school me on an engine swap

[bill]

Chebbys are much cheaper to find parts for and to build but theres nothing like the sound and feel (torque) of an OLDS. 2004r is usually a dual bolt pattern so it will work with both. The th350 is a stronger trans out of the box, but unless your gonna build a strong engine, you would do better with the 4speed and save some gas money. Good Luck...lots of help on here...just ask!

 

[papabearxl]

Hypothetically speaking...If I was to swap for a 350 sbc, is there anything else I would have to change besides the motor mounts and transmission? I've heard that some olds trans have bolt patterns for both olds and chevy. Is a th350 my best choice for a transmission? What if I want overdrive?

Just keep it hypothetical! If you have driven and liked a cutlass with overdrive at all, you will hate the TH350 3 speed, stick with the OD 200r4... 5-10 years ago, I would've agreed that the 700s may have been a more durable choice, but definitely not anymore! It seems the hardcore chevy guys are always the ones to push the 700 on me and tell me my 200r4 is junk. If you are still set on downgrading to a 3 speed, spend like $25 more and find a TH400(a bit stronger and still cheap)

The bad rap on the 200-4R was handed down from the durability problems GM had with the early THM200's convertor problems, IIRC? I know they (the 200) was weak, but after the convertor problems were fixed, the 200-4R was coming out and was a horse of a different color (not super silly strong, but a better offering from GM, and can be built to take however much power you need to handle, if you have the money.).

 

[bmxer_coon]

if you swap to a chevy you have to change engine mounts and the trans. a sbo engine is pretty much a direct swap

swaping engine mounts aren't all that bad, just three bolts each and you can buy them from most auto parts stores pretty cheap, my swap was pretty smooth actually