could drop a Chevy in my car but why not just buy a Monte Carlo instead - it should would save some work? My swap is probably actually harder as my car was never designed for the 200-4r and required welding to the frame. But for being the seasonned expert ... you seem to know little about Oldsmobiles.

 

[DrRansom442]

No one ever said a Chevy was expensive ... but neither is an Oldsmobile. I still stand by the cost and aggrevation of switching is absorbed in the extra parts costs. Now which say "Cutlass" more? IMHO, the cheapest SBC swap remains - sell the non SBC car and buy one with a SBC

 

[jrm81bu]

My penis is bigger...no mine is... well mines wider...blah, blah, blah. What is with the GM on GM hate?

 

[dan2286]

My penis is bigger...no mine is... well mines wider...blah, blah, blah. What is with the GM on GM hate?

Everyone automatically assumes that Chevy engines are the best. Maybe if more people started started using BOP engines instead of scrapping them, the aftermarket companies would start making more parts for these engines at a cheaper price. It might be all GM, but they are all great engines that people dont even think twice about getting rid of them to put a Chevy engine in.

 

[gs dewd]

Yes you have a valid point but if one is planning on retaining the computer, a/c, and such then they wouldn't be planning on "building " a engine for there car. They would be rebuilding the stock engine or replacing with a stock engine. Can't use the stock computer with a built 350 olds motor either it is not calibradied for it.

says who? CCC only controls the primaries and the dist advance. There are guys running 403s on a stock 307 ECM. Rejetting and some tweaks to allow the secondaries to open fully are recomended but not required. I had given some thought to retaining ECM function without the emissions crap, but figured it would be a nightmare and there is NOTHING stock about the Olds 350 replacing the 81s 260. I am sure for the extra grand you quoted I could find a used set of aluminum Olds heads but why? My second hand heavily ported 330 heads put them to shame - they were $250. You still haven't proved an Olds can not be done on a budget ... my gut-wrenching, over-spending is still well under your extreme budget. As for my comment about the Monte ... lets see putting a Chevy into a Chevy is as easy as putting an Olds into an Olds .... and you hack off less fans. Oldsmobiles had a reputation for performance ... W-30s often wasting LS6 Cheveles on the quarter. The 70s and 80s killed that image with such gems as our stock 260s. It is your car ... do as you will to it, but putting a Chevy in there kind of makes it no longer an Olds ... can you atleast put a Chevy bowtie on the header? Those of us that are proud to have an Oldsmobile would appreciate it. Mind you I am no expert ... I won't claim to be ... Sure I could drop a Chevy in my car but why not just buy a Monte Carlo instead - it should would save some work? My swap is probably actually harder as my car was never designed for the 200-4r and required welding to the frame. But for being the seasonned expert ... you seem to know little about Oldsmobiles.

I was talking about fuel injection as you should have gotten from my explination of fuel trims and the computer not being calibrated for it. You can not use a computer calibrated for a 307 on a 350 as it would run lean. Sorry I didn't explain myself fully. The computer would need to be reprogramed for the bigger displacment and larger injectors. I never said replacing a 260 with a olds 350 would be a "stock" replacment. Replacing it with another 260 would be. Hey maybe you can build an olds motor for cheap. And maybe you can find the parts used in your area. Not everyone is in your situation. I wouldn't even no where to begin to even find a good 350 olds to build in my area. I did look and was going to go that route but it would have cost well over my budget to build one. Where as 350 chev motors are just about everywhere. And very cheap. Like I said I found mine for 200 and it is complete with all accesories even a a/c compressor which I don't need. The cheapest olds motor I found was $750 and it was 150 miles away. The junk yards around here don't carry older cars they have crushed them all. I don't want to augure about this anymore. I really don't care what people run under there hood it makes no difference to me. I was just responding to what the orig poster asked. He wanted to know about putting a chev motor in his car.

 

[Blake442]

I got my '69 Olds 455 high nickel block, crank, rods, balancer, flexplate, P/S pump with brackets, pulleys, and 'C' heads for $200.
sh*t, the heads alone are worth that.

It was an abandoned project at the machine shop where my buddy that built my motor worked.

Just gotta shop around... Every once in a while, something good will fall in your lap.

 

[gs dewd]

My penis is bigger...no mine is... well mines wider...blah, blah, blah. What is with the GM on GM hate?

Everyone automatically assumes that Chevy engines are the best. Maybe if more people started started using BOP engines instead of scrapping them, the aftermarket companies would start making more parts for these engines at a cheaper price. It might be all GM, but they are all great engines that people dont even think twice about getting rid of them to put a Chevy engine in.

I agree with you the aftermarket should step up. I do not assume the the chev engine is better it is just cheaper for me to build. I am on a strict budget for my car. I am the only one that works in my house and we have 3 kids, A 4yr old and 2 newborn twins so money is tight. I have to do what I can with what I have. I did look for a olds motor to put in my car but the cheapest I found was $750 for a 350 that wasn't running and it was 150 miles away. THere isn't much in my area to find for older parts. THe 350 chev motor I got for $200 with all accessories running. Now I am not saying everyone will find one for that price. Hell I bought my car for $125. Which is one of those once in a lifetime deals. I have put over 3k miles on the car since I purchased it so it runs great and there was very minimal rust in it which I have already repaired. I don't mean to step on toes. Hey I am all for the olds in an olds but it just isn't pratical for me. It doesn't matter to me what someone else is running under there hood. I am not going to look down on someone for what there running unless they take a ultra rare or a perfect car and cut it up. Thats what bothers me. I would not put a chev motor in a like a 442. But in the very common cookie cutter cutlass I say no harm no foul.