Copper Nine Eight

Could I put a crate 350 in a 1985 Delta 88 running the stock 200r4? See one on JEGS. What all would have to be done so it works? If it's possible, I'm going to save up to get it! Thanks!

1BOSS83

Yes. It is possible.

Aside from the parts listed (Which I'm going to ball park at about 1,000), you'd need: accessory brackets, a transmission bell housing converter (BOP -> Chevy), your exhaust system would have to be reworked.

It's my opinion that taking the time to find a 350 Oldsmobile would make life much easier. That crate + bolt ons + accessories etc etc You're looking AT LEAST 3k landed and in the end you may find the performance disappointing. Just my .02. best of luck with your search.

olds 307 and 403

The trans WILL bolt up, everything else said is true. The only thing the same between a sbc and an Olds V8 is the distributor cap. I am sure glad someone put an Olds 260 in my 70. Yes it is a turd but makes it super easy to put my Olds 350 or 424 stroker in it's place. I can get mid 70's Olds 350's in great shape around here, last one had 140-142 compression, 20 psi hot idle in gear oil pressure with 45-50 at 2000 rpm hot cruise, all for $120. Deals are out there.

oldcutlass

I'll ad that no adaptor is required if you have a dual pattern 200r4, but you'll need a torque convertor for a Chevy. You'll also need frame brackets and motor mounts. Some minor wiring changes and as mentioned above, accessories and missing brackets, starter, exhaust mods, etc. I'll estimate cost of change at $1500+. You are better off going to City Motor Supply in Dallas and getting an SBO or yours rebuilt.

http://www.citymotorsupply.com/index.php

quaddriver

is this the toluca motor gm builds? 260hp? set it up as they say it it will make more net hp than just about every motor ever stuffed in a d88, BUT, you will have trouble sourcing the parts for a very easy operation....should you find a same year chevy impala for parts, all the brackets will be there, in fact, up to 1976 this will work and later with some changes from a 77-89 caprice, and into the 80's if you find a squarebody truck to steal from.

the passage of time is your enemy here. aside from that, the GM performance crate motors are top notch and I have installed many many dozens as refreshes in customer cars and trucks for decades.

therein lies the rub - find the donor vehicle....

Copper Nine Eight

JEEZ, working on an olds is EXPENSIVE.

edzolz

If you will read this, it is the converting to Chevy that is expensive. If you have your Olds rebuilt you do not need the extra wiring, motor mount conversion, exhaust changes, or any brackets related to the change over.

oldcutlass

Exactly

lshlsh2

A question for myself will the 200r4 be strong enough in stock form to handle the power of the 350 (either) or should it be rebuilt.

oldcutlass

It should handle the 350 as long as its not beaten like a rented mule.

70cutty

How do you guys figure $1500 to swap? It's not a LS.

With help of ebay, craigslist and your local junk yard you can do the swap cheap. Do your research, get the list of parts that's needed and start looking. It's a Chevy, parts are everywhere and they are dime a dozen.

I just bought a running 454 (54k miles on it) with all the accessories including AC, starter, smog pump etc. for $300.

oldcutlass

You have a lucky find. Sorry, been there done that and got the T shirt and I'll stick to the $1500 number for the OP.

76olds

But , an Olds will give you much better return on your investment.
On a side note here,

Have you thought about just finding another car like yours that isn't in need of an engine and use your current one for parts?

Or,
Lets say a used decent running Olds 350 fell out onto your driveway what would you be able to do with it?

1BOSS83

OP,

It is the chevy swap that is making this expensive. To quote a phrase I've read about 50 times on CO "All 1964-1990 Small Block Oldsmobile are externally identical" in others words sticking with the oldsmobile engine will make life a lot easier.

Larry, I'm a year in with my 350/200-4r combo and no issues thus far and I am not shy with the throttle. I still find myself wondering that same question tho.

Eric/Christian- Thank you for the correct trans info.

76Olds, thats a great question- You can build a pretty stout 350 for 3k. vs. the crate chevy.

jpc647

Can you define pretty stout 350? Especially for that 3k number.

1BOSS83

An honest 300/350 at the flywheel.

quaddriver

gross or net? the crate motor he is looking at is already at 260hp and I think around 325tq, with only half the money being spent AND there are warehouses full of cheap parts to get the rest of the way.

matching motors to frames is one thing, but anything from GM without a bowtie on it is going to lose and lose badly the HP vs dollar spent war. ITs just the way things shaped out...

76olds

JP,
have you decided on which way to go? Either way you go many guys will be here to answer any of your ?s. Let us know .
Cheers
Eric

gs72

Not sure where you are located, but there are 2 running used 350s on the parts for sale forum.

1BOSS83

If you went bargain basement and were skilled enough to do your own exhaust work I'd say 2,250, and, to be clear, it is so the OP does not get a false sense of price point.

No argument here.

jpc647

I'm intrigued. How are you going to get that out of a 71/71 350 for such short money?

I've been quoted upwards of 3500 just for a stock rebuild on a 72 350, and those are rated at what, 210?


I'm not the OP. I just chimed in with an addition question after reading through the thread.

svnt442

That savings is all dependent on how much labor you do yourself.

quaddriver

while there is a lot of truth to that, an even more painful truth is that if the stated hp/tq goals are 300/350 - and we assume usable net hp, not old gross listings, olds never made any 350 equipment capable of that. that points you at replacing the choke point - heads - with some of the rather pricey, exclusive, scarce components out there - not a lot to choose from - you easy eat up half the budget on 2 hard parts with no labor involved. scanning further down the same jegs catalog the other day, I find that $2500 gets you a street 350 making 330ish net hp. now that could be fun. accessory bracketing remains a challenge but you should be fine choosing parts off of squarebody chevy trucks - in fact LMC might have them for sale.

just be careful you don't end up putting a silk hat on a pig....

olds 307 and 403

Your kidding right? What about the W31? It made more than the gross 325 HP, supposed to be actually 360 gross HP. Any non chebby V8 was almost always underated in GM. Beside that, he is driving a heavy Delta 88, if he is leaving the stock highway gears, he wants the Olds V8 flat torque curve.

1BOSS83

Machined block/crank, cam, carb, pistons, rings, gaskets, bearings, valve train, lifters- picked up from my house and delivered back cost me 3,100(parts and labor). As far as power goes I do want to dyno it and most likely will. I dont think I'm crazy in saying its putting 240/275 to the wheels.

jpc647

That would be a "respectable" driver. Do you have a build sheet? It'd be curious to have a local machine shop quote exactly what you did and to see how far off from $3100 they are.

1BOSS83

I don't have a build sheet.

quaddriver

sorry, was on vacation at the lake....but no I am not kidding. In the example you quoted, even if we accept the unverified, untested 360 gross hp myth, and factor that with the 70~90hp you give up going from gross to net, it STILL falls short by a large margin to motors that are essentially 'off the shelf' for less money. Its just how the future unfolded...

jpc647

bummer.