first powertrain swap - checklist

[DrRansom442]

I am planning my first engine and transmission swap and want to make sure I have no surprises:
car 81 Olds Calais with a spent original 260 and a th350 (not original)
donor transmission 200-4r and driveshaft out of 86 Salon
donor engine '74 Olds 350 long block plus Edelbrock Performer intake (cam unknown but assumed not stock - I will try and get details from seller).

My plans are to use the brackets from the 260 for the alternator and power steering pump. Since the water pump is less than one year old ... I will swap that over too. No A/C. No emmissions components will be reused (car is emission exempt due to age). I had to rig up a 307 Q-jet on my car due to not finding a rebuildable dualjet, but I need to replace the carb and throttle cable anyways (like I said it was rigged up). I am not sure if I want to retain the computer functions for carb/dist or replace them with non-CCC parts. My main reason for considerring using the ECM is lockup for the 200-4r ... otherwise I need some sort of aftermarket lockup right? I will be installing some shorty headers and having a real Y-pip fabb'd (deleting the catalytic converter)
List of parts I forsee needing thus far

new motor mounts (worn)
new transmission mount (worn)
new U-joints
new transmission lines (unavoidably kinked removing radiator)
new oil pan and valve cover gaskets (may was well while it's out)
new timing chain and cover seal (may was well while it's out)
oil and fuel filters
new hoses
fluids

any other suggestions? or things I overlooked?
I am getting the engine this weekend and probably the following weekend plan to get this done (crossing fingers)

 

[v8power]

i would clean and paint the engine bay while everything is out, it will make everything look allot nicer. just my 0.02cents.

 

[DrRansom442]

i would clean and paint the engine bay while everything is out, it will make everything look allot nicer. just my 0.02cents.

time and weather permitting - that was the plan. Guy's shop is large and heating it costs some big change. So the less days I spend the better (infact if I can do it in 1 day - would be nice). At the bare minimum I'm breaking out the power washer. Right now though the temp is a balmy 1 degree (not exactly ideal painting weather)

 

[TBRtat2]

You should at least paint any bare metal that will be blocked by the engine and trans. IE the top side of the crossmember, the underside of the trans tunnel, etc.

It will be blocked by the engine, so who cares if its perfect.
And you can always put the engine while the paints setting up, just becareful.

Also, you could just use a primer, it will be "tack free" in a mater of minutes, and will better then nothing.

 

[v8power]

you will regret rushing, always happens

 

[jrm81bu]

I think your gonna need a new crossmember too.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Well, I would ditch the computer and run an external lockup, but that's just me. The biggest problem you will have is that you need a TH 200 4R specific trans crossmember to make it work, and then you will need to weld on a new mounting location on the frame. GM did not make dual pattern G body frames until 1984 or 85. As for the rest of it, a Quadrajet with no computer is hard to beat on a daily driver type car, so use one of those. The Dualjet is worthy of tuning with a sledgehammer-so no one can ever think of using it again. It is basically a Quadrajet with the secondaries removed. You will also need a non-computer HEI if you plan to eliminate the computer system. The C4 system used in 1980-81 or 82 is horrible. It makes the CCC look like a dual core processor by comparison! The biggest negative will be sourcing headers as, IIRC, they are not available for the 260/307 (but I may be confusing it with the 301 Pontiac).

 

[Blake442]

They do make headers that will fit a 260 or 307, they're the same as all small block olds'. 260, 307, 350, and 403 will all interchange. I had a set of Dynomax headers on my 307 until I blew it up.

I haven't seen anybody with shorty headers for an Olds before... but maybe I just wasn't looking hard enough.

If you go with a full length, then it's no problem.

 

[dan2286]

The biggest problem you will have is that you need a TH 200 4R specific trans crossmember to make it work, and then you will need to weld on a new mounting location on the frame. GM did not make dual pattern G body frames until 1984 or 85.

G-force sells the frame extension needed to bolt in the crossmember. It also depends on if he wants to run dual exhaust or not. He cant use a stock one for duals without modification.

 

[Phoenyx]

New oil pump while ur at it. Might as well prevent future problems while the motor is out of the car and it's easy to get to.