f-85

Hey Guys

Great site! I just bought a 64 olds F-85 It has the 330 jetfire, with the 2 speed trans. I really like the car but it needs some more pep. I want a mild build 325hp +. My friend has a NOS 60's 4 barrel Rochester he said i could have. I was thinking of getting the Offenhauser dual port intake manifold for it (my dad had an Offenhauser on his olds) But thats about as far as ive gotten. I cant find alot of parts for the 330. What should i do with the heads? What would be a good cam for it? Also who makes good headers for the 330? From what i found the 330 has a good forged crank, and a strong block. Is there any weak points to this Engine? I would like to keep the 2 speed, will it handle 300+ HP? One last question whats a good gear ratio for the rear end with this setup?

Im going to drive the car for the rest of the summer, but i would like to start getting ready to build up the engine. Thanks in advance.


Josh

GoldOlds

Congrats on the purchase! I'll admit I know very little about the 330 and/or 330 heads, but yes, KEEP THAT CRANK! I'd imagine a mild cam (somewhere around .470 lift and 215º @ .050". duration) would help. I'm guessing most 330s have decent compression, but someone who knows better will probably chime in soon. If the 330 has tiny valves (honestly, I have no idea), consider putting a set of 1.995/1.625 valves in 'em. Or just take the easy route and put a set of #5, 6 or 7 heads on that motor. As far as gears go, I'd try a 3.23 ratio with the two speed - maybe even 3.08s; if you're willing to tolerate the higher revs for a bit more jump off the line, try the 3.23s. My '69 Cutlass has a TH350 and 3.73 gears, and the 350 gets a little noisy on the highway - about 3,200 rpm at 60 mph. Is the two speed a Powerglide? If so, I'm sure it can handle 325 hp no problem. As a sort of disclaimer, a LOT of guys on this forum know a LOT better than I do!

- GoldOlds

f-85

Hey GoldOlds

Thanks. Its a cool car. Its the low compression engine. 8.75:1 i think. From what ive read it the only difference was the pistons. Ill look into the heads. Its a jetaway trans. Thanks for the help.


Josh

64Rocket

IMO, You would be better off finding a 350 olds and 350 trans. The 330 is a great enigine, but it is a 45* cam bank angle. Requires a special cam.
The 330 being a low compresion engine a 204* cam would be better. The '64 is the only year with a rocker shaft. If you change heads you need the rocker arms to go with.
Just my thought, but a 4bbl 350 Olds and t-350 trans would be better in the long run. It is a direct bolt in. You have to use the water pump from the '64 330. Shift linkage is a little diff but very do-able. Use the same drive shaft.

Geno..

f-85

Hey 64rocket

The car is all original with 111,000 mi. It looks like an old lady drove it. The intirer is almost perfect. I would like to keep it original, or original looking. I found this engine http://www.theautochannel.com/autopa...x_672oy_7.html
I was thinking of getting it for a nice fresh engine. (it would cost me more to rebuild my own) Its a 65 engine.

Ive been reading that the old olds SB are torquey like the BB?

You got a nice ride! What do you have in it?


Josh

64Rocket

Josh
Again, just my opion, the 350 OLDS and T-350 is a better bet. You will be very happy with the combo. You can use the '64 valve covers and you have to use the '64 water pump. At first glance you would not know the diff. The exhaust manifolds are the same. The drive shaft is the same. A nice dual exhaust sys. of 2 1/4 or 2 1/2 pipes and I like dyno-max muffs and you will have a sweet ride. It will still looks bone stock.
Now there is nothing wrong with 330. Just harder to get parts for the rebuild. You have to special order the cam and pistons will be only cast stock replacements. If you can find '65 - 67 400 cid OLDS pistons you can bore it to 340 cid. I would replace the heads because of the rocker arm set up. They are '64 only. I don't know of anyone having rebuilt rocker arm set up.
So for me cubic inches is the way to go. May be the cheaper way to go. Maybe a good used '68 - 76 350 OLDS and trans. Drop it in and put all your stuff back on and away you go.

Geno..

64Rocket

I forgot my car has a 455 + 060 over (468) T-400,narrowed 57/64 OLDS rear end 4.10 spool, back half frame, full gage and 14x31 slicks.
It has run the best of 10.81 @ 123mph.
I run full muffs and full tail pipes and shift at 5500 and run on a 2 bbl carb and can run 11.80's. I run sportsman brkts which is 12.00 flat and slower, so shift at 5000 and will run 12.0's.

Geno..

millwrightrice

I just rebuilt my 330 out of a 67 cutlass and put it in my 69 It has a steel crank same valve size as the 350. factory rate 320 horse power with 10.5 compression.I'll put up against any stock 69 350.
The differences I found is all valve springs on 330 were double coiled and the intake on the 350 were single.The 67 330 push rods are .095 longer than the 350 I used the stock cam from the 330.Its very peppy.Hollar at me if you need anything.I did a lot of number research.

musicars

The 2 speed Jetaway can handle over 300 hp. I have had several '65 442s with that trans and they are pretty tough. The one used behind the 442 has an extra clutch pack than the one used with the 330. It had some other changes too. There were several different version depending on which engine carb combo it was used with. If you have 330 2bbl don't expect it to last forever if you modify the engine. I would just use it until it dies then go to a turbo 350. The 200r4 is also a fairly simple swap and would allow you to go to deeper gears, while keeping the rpm low, in the future. Good luck.

joe_padavano

The problem with the Jetaway is that first gear is 1.76:1. As an example, a TH400 has a 2.48:1 first gear. That will make a tremendous difference in how the car feels off the line. A 200-4R has a 2.74:1 first gear. Now add a good 4bbl and free flowing duals and you'll feel a tremendous difference.

Note that for things like intakes, distributors, etc, anything for an Olds 350 will also fit a 330.

88 coupe

It also has a variable pitch converter that makes up for much of the difference. Citing the azz dyno comparison of my 330/ST300 and 350/TH350, as an example.

As mentioned above, parts availability (particularly hard parts) is an important consideration.

Norm

Olds64

HEYA!

Welcome to the site. It is awsome that you have a 64 Olds. I am sure you will get alot of help from these guys. They know their stuff.

f-85

Hey Guys

Thanks for the tips. I lost this site somehow. Ive been looking and looking! I just put it in my favorites. Well since ive been gone i found an Edlebrock 3711 intake for $35 2 miles from my house. I had to pick it up. Im also in the works on a deal for a TH350 out of a Pontiac. And i found on ebay a Richmond 3.55 ring and pinion. I didnt want to get anything until i got some opinions on the stuff. Also i found a guy locally with a big box of used Rochester's. I went and picked one up $25, plus $15 for the rebuild kit on the way home. I had my buddy help me rebuild the carb but i think he forgot a part. Its a little plastic tube like thing. Only about 3/8" long. I looked up the numbers and it turns out to be out of a 73 GTO 455. Is it going to be to big? Also i cant find a set of headers anywhere. Any info on that? Im really liking the car. I want to be able to blow the doors off the rice burners (there is a bunch in the chicagoland area) But i cant even peel out in the rain. LOL (honestly) I also found a guy on ebay with rebuilt heads heres the link http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Rebui...spagenameZWDVW
Are these good heads? It looks like a good deal. Sorry for the long post. Thanks for all the help guys.


Josh

joe_padavano

Norm,

Are all Jetaways switch pitch? I was under the impression that this was an option, as was the case on the TH400. Needless to say, I'm not a Jetaway expert.

88 coupe

The Jetaway I'm familiar with ('56 and up big cars) did not use torque converters, and stall could not be changed.

ST300 was very similar to the VIP (Variable pitch) Dynaflow used in '55 and up Buicks. Stator blades were fixed, and stall was changed by a redirection of ATF to the stator.

TH400 stator blades had two positions. Stall was changed by changing their position.

I'm not an expert at anything.

Norm

Smooth

For what it is worth...

1964 Jetstar Convertible with 330 high compression and 2 speed Jetaway.

I just put on a new rebuilt 2 barrel. Then a PERTRONIX IGNITOR II 2 Hi Perform ignition (#91181) inside my stock distributor. Wow... like getting a rebuild... I'm getting 16+ mpg average... and it moves out real nice. It's not going to the strip, but I can get the hole shot if I need to grab another lane.

Everyone has great suggestions given their perspective of performance and/or desire to stay close to stock. I like my old car, my old 330, and saying it is the right engine for the car.

Good luck with your project! Much easir to find F-85 parts than some of the 88 of the same year.

- Smooth

88 coupe

You were overdue for a tuneup. New Delco points/condenser would have given you the same results.

You got reduced maintenance, not increased power.

Norm

PetChemMan

I've always liked the '64 F-85 with the 330 engine. The 290 hp. version of that motor would run very strong with the right tuning. I knew a guy who campaigned his '64 in NHRA in a stock class, and he made it all the way to the final round at Indy in 1968. As I recall, he ran in the mid 12 second range, with a 4 speed.

GoldOlds

Is that a type-o? The 73 GTO (which is super-rare and is really just a rebadged Ventura/Nova) only had the Pontiac 350. If you meant 72, that makes a lot more sense to me. If the '73 GTO really DID have the 455 on the options list (I really don't think it did), it would have been a low-compression, nothing special engine and therefore, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Rochester Q-jets are more of a "one size fits all" carb than something like a Holley . . . at least I THINK they are.

- GoldOlds

joe_padavano

Nope. The 1973 GTO was still based on the A-body, though the new-for-73 Colonade body style. Not sure about the 455, but a 400 Pontiac was absolutely available. The 1974 GTO was the Ventura-based X-body that you refer to. THAT car only came with a 350.

By the way, I think you meant "typo". The term "Type-O" means something very different, particularly on this website.

GoldOlds

Really?!?! Oops. Odd that one model would go through three very different body styles over a course of three years - very unlike GM. I've seen pics of a '74 GTO (looked like a Ventura with a Trans Am shaker) and just assumed the '73 was the same.
Double-oops on my typo regarding the . . . well . . . typo. I'm still sorta new to the wonderful world of Olds, but not even I would interpret a carb number as a reference to a 12 bolt rear end.
Anyway, regarding the Q-jet; I'm pretty sure Rochester carbs are more forgiving than most other brands when it comes to displacement differences.

- GoldOlds