SBC to SBO?

[bordercutlass]

I just saved an Olds 350 and 307 and a set of Olds motor mounts from going to the scrap yard. That being said I'm in Canada and my Cutlass of course has the POS 305. I also have a fairly recently rebuilt Chev 350 with 4 bolt mains and an nice cam/head combo sitting in my totaled off '84 Cutlass. I need to do an engine swap this spring in my '85 Cutlass, and was going to buy a set of headers anyways, so I could just torch off the old exhaust and run open headers for a while (My neighbor is a jerk neways and I'm gonna piss him off).

The Olds 350 has been sitting out in the snow bank all winter and prolly needs an over haul. The guy I got it from was using a '79 olds wagon as a demolition car and couldn't get the 350 running, so he just yanked it out and put another, different 307 in its place.

Now do I just drop another chevy in place of the 305 or spend time/money in swapping to an Olds?

Which route would you go and why?

 

[foxtrot]

To preface my comment, I'm an Old School Olds guy and love Old School Olds engines when it comes to my "toy" car.

But, your car has the cHevy 305 and the fact that you already have the "complete" chevy 350 engine, I think that your easiest option is the cHevy 350 engine.

The olds 350 engine could be a good candidate for a rebuild if it's the right vintage but you will need all of the acc's, and also will have to relocate a few other things in the engine compartment. Just my .02 cents -- please don't beat me up too bad.

 

[DrRansom442]

yanno he got pretty much the same replies on Oldspower. And I kind of have to agree. Put the running engine for now and do an exploratory on the Olds. You will atleast be driving the car. After checking out the Olds completely ... you can decide then about fixing GM's mistake and rectifying your Cutlass's identity crisis.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

You can put the Chevy in in an afternoon, the Olds will take a little longer to make everything right. Just put the Chevy in it for now. That way, if you really want an Olds engine, you can go through the one you have and build it right. Chances are that it is a really lame 70's smog motor that won't be much better than the 305 if you don't build it to your liking.

It is important to keep the car in running condition. Life sometimes has a way of ruining the best laid plans, and then the car could sit for a long time, waiting to be resurrected. At least with the Chevy engine, you can still get some use out of the car.

 

[bordercutlass]

Thanks y'all for yer responses. I guess for now I'll pop the chevy in there but as a Canadian Cutlass that never got its justly deserved Olds motor, I feel obligated to at least give it a try...