I'm new to this type of stuff, so bear with me. The Cutlass I found has a 4.3 V8. Not exactly something to brag about or anything. I would just like to know what transmission would be bolted on to it? Would it be the 200r4? I don't think it's the turbo 350. I'm planning on finding a 350 at some point to drop in there, but I'd like to save the transmission if it is worth it.
4.3 V8 Question
- Thread starter Beholder88
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Probably a th200c trans if original with the 260. What year of car? The one in your sig should have a 307 factory. A 2004r will have metric and a dual sump pan, the 350 and 200 pan is more square.
That's just it, I'm not even sure what year it is for sure. I know it has the 4.3, from all of the emissions stickers still left intact under the hood. As far as any of the stickers in the door panel, they are all scraped up and the writing is all worn off. I have the VIN, if that might help.
Beholder88 said:
The 260 V8 did not exist in 1987, so either you have the year wrong or the radiator panel with the stickers has been changed. If it's even an Olds motor, there is a casting number on the small shelf above the water pump, next to the oil fill tube. Post that number here (you may need to scrape off the crud to read it) and we can tell you what the block is.
Well, the 8th digit of the VIN is an "F", but like you said, it may not be the original engine anyway.
According to the VIN, your car is an 81. Seems to have 86 grilles on it. Judging by the 2bbl, I'd say it's the orig 260. Nobody replaced the 260 with a 260!
Sweet, thant changes things a little bit. My plan is to get it up on stands, or blocks where it sits and dig up some numbers off the drivetrain. I've been trying to get a hold of the original owner, with no luck. I'd like to get the title, although in PA, once something sits on someones property for a year or more, it automatically becomes property of the owner of the property it's sitting on. Make sense? I would rather not have to get a salvage title, or an r-title, and have to build the thing perfectly in order to register it again.
Chances are it is a 260 V8 with a TH200 transmission. It could have a TH350 transmission, as many 200 transmissions were replaced with 350 transmissions because the 200 went out early. Check the pan, the look similar, but the 350 pan is bigger. The swap between the two transmissions is direct, no change of crossmember or driveshaft. I will be doing this swap in the next week or so. Swapping the 260/TH200 for an Olds 350/TH350.
Brick442 said:
'81 and '86 had the same grilles.
I had a 260/2bbl in my '79 Cutlass. No power house by any means, but it ran smooth as silk and got 18 mpg. I even drove it from here to Colorado and back!
I had a 260 2bbl Olds V8 in my 76 Omega. It was a great little engine! I got 20 mpg+ with a TH350 in that Nova X-clone car.
If you are just planning on driving it around, keep the engine. With a 2004R overdrive upgrade you will be in the 20's for miles per gallon and you can still put headers and duals on it for effect!
If you're going to hot rod the car, then at least it is a great place to put your new 350 olds or 455 olds. Just re-use your motor mount brackets and all your front accessories and its an easy swap!
Good luck!!
If you are just planning on driving it around, keep the engine. With a 2004R overdrive upgrade you will be in the 20's for miles per gallon and you can still put headers and duals on it for effect!
If you're going to hot rod the car, then at least it is a great place to put your new 350 olds or 455 olds. Just re-use your motor mount brackets and all your front accessories and its an easy swap!
Good luck!!
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