Engine swap. How would you do it?

[DRIVEN]

I was just surfing CL (instead of actually working on my car) and ran across a few engines that got me thinking. My car is a '79 Cutlass with the original 305. Nothing really wrong with it. It lets the car cruise around fine but certainly won't win any races. I just can't leave well enough alone.
So here's the hypothetical -- If this car was yours, and you had a stock (assume none need a rebuild) 400 sbc, 330 Olds and 403 olds sitting on the floor, plus $2000 to spend on upgrades, which would you choose and how would you build it? The rest of the combo is a 200-4R and 3.42 gears. Keeping in mind that this car is 99% cruiser, which choice would you make? How would you spend the $2000?

...and please, no other suggestion -- especially LSX.

 

[Kansas Bu Wagon]

330 would be cool. You don't hear much about them being swapped into g body's.

 

[565bbchevy]

For me the 400 SBC would be an obvious choice, since it is a direct swap you would be able to use all the accessories and brackets and engine mounts and if you have ac it bolts right on without having to source out anything.
And since it cost nothing to swap the engine over your entire budget could go for performance upgrades.
I would look for a decent set of iron heads maybe some used Darts or possibly go with some Vortecs that have a valve and spring package already.
I would upgrade the cam based on what heads you get but stay reasonable if you don't want to upgrade the converter and look for a Performer/ Performer RPM intake to match the heads.
You can get a factory remanufactured Holley carb on Ebay for up to a couple hundred off a new one.
Upgrade your HEI with a module and coil and get some headers and dual exhaust for it.
I think with some smart shopping you could get most of the parts within budget and have a pretty quick, good running engine that will pull that heavyweight around without any trouble.
Obviously depending on how many performance upgrades you do there will possibly be other systems that will have to be upgraded as well such as cooling and fuel etc.
I like the dare to be different approach but typically none of these can be done on a tight budget which makes the 400 SBC the best bang for your buck.
And of coarse the Olds purist can't really complain that you put in an SBC since it came from the factory that way.

 

[BPTTONE420012]

i'd go with the 400 and swap it out in the street... the neighbors love you when you swap engines in the road infront of your house... and as said, the 400 would be the easiest swap, re-usable parts, etc

 

[ssn696]

Definitely the 400, if you are setting your limit at 2 large. Chevy is the most common, with many pieces swapping from the 350/SBC. The 400 direct from GM can grenade above 4500 RPM. I would find a 2-bolt block, machine it to use splayed bolt mains, and go with a balanced rotating assembly. I did that and spun it to the 6000 RPM rev limited with no issues. 80,000 miles before I rebuilt it again. I used Mobil 1 after 5000 miles, plus the high nickel in 400s help with durability. Build a strong foundation you can add to later. With that in mind, you need to decide your future: any chance you'll ever go with a supercharger or nitrous? If not, aim for 9.5:1. That's a good balance between power and detonation. Suggest forged pistons for durability. That said, start with the stock 76 cc heads. You can upgrade heads later and raise compression, and mitigate some of the hot block issues of the siamesed 400 with aluminum heads. Don'f forget you need steam holes drilled in whatever heads you use. Install a high volume oil pump, and use a 2-piece timing cover so you can change the cam later without pulling the engine.

 

[Alerch]

330 or 403 all the way!

 

[DRIVEN]

I'm actually surprised to see so much support for the 400. I figured there'd be more "Olds needs an Olds".

 

[FE3X CLONE]

I get both the 330 and 403 and then use parts off the 330 to help modify the 403. 330 would have a forged crank that could be swapped into the 403. 😉 Heads would also have smaller chambers which would bump the compression ratio.

 

[jetsetw31]

I get both the 330 and 403 and then use parts off the 330 to help modify the 403. 330 would have a forged crank that could be swapped into the 403. 😉 Heads would also have smaller chambers which would bump the compression ratio.

X2, Yeah you would save some time with 400 being a straight swap, but the cool factor of having a Olds motor in a Olds (The way it should have been) is uplifting. A crank clean up, new bearings, a strong cam, and an upgraded valve train, will match a sbc 400 without having to get new heads. I'm partial to the Holley sbo street dom intake but the edelbrock sbo performer rpm will do a great job of balancing torque and hp for street duty. You'll have a relatively quiet monster for cruising. But you will be looking for new transmission and rear end if you hit it too many times.
T

 

[565bbchevy]

I was under the impression that we get to pick one engine and we are not tearing into the shortblock.