Engine swap questions
- Thread starter THEW
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You most likely have a TH200 3 speed transmission. That is the mother of all crap automatic transmissions if any performance is desired.
It will be B-O-P bolt pattern, meaning all Buick, Olds, and Pontiac produced V8's (and Cadillac up to a point) will bolt up. Unfortunately, the transmission will probably not last behind a heavy right foot...
A quick fix will be to swap in a TH350 with the proper tailshaft (I believe it's 9 inch) length. That fixes the transmission. If you swap to an overdrive 2004R you will need an aftermarket crossmember or you'll have to weld on new brackets for when you slide the crossmember back. 1981 and newer G cars already have both positions but 78-80 only have the ones you have.
As far as engines go, you want to go V8 you have to work for it unless you use a Buick 350. If you use a 1968-80 Buick 350 and bolt on your V6 motor mounts to your 350 block, it will drop right in with no mods. You most likely will want to use your V6 front accessory brackets and pulleys to make everything easy with the power steering and A/C. The only difference is that you will need longer belts.
If you want to use any olds V8 (307 or anything else) then you need a set of 307 lower frame brackets for the motor mounts to bolt to your frame. They will bolt right up if they came from another G-body.
If you want Pontiac then you need the upper motor mount shells from a 301/265 V8 G-body and you can put any Pontiac engine from 1969 or newer in. You will use store bought motor mounts for lowers like chevy.
I have seen Cadillac V8's in these cars but I don't know what mounts they used. I heard a rumor that they used 77-87 B-body lowers and uppers but I can't confirm that.
Good luck (and if you need a good Buick 350 I have one!!)
It will be B-O-P bolt pattern, meaning all Buick, Olds, and Pontiac produced V8's (and Cadillac up to a point) will bolt up. Unfortunately, the transmission will probably not last behind a heavy right foot...
A quick fix will be to swap in a TH350 with the proper tailshaft (I believe it's 9 inch) length. That fixes the transmission. If you swap to an overdrive 2004R you will need an aftermarket crossmember or you'll have to weld on new brackets for when you slide the crossmember back. 1981 and newer G cars already have both positions but 78-80 only have the ones you have.
As far as engines go, you want to go V8 you have to work for it unless you use a Buick 350. If you use a 1968-80 Buick 350 and bolt on your V6 motor mounts to your 350 block, it will drop right in with no mods. You most likely will want to use your V6 front accessory brackets and pulleys to make everything easy with the power steering and A/C. The only difference is that you will need longer belts.
If you want to use any olds V8 (307 or anything else) then you need a set of 307 lower frame brackets for the motor mounts to bolt to your frame. They will bolt right up if they came from another G-body.
If you want Pontiac then you need the upper motor mount shells from a 301/265 V8 G-body and you can put any Pontiac engine from 1969 or newer in. You will use store bought motor mounts for lowers like chevy.
I have seen Cadillac V8's in these cars but I don't know what mounts they used. I heard a rumor that they used 77-87 B-body lowers and uppers but I can't confirm that.
Good luck (and if you need a good Buick 350 I have one!!)
there are 3 sticky's on this subject in the Engines/Swaps forum:
http://gbodyforum.com/viewforum.php?f=13
The one I have wrote has some photos and is more of a step by step guide, but is not complete. Others are more of what is needed. That will be a good start.
http://gbodyforum.com/viewforum.php?f=13
The one I have wrote has some photos and is more of a step by step guide, but is not complete. Others are more of what is needed. That will be a good start.
The 307 will be the same swap as as any other small block chevy. I have recently taken interest in a local 307 from a 68' truck and I am trying to get ahold of it.
here's a site I found on doing a 231V6 to Olds V8 swap
http://www.robertpowersmotorsports.com/G-bodyV6-V8.html
http://www.robertpowersmotorsports.com/G-bodyV6-V8.html
RITTER said:
Don't confuse the Chevy 307 built in the late 1960s and early 1970s with the 307 Olds motor built in 1981-1990. They are completely different motors with different motor mounts, castings, internal dimensions, and bellhousing bolt patterns.
The Buick 350 would be the most bolt in swap, but it would be hard to get it smogged if you live in an area that has strict smog checks. The 350 Chevy is the best from a cheap power standpoint, and has the best oiling system of all the small block choices. Both the Buick and the Cadillac have the crappy aluminum timing case with built in oil pump body that tends to wear quickly and loose oil pressure. I am unsure about Oldsmobile and Pontiac engines as I have no experience with them. I wrote one of the stickies for the 3.8 to SBC swap. If you want to know a pretty much complete parts list for a fully functional factory type swap, take a look at it. The biggest drawback to the Chevy is the amount of parts you will need to change. It is easily done if you understand the way cars go together, but you are well advised to get a complete parts car to pull all of the brackets, lines, etc. necessary to do it.
joe_padavano said:
Well he didn't mention which one he was talking about, I just assumed he was talking about a Chevy since the Olds 307 aren't really a hot item.
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