Olds 330 hi performance motor for my 83 H/O

[bored030over]

Ok, I originally was interested in replacing my getting tired 307 with a worked Olds 350 or even a 403. But I have come across a buddy with a 1967 330 hi performance motor that has less than 90,000 miles on it. It is 10.25:1 compression which used premium fuel. According to the stats on this motor, it put out 320 hp stock from the factory.
Now I have several questions regarding this motor. Are they pretty trustworthly? If I plan on keeping it fairly stock...do they make an aftermarket cam with will give it a bit more growl to it for a few more ponnies? Will headers from an Olds 350 fit on the 330? I understand that the flywheel must be from a 330 to fit my 200r trans I have? Lastly, what type of performance am I possibly looking at with this motor and a couple basic mods done to it. Mild cam, Edelbrock RPM intake, MSD electronics, Taylor wires and an Edelbrock 670 carb? Will I achieve at least a high 13 with these mods in my 83 H/O?

Tony
83 H/O

 

[FE3X CLONE]

Pretty much anything that will bolt to a SBO 260/307/350/403 will bolt to the 330. But as you mentioned the flywheel/flexplate has a different bolt pattern and the balancer is different too I believe.

The good part is that the 330's had forged cranks so I would get the engine just for that reason. If you wanted to upgrade to a 350 or 403 down the road you could pull the 330's crank and use it in the new build.

As far as power I don't know much about them. I'd figure they're obviously better than a 307 but probably not as nice as a 350 in the power department. However I don't see why 13's wouldn't be achievable.

Keep in mind to, that 320hp factory power was SAE gross in '67. By the later SAE Net ratings, it's actually closer to 250hp. Still an upgrade over a 307!

 

[joe_padavano]

Small block Olds motors are virtually identical from 1964-1990. The all even use the same stroke on the crank. Bearings are all the same diameter. External dimensions and bolt locations are all identical. As noted, the crank flange bolt pattern on the 64-67 motors is different from the 68-up motors, so get the matching flexplate. The balancer may look different but the pulley bolt holes are the same. Use the water pump, pulleys, and accessory brackets as a matched set. It's a bolt in swap.

 

[bored030over]

Well I thank both you guys for your info and input! But I guess, pound for pound...still my best bang for the buck would still be the 403. I am not going to be racing the car weekly, just every once in a while just to see what times we are talkin'. On ocassion...smoke up the tires when I get a little gas on my chest and to know that any basic rice burner out there would be lookin' at my rear tail light and wing if they decided to go up against me.

Maybe my luck will change and I will come across a 403 that isn't very expensive with not a lot of miles on it. Change the heads and get a set from an early model 350. I was told the best year is the 1972. Put on an Edelbrock performer intake and 670 Edelbrock carb and go with a nice higher end mild cam to it. Lastly purchase a set of ceramic headers for better breathing and cool looks.

Again...thanks for your help. I know I will be back asking more questions as my quest starts this fall.

Tony
83 H/O

 

[88hurstolds]

Why not go with a 455?
Virtually the same motor externally, all your brackets bolt up and cost the same to rebuild.
I dropped one in a weekend, used all the same motormounts, the 455 came with the crossover exhaust which bolted directly to my stock exhaust, used the HEI distributor from my 350.

The ONLY mod I had to do was used a 1.2" spacer between where the alternator and PS bracket bolt together, THAT's IT.

You can also keep the A/C, just have to extend one tab with a 1.5" bracket where it bolts to the head.

There are NO clearance issues with the A/C box or Heater box.

Here's my buildup:

http://78-88olds.com/forum/showthread.php?t=99

The only expensive part is the headers but you can fab some up by modifying some Hookers or buying Hooker Super Comps or Kooks.

 

[olds307 and 403]

Run it as is or use thicker(any replacement) head gaskets to deal with the premium fuel issue. That motor will have the normal 39 degree bank angle. A larger cam, I say the second or third Voodoo cam, depending if it is a stock piston motor, would work nice. Compression test is a good idea and oil pressure check. Headers are a must on any SBO IMHO, the manifolds plain suck. Even as is with headers will be much quicker. i say Corteco head gaskets, Rocket racing carries them and see if the factory pistons are there. All new gaskets are a good idea with a new timing set too. Replacement pistons can make your compression ratio a LOT lower. Then you can select the right cam.

 

[FE3X CLONE]

There are NO clearance issues with the A/C box or Heater box.

That's hit or miss. Sometimes people have trouble and sometimes they don't. In my case I had to notch my evaporator box to clear the valve cover.
However I believe the issue here is that if your body bushings are shot and the body is sagging, this is where the clearance problems come into play.

 

[Bonegrater]

So, I bought a 330 the other day. It is a #1 block(45 deg. bank angle) and #3 Heads. I plan on rebuilding it with the same 10.25:1 CR, W-30 Valves(2.000"Int. - 1.625"Exh. I believe) , lightly ported & polished heads, new rockers, Edelbrock intake, tuned CCC carb, mild cam, and otherwise stock rebuild. I was gonna go 455, "since I have one already" but I want to drive this car a lot, so the 455 just isn't economical. One due to being a little thirsty, and two, being way too fun to stay off the gas pedal.
But if anyone has any recommendations for the 330, let me know.
As for the 455, I have acquired a '70 block, Keith Black flat-tops, and a decent forged crank from the man who got me loving Olds engines. He taught me a lot when it comes to these engines, and he built them back when there were no aftermarket for them. So he knows a lot of little tricks to make them run. We built my first 455 when I was 15, before I even had car to put it in, and I spent all of my McDonalds paychecks on machine work. The good days, before mortgages, outrageous prices, and $3.00/gallon gas prices. I think gas was 89cents/gallon then, I would sh*t my pants if I saw that now, and we thought it was high then!

 

[dogsht]

You know the thing the 330 does not have is torque. The 455 has it in spades and since you already have one.. If a 330 & 455 made the same HP the 455 would leave the 330 in its dust because of the torque. And since the 455 does not need a big stall converter or low gears to get it moving like the 330 does it will be will have better manners and might get as good of mileage at the same ET level.

For example Dwight ran 12.0s at 112mph and achieved about 20 mpg hwy with a 455, overdrive with lockup, & a Q-jet.
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/1381227/1 ... ss-supreme

Another is Bob Poweres who ran a best of 12.3s at 110mph and got 15 Hwy with a 455, overdrive with lockup, & a Q-jet.
http://www.robertpowermotorsports.com

Both pump gas in drive it out of state trim.

 

[FE3X CLONE]

Bob's car also passed SMOG testing with the 455. It actually had better numbers than the original 3.8 V6 that was in the car originally.