whats better olds 350 or sbc 350?

[84cutlassjuggalo]

I'm quite content putting any GM motor in my Cutlass in order for it to move and drive....

That's just my little rant though because I just don't think it matters what GM motor you have in your cutlass as long as it runs.

And that right there is the difference. I am NOT content putting just any GM motor in my Cutlass. My ideal is keeping my Olds an Olds, and yours is apparently to drive your Olds, regardless of the motor. The thing is, we're not talking about 1931 Cadillac V16s, it's going to be a LONG time before the supply of Oldsmobile motors is exhausted. Thankfully, there are guys who are ok with putting Chevy engines in their Cutlasses, which keeps the Olds motor supply high for guys like me. 😉

You kinda took my statement out of context. I said i'm content doing that so i have it driving and that way it's not sitting around rotting waiting for an olds motor. My hope for that car is to finally have a 350 Rocket for it but where i am on Eastern Canada it's hard to find any olds motors for a reasonable price. maybe once every 6 or 7 months an Olds motor will show up for sale if i'm lucky.

The was I see it though is that if a car needs a motor and there isn't an olds around to buy why not put a BOP in? I think any one would rather put any GM motor in their car if that was the only one they could find so it makes the car a little less depressing since you can at least get in move it around instead of pushing or pulling it around.

I'm just speaking from my experiance though. I have an 88 Cutlass with a blown motor and since it needed floors, trunk, rockers and 1/4's i just let it sit. I then looked for olds motors but like i said they're almost impossible to find. Plus i'm on a budget so i gotta get cheep used motors so i couldn't hold out for an olds.

If you can find an Olds motor more power to you but if you can't then people shouldn't force "KEEP OLDS IN OLDS!" down some one's throught.

Ha ha, nobody is forcing anything down anybody's throat, the OP just asked for opinions. If I lived on a desert island and there was only a single Cutlass and a single SBC and no Olds motors, I'd probably go ahead and do the build...as long as there wasn't also a Cadillac motor, or a Buick motor, or a Pontiac motor... But this is America, and I'm keeping my Olds an Olds. 😀[/quote]

I know no one really is but it seems some times that peopel don't realize how hard it is to find olds motors. I think if you have the choice of putting an olds in an olds you should but if you're limited like i am then anything GM should do.

 

[Intragration]

It's all good, I guess I'm saying there are some guys who are purists, I'm kind of one of them. I do things the way I want to do them, or I won't do them at all. I have a car that sat around for 20 years because I couldn't do it up to my standards. When I finally was able to, I did, and I wouldn't have it any other way. But this is just me. For those who can find a way around it like putting a Chevy motor in, if they're cool with that, that's all that matters. Everyone needs to do what makes them happy and what they can live with.

 

[robhowardiii]

I will make people mad. I like chevy motors just on the fact of they are easyer to work on. The wide olds motors make exhaust a pain. Not only that but if your on a budget chevy parts are easy to find for cheep. If I wasn't working on it or paying for it my olds would be olds.

 

[84clonewars]

I've had both and have liked them both, seems like the olds has a lil more low end torque. They were both pretty much stock 350's, I cant wait to drive my 403 olds though.

 

[Dragonist]

Olds manifolds are easy to work on imo...exhaust manifolds are easy to put on with a wrench or a sockect....the awesome thing about working on a olds is spark plug change imo...

 

[lsx80monte]

Neither, LS all the way!!!!.....lol, but I think the chevy 350 is better, but im not a really for one brand as long as the car looks good. If I were doing an original restoration on a car then yes whatever engine that belonged in there would be going in.

 

[robhowardiii]

Olds manifolds are easy to work on imo...exhaust manifolds are easy to put on with a wrench or a sockect....the awesome thing about working on a olds is spark plug change imo...

Ok you got me on the plug change. But try to do a starter on an olds with headers. The olds was nice for not burning plug wires ss well....... But I still say chevy.

 

[two90west]

Imo both motors are great I say if your in a Chevy run a abc if your in an olds or Buick run a sbo

 

[olds307 and 403]

Headers aren't maintenance free on anything. They rot out, leak and exhaust is always a pain. Burnt plug wires suck and plugs on some of the sbc's are brutal. Plugs are a breeze on the Olds V8. Mini starter fixes the starter changing issues. With the Sanderson shorties, the full size starter fits no problem. The only good thing about the sbc is parts everywhere and cheaper and compact size. It isn't even lighter The LS is different story, stronger block than either gas block and much better flowing heads. My Olds TBI 350/4L60E powered Z71 is much better than the stock swirl port sbc 350, even with less compression. Comparable to LS 5.3/ 4L65E combos with the same gearing I have drove. The new 5.3's with the 6 spd auto is a different story.

 

[84clonewars]

Headers aren't maintenance free on anything. They rot out, leak and exhaust is always a pain. Burnt plug wires suck and plugs on some of the sbc's are brutal. Plugs are a breeze on the Olds V8. Mini starter fixes the starter changing issues. With the Sanderson shorties, the full size starter fits no problem. The only good thing about the sbc is parts everywhere and cheaper and compact size. It isn't even lighter The LS is different story, stronger block than either gas block and much better flowing heads. My Olds TBI 350/4L60E powered Z71 is much better than the stock swirl port sbc 350, even with less compression. Comparable to LS 5.3/ 4L65E combos with the same gearing I have drove. The new 5.3's with the 6 spd auto is a different story.

The 4.8 with the 6spd auto in my van sucks *ss, too much weight, not enough power and too many gears but im curious to see what the combo could do in a car with a few mods.