How to freshen up a olds 307???

[J.Rod22]

I have an 88 Cutlass with a 307 engine and I was thinking about getting a 350. But then I just decided that with being a college student that is out of my budget because I would have to find a new trans or get mines rebuilt, would also need a different rearend and plus i would have to find a motor and pay to get all of this installed also. So I decided to just keep the 307 because even though I would like to have a stronger and faster motor, the most important thing at this point of my life is to just have a reliable car (car is my daily driver). Right now the car is parked because it is leaking all the coolant out because the intake gasket is pretty chewed up. Nothing is wrong with the motor it runs good the only thing wrong is the coolant leak and it leaks a little bit of oil too. So I decided that it will be more affordable for me to buy the full gasket set and replace all the gaskets on the engine and clean the engine up with some degreaser. But my question is is there anything I can do to it to make it run a little stronger and give it a little more horse power??? I know it wont be strong like a 350 but it would be nice to make it atleast a little faster.


Sorry for the long post lol.

 

[FE3X CLONE]

There's not a whole lot that you can do unfortunately.

You can do the basics like making sure everything is in proper working order. New plugs, wires, distributor cap and rotor, etc. Check your timing and make sure its set correctly.
You could add headers and true dual exhaust system (assuming you don't have emissions testing where your at) and they would transfer over to a 350 later on down the road. But personally for a daily driver, I wouldn't mess with headers.

With a mild 350 you might be okay with the trans but it would be borderline. Your rear end should be fine though as long as you don't throw slicks or drag radials on it.

FWIW, when I was in college I had my stock 7.5" rear in my '87 rebuilt with 3.73 gears and an Auburn posi. The following summer I rebuilt a 455 and swapped it in. The TH-2004R trans lasted 3 days before it started slipping but it lasted an entire year of daily driving before I really did it in one summer at the dragstrip. So that summer I installed a built TH-2004R and everything was well after that.
That car never left me stranded once and I drove roughly 60 miles roundtrip to college everyday.

If it were me, I'd just fix the coolant and oil leaks on the 307. Give it a good tune up and use any spare money you have to work on putting a good rear end under the car and then work your way forward. This way once you get to building a bigger engine, you won't need to worry about what's behind it.

 

[J.Rod22]

There's not a whole lot that you can do unfortunately.

You can do the basics like making sure everything is in proper working order. New plugs, wires, distributor cap and rotor, etc. Check your timing and make sure its set correctly.
You could add headers and true dual exhaust system (assuming you don't have emissions testing where your at) and they would transfer over to a 350 later on down the road. But personally for a daily driver, I wouldn't mess with headers.

With a mild 350 you might be okay with the trans but it would be borderline. Your rear end should be fine though as long as you don't throw slicks or drag radials on it.

FWIW, when I was in college I had my stock 7.5" rear in my '87 rebuilt with 3.73 gears and an Auburn posi. The following summer I rebuilt a 455 and swapped it in. The TH-2004R trans lasted 3 days before it started slipping but it lasted an entire year of daily driving before I really did it in one summer at the dragstrip. So that summer I installed a built TH-2004R and everything was well after that.
That car never left me stranded once and I drove roughly 60 miles roundtrip to college everyday.

If it were me, I'd just fix the coolant and oil leaks on the 307. Give it a good tune up and use any spare money you have to work on putting a good rear end under the car and then work your way forward. This way once you get to building a bigger engine, you won't need to worry about what's behind it.

Yeah thats exactly what I was thinking. I wanted to make sure the 307 was running the best it can now but I was still planning to get a 350 in the future because I dont plan on ever selling the car so Im not in a rush.

 

[axisg]

yeah I did mine backwards too. Replaced the motor and cooked the trans ( rear is holding up but I have only had it to the track once in 3 years ).

Limp the 307 along as long as you possibly can and dont put any $$ into it that you can help. It will run for damn near forever with the most basic of maint.

Start looking and saving for the motor and trans you want.

 

[CUTLASSJESSE]

change the intake gasket, plugs, wires, rotor, cap, change the oil and save your money for the 350 no sense in spending money on a engine your just going to take out. Those 307s are pretty tough they will last longer than the car if maintained properly

 

[breeaad]

Fix the leak and keep driving it. Once school is finished, you will have the money to do it the way you want.