303 to 350? advice

kayle · 05-01-2007, 06:51 PM

ok so here is another one i need help with.

the whole reason i bought my 52 88 was 1. it looks cool 2.it has the rocket 303.
i like the valve covers

.

so i knew it didnt run when i bought it. its been sitting 20 years and the motors froze. i know i can drop a rebuilt 350/350 combo in cheaper than rebuilding the 303/hydro thats in it.
but what i want to know from you guys is your opinion.
i like rat rods and lead sleds. im not going to keep something that i dont drive.
i want to drive the hell out of this thing and i would like to know how reliable that 303 is.
how bad would it be to put a chevy plant in it? is that acceptable?
any other ideas?
how much can i get for the 303 and tranny?
thanks again!!!!!!!!!!

64Rocket · 05-03-2007, 12:03 AM

Dare to be different and keep it OLDS power. Even late model OLDS is good. Anybody can build a ch&vy, you can get everything you need at Wall Mart.
Show you skills and build it "OLDS"
Geno

tarps3 · 12-23-2007, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kayle

ok so here is another one i need help with.

the whole reason i bought my 52 88 was 1. it looks cool 2.it has the rocket 303.
i like the valve covers

.

so i knew it didnt run when i bought it. its been sitting 20 years and the motors froze. i know i can drop a rebuilt 350/350 combo in cheaper than rebuilding the 303/hydro thats in it.
but what i want to know from you guys is your opinion.
i like rat rods and lead sleds. im not going to keep something that i dont drive.
i want to drive the hell out of this thing and i would like to know how reliable that 303 is.
how bad would it be to put a chevy plant in it? is that acceptable?
any other ideas?
how much can i get for the 303 and tranny?
thanks again!!!!!!!!!!

How did you make out with this?
I'm in the same boat as you - my 303 is cool but it appears I may have some problem with the heads.
Did you swap yours out?

My car is a rat too.

thanks and let me know how you did it.
Casey

Oldsguy · 12-24-2007, 06:00 AM

Casey,
I read your other post too. If you have the time and don't need to drive the car, rebuild the 303 as you get the money to do it. You will be happier, and like was said on the other post, if you put the 350 in you have to do the drive train too or spend big bucks on an adapter plate for the transmission.

tarps3 · 12-24-2007, 02:37 PM

thanks for the reply Oldsguy.
Actually I WOULD like to keep the original motor but my rebuilding skills are sorely lacking (as in none). I'm fairly mechanical but a motor rebuild scares me. I've had the car a couple of years now and done a LOT of work on it (disassmbled and worked on the majority of it). It was running strong and clean throughout the restoration. It didn't start blowing coolant steam out the blow-by pipe until recently when i got it out of the paint/body shop.
Very frustrating.
I wish I had more experience with engine internals so I could rebuild the thing, but I simply don't. I don't have the money to try it and screw it up and pay someone else to fix my mistake either. I'm sorta stuck I guess.

59-59-59 · 12-24-2007, 10:30 PM

Every 303 324 371 and 394 has the same identical mount that will physically bolt up in the car. Why not try to find a runner and try that swap?

Tedd Thompson · 12-25-2007, 08:54 PM

Why not find out whats broken before swaping it out. It may have only blowen a head gasket or at worst cracked a head. Lots cheeper to rebuild a head than change out a engine and tranny. If you don't have the skills to rebuild a head you should't think about getting involved in a olds to chevy swap, Lots of problems you haven't thought of are going to happen and they all cost a lot.Just my thoughts....Tedd

05-01-2007, 06:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
kayle Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: temecula CA Posts: 11	303 to 350? advice ok so here is another one i need help with. the whole reason i bought my 52 88 was 1. it looks cool 2.it has the rocket 303. i like the valve covers . so i knew it didnt run when i bought it. its been sitting 20 years and the motors froze. i know i can drop a rebuilt 350/350 combo in cheaper than rebuilding the 303/hydro thats in it. but what i want to know from you guys is your opinion. i like rat rods and lead sleds. im not going to keep something that i dont drive. i want to drive the hell out of this thing and i would like to know how reliable that 303 is. how bad would it be to put a chevy plant in it? is that acceptable? any other ideas? how much can i get for the 303 and tranny? thanks again!!!!!!!!!!

05-03-2007, 12:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
64Rocket Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Union City Calif.94587 Posts: 63	Dare to be different and keep it OLDS power. Even late model OLDS is good. Anybody can build a ch&vy, you can get everything you need at Wall Mart. Show you skills and build it "OLDS" Geno __________________

12-24-2007, 06:00 AM	#4 (permalink)
Oldsguy Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lees Summit MO Posts: 2,994	Casey, I read your other post too. If you have the time and don't need to drive the car, rebuild the 303 as you get the money to do it. You will be happier, and like was said on the other post, if you put the 350 in you have to do the drive train too or spend big bucks on an adapter plate for the transmission. __________________ Dan '46 2 door

12-25-2007, 08:54 PM	#7 (permalink)
Tedd Thompson Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Forest Ranch Ca. Posts: 15	350/350 swap Why not find out whats broken before swaping it out. It may have only blowen a head gasket or at worst cracked a head. Lots cheeper to rebuild a head than change out a engine and tranny. If you don't have the skills to rebuild a head you should't think about getting involved in a olds to chevy swap, Lots of problems you haven't thought of are going to happen and they all cost a lot.Just my thoughts....Tedd

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12-24-2007, 02:37 PM	#5 (permalink)
tarps3 Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 29	thanks for the reply Oldsguy. Actually I WOULD like to keep the original motor but my rebuilding skills are sorely lacking (as in none). I'm fairly mechanical but a motor rebuild scares me. I've had the car a couple of years now and done a LOT of work on it (disassmbled and worked on the majority of it). It was running strong and clean throughout the restoration. It didn't start blowing coolant steam out the blow-by pipe until recently when i got it out of the paint/body shop. Very frustrating. I wish I had more experience with engine internals so I could rebuild the thing, but I simply don't. I don't have the money to try it and screw it up and pay someone else to fix my mistake either. I'm sorta stuck I guess.

12-24-2007, 10:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
59-59-59 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 202	Every 303 324 371 and 394 has the same identical mount that will physically bolt up in the car. Why not try to find a runner and try that swap?