88, I understand that you want a new engine, and that choice is certainly up to you. If the car has a 307 Olds in it, and you want to swap to a 350 Chev, then as pointed out earlier, you're going to have to swap engine mounts, some of your accessory drive brackets and parts, you're going to have to make some changes on the fuel system to get the fuel injection up and running. The changes are going to eat up part of your budget. You could upgrade to a 350 or 403 Olds with less fuss, and still get the performance that you're looking for. Also, if you're in B.C., what are the regulations regarding engine swaps with the Air Care program? That may be a factor as well. You could probably disguise an engine swap to larger Olds engine, and make it look like the 307. Good luck to you, with whatever you decide.
swap tired 307 for Ram Jet 350
- Thread starter oneowner88
- Start date
- Status
Another option: Check around some machine shops and see if they have any Olds motors. You might run across a deal on a fresh short or long block 350. You'd be a real hero with the Olds crowd at the shows if you had a big gold painted engine with a 350 rocket sticker on the air cleaner. These are the cars I stop to look at when I go to car shows, even though I'm currently swapping to an LSx 
Run a pair of Magnaflow hi-flow spun cats and o2 sensors to an in-dash Air/Fuel meter for optimal tuning and to keep the smog nazis off your back.
Run a pair of Magnaflow hi-flow spun cats and o2 sensors to an in-dash Air/Fuel meter for optimal tuning and to keep the smog nazis off your back.
Thanks for all the replies. I will be looking into a few different ideas after reading your posts and discussing my choices with my best freind. A new motor would be nice but as posted a good rebuilt Olds 350 Rocket would really make the car. If I'm able to search down an Olds man who can recommend a good Olds mechanic, that has a 51%chance of being my choice.
Again thanks,Royster. 🙂
Again thanks,Royster. 🙂
If you have a fully rebuilt 350 Olds, rebored, new pistons, rings etc, new cam and lifters, pushrods, valve gear, reground crank and bearings, the whole nine yards, you will have a new engine that will last as long as the factory original.
It won't come cheap if it's a top notch job but will be the lowest cost option in the long term.
Roger.
It won't come cheap if it's a top notch job but will be the lowest cost option in the long term.
Roger.
Somebody can list some known Olds engine buiders / shops for you. It does not have to be local as the ramjet would have been shipped in a crate as well and both should come with a warranty. The ramjet is rated at 350HP & 400TQ and should be about $6 grand shipped to your door. You should be able to get a builder to provide a core, build a 350/403 Olds to the same power level and ship it to your door with basic warranty for the same money.
But unlike the ramjet your not likely to find one "on the shelf" it has to be built so its not ready to ship but you should be able to have it for a spring install. You could have them rebuilt your electric choke q-jet or have them supply one so you wouldn't have the fuel injection but you also would not have to get a new electric pump etc and change your fuel system to support it either. You also would not need to contend with the other things that come into play when converting from one manufacturers power plant to another. Their is pros & cons to both but its comprable either way.
But unlike the ramjet your not likely to find one "on the shelf" it has to be built so its not ready to ship but you should be able to have it for a spring install. You could have them rebuilt your electric choke q-jet or have them supply one so you wouldn't have the fuel injection but you also would not have to get a new electric pump etc and change your fuel system to support it either. You also would not need to contend with the other things that come into play when converting from one manufacturers power plant to another. Their is pros & cons to both but its comprable either way.
oneowner88 said:
This forum is actually pretty forgiving compared to others out there. It's the newcomers looking for a pissing contest that usually gets them. :wink:
One other consideration to keep in mind about going from Olds the Chevy is the cost of labor since you'd be paying someone to do it. Swapping an Olds for an Olds doesn't get any easier. However, if you go with the Olds 350 or 403 you have to decide if you want to retain the distributor, emissions equipment and how you plan to retain the torque converter lock-up function of the 200-4R if you keep it. The beauty of keeping it Olds is that you can go for a sleeper look and make it look stock.
Something else to consider is the power level you want to achieve and if you want to keep the 200-4R trans. Once again, you're looking at labor if you deviate from it but stock 200-4R's don't last long behind torque or excessive thrashing. Built correctly though, they are good transmissions.
Depending on your location, BTR Performance in Rochester, NY is who I would recommend for building Olds motors. I just had Bill do a set of #5 heads for me not too long ago, and he was great to work with.
I should change the thread title because I'm leaning towards a 350 rocket but for now..
Is the rocket going to be too heavy for the car? 1988 old cutlass classic,supposed last model olds with r.w.d.
gotta go to work now...have some other questions for later.
have a good one! 😀
Is the rocket going to be too heavy for the car? 1988 old cutlass classic,supposed last model olds with r.w.d.
gotta go to work now...have some other questions for later.
have a good one! 😀
The olds 350 doesnt really weigh any more than the 307, cant remember if its lighter or heavier than a sbc. Lots of guys on here are running big and small block olds motors. With your car having a 307 in it like prevously stated a 350 olds is basically a direct swap. The two engines are the same size in terms of physical measurements. Basically what I'm saying is that the two engines are identical aside from displacement and unless you know casting numbers its easy to pawn a 350 off for a 307 or any other olds small block.
Think of your 307 as a 350 with smaller bore size.
Hardly any weight difference, and every accesory is a straight swap.
Roger.
Hardly any weight difference, and every accesory is a straight swap.
Roger.
- Status
Similar threads
