Olds 358 build

[olds307 and 403]

Nice progress. What’s wrong with your daughters edge?

It's on it's 3rd power steering hose since new, seems pretty common. Original owner had it replaced at the dealer, it blew right after Amber bought it, covered under the warranty. It was a PIA to get both ends tightened in. Plus they use two tiny nuts to hold the hose way up on the back of the engine. Took way too many hours, did an oil change as well. That and other than the door sensor switches, driver's changed under warranty and I did the rear on the driver's side, it has been pretty good. It is fully loaded with 3.5 V6, good power and mileage. We looked at a cheaper Chevy as well. It had no options and a 4 cylinder and fwd, big nope. I also checked the plugs, pretty sure they are the original platinum with 177,000 Km. It had a .060" gap. I was a bit worried but stock is .051" to .057". I will probably change them before next Winter. But in modern V6 fashion, the rear plenum has to be removed to get at the rear plugs. So I will get Iridium plugs and a plenum gasket set.

 

[L92 OLDS]

It's on it's 3rd power steering hose since new, seems pretty common. Original owner had it replaced at the dealer, it blew right after Amber bought it, covered under the warranty. It was a PIA to get both ends tightened in. Plus they use two tiny nuts to hold the hose way up on the back of the engine. Took way too many hours, did an oil change as well. That and other than the door sensor switches, driver's changed under warranty and I did the rear on the driver's side, it has been pretty good. It is fully loaded with 3.5 V6, good power and mileage. We looked at a cheaper Chevy as well. It had no options and a 4 cylinder and fwd, big nope. I also checked the plugs, pretty sure they are the original platinum with 177,000 Km. It had a .060" gap. I was a bit worried but stock is .051" to .057". I will probably change them before next Winter. But in modern V6 fashion, the rear plenum has to be removed to get at the rear plugs. So I will get Iridium plugs and a plenum gasket set.

Those are pretty reliable rigs but you need to watch out for the water pump. Especially the older models. If you don’t know it’s driven by the timing chains in the whole front of the engine needs to come apart to replace it.

 

[olds307 and 403]

So I painted the non Stainless 3/8" flange on the full length Chinese Stainless full length headers with VHT high temp aluminum paint to go on this motor.

I also finished filing the rings for the rest of the cylinders. We got close to another foot of snow. When that melts and humidity drops, I will start assembling the short block.

 

[64nailhead]

Yikes. When I file rings, they don’t go in a bag but rather on the piston and the piston goes in the hole. I do this so that I’m not filing rings for consecutive hours lol.

 

[bracketchev1221]

Yikes. When I file rings, they don’t go in a bag but rather on the piston and the piston goes in the hole. I do this so that I’m not filing rings for consecutive hours lol.

That’s why I figured out how to attach my drill to the ring filer. Makes it go much faster!!

 

[olds307 and 403]

They actually weren't terrible to file but all in one shot would have sucked. It is a space thing right now. My pistons and rods along with the rings are in the corner of my living room. Whatever idiot built my garage built it down hill. So ice, water and moisture collect in it. It only comes in a tiny bit in Summer, right as the snow melts, it sucks, ice and moisture till the ground absorbs it. I have been hitting everything with WD40 and similar that is in the garage. My cam is downstairs along with the oil pump. I just oiled them, they are fine. I unfortunately stored my used roller lifters above my 70S battery. I never even thought, oil or not, corrosion and screwed🤮. Good thing they were cheap. New ones, not so much. Oh well what is another $550 US for roller lifters, add more to the pile. Edelbrock better deliver on these heads or I will probably have to use my iron heads. Even Procomp is out of new Olds castings.

 

[Kelvin's80442]

How's the build coming along?
Sounds like you are have some fun.
Think you will have it running this summer?

 

[olds307 and 403]

How's the build coming along?
Sounds like you are have some fun.
Think you will have it running this summer?

Unless, I go with the #6 iron heads, no. The SBO Edelbrock heads won't be ready till September at the earliest. If I go iron heads, I will need roller cam springs and drilled and tapped for 7/16" studs at minimum. Some grind time would ideal in the bowls. It would honestly just to break in the short block and get it to the body shop.

 

[Kelvin's80442]

Unless, I go with the #6 iron heads, no. The SBO Edelbrock heads won't be ready till September at the earliest. If I go iron heads, I will need roller cam springs and drilled and tapped for 7/16" studs at minimum. Some grind time would ideal in the bowls. It would honestly just to break in the short block and get it to the body shop.

Ah crazy. Thought those new heads were to be out by now.

 

[olds307 and 403]

Ah crazy. Thought those new heads were to be out by now.

The BBO heads should be out in a month. The ultra modern chamber upgrade besides the flow improvement is why I am willing to wait for the SB head. If they are delayed, there will be some pocket porting and the chambers polished to 68cc. I would probably also use the Performer intake with the 1" open spacer with those heads.