Gulfcaptain

Hello!

My son wanted a "muscle car" so I found him a 1973 4 door Olds Delta 88 with the 455 rocket motor which he promptly toasted. (kids)

Now, my question is, can a standard Chev. 350 be put in it's place? The transmission is the standard 400, which I believe will bolt up to the 350 but I am concerned about the motor mounts.

Anyone know if you can easily drop a 350 in the 455's place?

Thanks.

Gulfcaptain.

rocketraider

If he killed a 455 what the hell do you think he'll do to a mushmetal Chevy engine in that heavy a car?

SBC came in Impala/Caprice which are for all practical purposes the same GM B car. You'll need Chevy motor mount perches, a Chevy pattern transmission, and prepare to move everything to the opposite side of the car from where it is now. Chevrolet engine wiring is also very different from Olds.

In other words, a whole lotta trouble and aggravation.

AZ455

What happened to the 455???

I'd rather tear into that and get it running again than drop a SBC in.

Like rocketraider said, that's a heavy car for that engine, I can't see it having too much "muscle" anymore.

MDchanic

[sound of hornet's nest being stirred up]

You can put a SBC in it, but an Olds motor will be much easier.

- Eric

Oldsguy

The bolt pattern on the transmission is different so you won't be able to use the TH400 without modification. You may have to change the driveshaft length as well.

Anything is do-able and certainly people have swapped a chevy engine into an Oldsmobile before but you might be better off fixing the 455 in the long run. Welcome to CO.

joe_padavano

First, I'm not sure how a 5,000 lb four door full size is a "muscle car", but whatever. In any case, a 350 Olds motor is almost a bolt-in. The 350 Chevy pretty much requires a donor car to get all the parts - trans, mounts, accessory brackets, etc, etc. Oh, and any 350 Chevy car will have a TH350, which is shorter, requiring a different driveshaft. It's your car, but the SBC "sledgehammer" is never a good answer. The "lower cost" argument is usually the result of an incomplete understanding of what's really involved.