350 Rocket

[west]

I have a cj7 jeep and was given a 350 rocket motor and know nothing about them. I was hoping for some info on them. Are they a good motor? Or should i go a diffrent rout? Any help would be appreciated.

[jdorour]

The Olds 350 is a good solid engine with very few problems. The 350 has a good bore to stroke ratio. Oldsmobile used high quality nodular iron in the block and heads. If the engine is older it will have solid main bearing webs. There are some good speed parts on the market but you may find that the parts are a little more money than the same Chevy part. Olds engines are famous for making torque. Pound for pound CID for CID an Olds will make more torque than a Chevy.

A couple of things to keep in mind - The bellhousing bolt pattern is different than Chevy but it is the same as Buick and Pontiac. Most Oldsmobile crankshafts are not drilled for a pilot bearing. A good machine shop can take care of that if you need a pilot bearing. The engine is a little larger than a Chevy but it is not a lot heavier.

A little back ground you may be interested in...
The original 303CID Rocket v8 Engine was introduced in 1949. the 324CID version was introduced in 1954 and the 371CID was introduced in 1957. The largest version was introduced in 1959 at 394CID. A redesigned engine was introduced at 330CID in 1964 (a small block). The 330 was used in the Cutlass/F85 and the Jetstar 88. The 1964 442 also used the 330. In 1965 two big block versions where introduced - a 400CID for the 442 and a 425CID for the 88, 98 and Starfire. The 330, 400 and 425 engines where used until 1967. In 1968 Olds introduced increased displacement versions. The 330 was replaced with the 350 small block, the 400 got a bore and stroke dimension change so it could use the 455 crankshaft and the 425 was replaced with the 455. In 1975 Olds introduced a 260CID small block, in 1977 Olds brought out a 403CID small block to replace the 455. A 307CID small block was introduced in the early 1980's to replace the 350. There was also a 260CID and 350CID Diesel engines based on the Olds Rocket V8. The 307 was the last Rocket V8 in production.

Other GM Divisions used Oldsmobile engines...
GMC used the 455 and 403 in motorhomes
Pontiac used the 403 in the 78 and 79 TransAm
The 307 was used in all of the mid to late 1980's B Body wagons.
Cadillac used the 307 in the late 80's and early 90's Fleetwood Brougham
All of the Divisions used the Diesel engines

If you have any questions please ask.
The guys on this board have a lot of info.

John

[Oldsguy]

Excellent info on your post John. As a side note, about the early Rocket in '49, it was not THE first but ONE OF THE first overhead valve V8s available. Up to then everyone was using flatheads and the Ford Flathead was the favorite v8.

I will second John's evaluation of the Rocket being torque king. With a comparible displacement "other" engine to compare, you will more easily get good street performance out of the Oldsmobile. I think lots of everyday guys who don't race and don't intend on winding their engines up past 6,000 rpm just want good street corner to street corner performance to "show off" a little now and then. The torgue of the Olds enables that quite well as you will find it much easier to bark those skins with the greater torque a rocket offers, especially the big blocks.