80 Cutlass motor swap help!!

[olds307 and 403]

The 69 Buick California 350 was a good running car. A friend bought on new back then. Sure don’t know how available the Buick 350 is now since its been around 45 years since they quit producing them. A Buick 400 or 455 MIGHT be easier to find.

1980 was the last year, so 40 years old at the newest.

 

[Red78Calais4speed]

The standard gear for a 1980 Supreme with the Buick 231 V6 was 2.41. 3.08s were the only optional gears but you had to take the HD cooling option (V08).

 

[Dicemoney]

I'm not sure what gear ratio it is now.
I found a guy that has a olds 455 with 3 speed for a grand. Idk if that's a good deal or not?
I'm not a car guy I'm a motorcycle mechanic and know little of car motor installs and such.
I think it would be a better idea to just swap a v8 that way I have all around better hp and acceleration. What are your guys thoughts?

 

[Doug Chahoy]

If it’s a stock engine you would be ok with your stock rear ( slicks and burnouts excluded ) for a while. You could then do mods/improvements as want,time,and money allow. If its a GOOD motor and trans, I’d go for it.

 

[Dicemoney]

It's got 56k on it he says. He pulled it to do a ls swap.

 

[pontiac guy]

My motto is "There is no replacement for displacement". A 455 with a 3 spd is thirsty though. I think I would negotiate for the motor only and put an OD trans in the car. Assuming you want to feed that much Oldsmobile greatness.

 

[Dicemoney]

Ya I want a cruiser more then a racer. But I want some snort for play every now and then. So can I easily drop this motor in with my stock transmission?

 

[Max Headroom]

Some things to consider.

• Is this your daily driver?
• Can you wrench and do you have tools?
• Are you willing to spend several weeks or months (depending on money) to make this happen?
• Doing anything to the car means spending real money on it.
• If you are not willing to spend enough to achieve the outcome you desire, then don't spend anything. It will be wasted and could be better spent on something else.
• If you do decide to spend money take the amount you think you will spend and add about 30% to that.
• If you do decide to continue, I recommend going with either a gen II or newer small block chevy 350 or a vortec 350 engine.
  • They are still plentiful
  • They make excellent power per dollar spent (rebuild kits are stupid cheap)
  • They can later be turned into strokers (383) by changing just a few parts.
  • They usually go into BOP G-bodies with relatively few issues
  • They make decent to excellent torque, eliminating the need for new rear end gears (at least initially)
  • They easily accept 4 speed automatic transmissions
  • They are by far, the cheapest to buy parts for
  • An adapter plate to go between the engine and your BOP trans can be had new for about $50

The rest of the comments make good suggestions but you are not going to be happy spending money on anything that gives you less results than a bigger engine (Of what ever kind).

 

[Dicemoney]

Those are good points. To be honest I think a 350 would be a better solution cause I really ain't looking for crazy outcome I just want a upgrade for a cruiser. I have plenty of other vehicals it's not my daily driver. I just dont know what all I'm getting into with motor swaps. Not having done one before on a car. A motorcycle is way easier.

 

[pontiac guy]

If you want a nice DD/cruiser I wouldn't do the 455. I would put a gear in it first. Before you do anything else. Gear. 3.23 minimum. Honestly a 3.42 is only a few hundred RPM more at high way speeds so as a cruiser you may want to go there. You will be amazed how different it feels down low but unchanged on the highway. I just finished a 3.23 with an Auburn in my car and now I'm learning how to drive it again. I keep turning the tires over when I start off cuz I was used to the 2.14. it's safe to say I love it. Bone stock 301 and I drive it, a lot