86' Cutlass Supreme

[Antonio11]

hi everyone, i posted my car on Cardomain.com and someone told me to post here as well. they said that the people here are more knowledgable about the things that i want to do to my car. so i am gonna get right down to it. i know very little about cars like just oil changes, brake changes, and a couple of other little things but i have an 86 cutlass that i want to take out the 307 and put in a 350. i'm in the process of looking for a 350 and i am very confused. someone told me there are different bolt patterns like there is a two bolt and a four bolt block and do i need a small block or big block(i don't know the difference).I am so confused someone please let me know exactly what 350 engine and also i heard that the year matters. Please someone help me i am starting from the ground up.

 

[gbodyfever]

welcome to the forum, but to answer your questions,
the difference between 2 bolt main a 4 bolt is, the 2 bolt main were used in cars and 4 bolts were in trucks, you want a 4 bolt main becuase it is much stronger, thats what i was told anyways.and sisne you want a 350 thats considered a small block chev (sbc) and bbc is big blocl chev, so try and find a 4 bolt main 350 chev, cheap for easy performance upgrades. hoep that helps you.

 

[gbodyfever]

oh and small block is like 267s, 305s, 350s, 307s, 400s (i think ) ect and big blocks are like 396s ,454s, 455s, ect

 

[gbodyfever]

in other words anything like 400cu and under are considered small block and anything over is considered big block, (i think) last post haha.

 

[455OLDSMAN]

The difference between a 2 bolt main and a 4 bolt main is the amount of bolts that hold the main caps to the block. Some argue the addition of the extra 2 bolts betters the main caps ability to hold the crank in. Others argue that the additional material removed from the cap for the 2 extra holes weakens the cap. Anyway if your gonna have a 300hp engine then it doesnt matter if you get a 2 or 4 bolt. That 2bolt-4bolt designation has nothing to do if it will fit in your car or not. Also you can find 4 bolts in cars as well. Generally low revving trucks received the 2 bolt but 2 and 4's can be found in alot of vehicles.

 

[Antonio11]

350 sbc 4 bolt main

ok thanks for that and now what about the rest of the stuff. like if i needfor example a water pump what do i say when i go to get one from say pepboys or something like that do i just say i need a water pump for a 350 sbc. or do i have to tell them a whole life story of my car

 

[455OLDSMAN]

Well first of all you have a 307. What transmission do you have? Does it have 3 gears or 4? If it is a 3 speed then you will have to replace your transmission as well since a chevy bellhousing wont bolt up to a Oldsmobile transmission.

 

[Antonio11]

transmission

yeah i don't know if it is 3 or 4 but i was gonna change out the transmission as well what transmission do you suggest?

 

[455OLDSMAN]

Lots of varied opinions but I would prefer to go with the 2004r overdrive transmission. Which if you have a 4 speed you probably have that in their already which will bolt up to a chevy. Or you can go with a th-350 which is a stout transmission and probably the most popular for drag racers. Im pretty sure theres a section on this forum that tells ya what all you will need for a SBO-SBC swap. Make sure you check that out.

 

[Antonio11]

thanks

thanks for all your help, the guys at cardomain post once and never get back on but here you guys are alot of help and thanks again. i am actually at work right now and have to go "work" but thanks on more time and maybe i'll see you on here tomorrow or maybe even later today.