LT1 or Olds 350-rebuilt? Congrats, its an olds!

[QS442]

I have a 86 442 with 307. I have been searching in forums and have gotten info regarding both motors but I would rather hear the pros advice vs the two compared with my plans. I have narrowed my shopping down to a lt1 motor w/transmission with 117,000 miles that's in a camaro for $800 and a 70 olds 350 for $600 (no carb, distributer, and something about pulley he used) Olds has been out of car for 4 years (upgraded to 455) but seller states there is 3,000 miles on rebuild and its rated at 320 horsepower.

My usage for car would be a frequent driver with reasonable power so the lt1 sounds good for gas mileage and power but from my research seems olds has more horsepower. I like to keep car all olds but it seems like the lt1/ls_ is the new way to go. My pockets are not deep so what's your opinion/advice on work needed for swaps and benefits. What EXACTLY do I need from car and extras for LT1 swap and the same for olds 350.

 

[3XBrownCutty]

Re: LT1 or Olds 350-rebuilt? Why?

You'll spend more switching to chevy. If you go olds, all your accessories, trans, motor mounts and all that stay the same. plus, keeping your 442 olds powered will gain you some respect from the olds guys. later on you could even drop a 403 in with the same amount of effort swapping the 350 8)

 

[CHRIS.O]

Re: LT1 or Olds 350-rebuilt? Why?

Can you hear the LT1 run? I am always leery about buying an engine that supposedly is in good shape. Once you drop the cash its yours. Do you know what is done to the 350 to get 320hp or even what casting number the engine is, heads, block, etc? A lot of people are optimistic about what their stuff really has. Putting an lt1 in a gbody is something I have never done but there are several people here who have done multiple swaps and it seems pretty straight forward, little time consuming but nothing a reasonably mechanically inclined person couldn't handle. Some of the things I know of that would be needed are electric fuel pump, computer tune to remove VATS, fuel lines, the wiring harness from the donor car, electric fans, and a way to make your stock gauges work if your not replacing them. That is just a handful of things I am aware of, I am sure there are plenty more. Your right though, you will get better mileage, you will get better throttle response and cheaper parts IF you decided to modify it later on. Plus an lt1 is pretty cool in a gbody in my opinion. Although like 3xbrowncutty said, it would be a lot easier to just throw an oldsmobile in it.

 

[HDFXR1991]

Re: LT1 or Olds 350-rebuilt? Why?

I'm with 3Xbrowncutty.
A Olds heart in an Olds car.
I have a '72 Olds 350 from my first car (Delta 88) in my Cutlass.
Put it in 1988 and I haven't looked back.

My 3 cents worth......
8)

 

[Dragonist]

Re: LT1 or Olds 350-rebuilt? Why?

The olds would be a quicker swap imo, with lesser fabrication. Reason I state you will need figure out a way to mount the motor and the transmission. The olds will drop right into your mounts and work with your transmission and you can use the ccc(computer controlled carb) stuff if still installed.

Inregards to the olds ask if they will let you take the oil pan off to check for any shavings, and rotate the the rotating assembly. Check the head castings,and block castings, which are by the oil temp sensor by the oil filler neck, and near under driver side exhaust manifold

 

[79 drag car]

Re: LT1 or Olds 350-rebuilt? Why?

if you decide to go with the lt1 this should help you out its the same getting the motor in after that its all the computer and all other odds and ends viewtopic.php?f=13&t=974

 

[DoubleV]

Re: LT1 or Olds 350-rebuilt? Why?

I like to keep car all olds

Then I think you should be doing exactly that....

but it seems like the lt1/ls_ is the new way to go.

But you don't have a 'new' car, you have a classic oldschool 86 Olds 442. It may not be a Buick GNX, but it IS a rare, collector car and deserves better than having it's soul ripped out and replaced with yet another Chevy 350 like every other hotrodded non-Chevy car seems to have. I personally can't stand the 'Chevy engine into a Cutlass' mentality, but a Chevy into a rare 442 or H/O is enough to make me want to puke. I think the 442's and H/O"s deserve a little more respect than that. You asked for opinions, so that's mine on this subject.

P.S. If you had a Monte ( standard or SS model ), then the LT1 would be a good choice.

 

[RegalBegal]

Re: LT1 or Olds 350-rebuilt? Why?

You'll spend more switching to chevy. If you go olds, all your accessories, trans, motor mounts and all that stay the same. plus, keeping your 442 olds powered will gain you some respect from the olds guys. later on you could even drop a 403 in with the same amount of effort swapping the 350 8)

X10 !!

 

[Qdub24]

Re: LT1 or Olds 350-rebuilt? Why?

But you don't have a 'new' car, you have a classic oldschool 86 Olds 442. It may not be a Buick GNX, but it IS a rare, collector car and deserves better than having it's soul ripped out and replaced with yet another Chevy 350 like every other hotrodded non-Chevy car seems to have. I personally can't stand the 'Chevy engine into a Cutlass' mentality, but a Chevy into a rare 442 or H/O is enough to make me want to puke. I think the 442's and H/O"s deserve a little more respect than that. You asked for opinions, so that's mine on this subject.

P.S. If you had a Monte ( standard or SS model ), then the LT1 would be a good choice.

x2

 

[chevyman454]

Re: LT1 or Olds 350-rebuilt? Why?

theres not much difference id go with the lt1 for fuel econ

if you want to go olds id get a bolt on fuel injection