Olds to Chevy

Gert3116 · 12-29-2007, 11:01 PM

I have an Olds 350 and I am giong to put a Chevy 350 in it while I rebuild the Olds engine. What needs to change to make the Chevy engine work and what parts do I need to get. I have a TH-350 transmission too and I don't know if it will bolt up to that or if I have to get a different bell housing or something.

Olds64 · 12-30-2007, 05:21 AM

If the car has an Oldsmobile engine and transmission in it you won't be able to bolt up a Chevy engine to the Olds transmission. They Olds and Chevy transmissions are the same internally but have a different bell housing. You will have to get an adapter plate for the Chevy engine to bolt up to the transmission.

I suggest you just have patience. Wait until your Olds engine is rebuilt and then put it back in the car. You will find that Chevy motors are underpowered and poorly built. They made the Chevy engines out of hardened toothpaste, that is why they had to use 4 bolt mains. You can probably expect 5 or 6 horsepower out of a radically built 350.

joe_padavano · 12-30-2007, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gert3116

I have an Olds 350 and I am giong to put a Chevy 350 in it while I rebuild the Olds engine. What needs to change to make the Chevy engine work and what parts do I need to get. I have a TH-350 transmission too and I don't know if it will bolt up to that or if I have to get a different bell housing or something.

Everything is different. In addition to the bellhousing, you need different motor mounts, frame mounts, starter, wiring (the starter is on the other side), flywheel, accesory brackets, etc. Not exactly a cheap and fast way to go.

captjim · 12-30-2007, 09:40 AM

If it has A/c, it is on the wrong side, too. Radiator, etc, along with the things Joe mentioned. Just pop in a running 350 or 307 if you absolutely need the car. Or better yet, get another good 350 core (pretty cheap, in most locations) and build it.

Redog · 12-30-2007, 08:18 PM

It's not exactly a cheap way to go. By the time you're done working everything out, you're Olds motor should be done and with a lot of money wasted on the Chevy motor...

If you have a Chevy motor looking for a home, buy yourself a little truck or G body Malibu and put it in there or sell it to pay for that Olds 350 rebuild

Gert3116 · 12-30-2007, 10:21 PM

Thanks guys. i had no idea that all this stuff was different. Maybe I'll just think about waiting till I can rebuild my old motor all at once. Then I don't have to mess with changing all that stuff then changing it back again.

12-29-2007, 11:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
Gert3116 Red69CutlassS Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Billings Posts: 44	Olds to Chevy I have an Olds 350 and I am giong to put a Chevy 350 in it while I rebuild the Olds engine. What needs to change to make the Chevy engine work and what parts do I need to get. I have a TH-350 transmission too and I don't know if it will bolt up to that or if I have to get a different bell housing or something.

12-30-2007, 05:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
Olds64 Landyacht Club President Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Lawton, OK Posts: 1,833	If the car has an Oldsmobile engine and transmission in it you won't be able to bolt up a Chevy engine to the Olds transmission. They Olds and Chevy transmissions are the same internally but have a different bell housing. You will have to get an adapter plate for the Chevy engine to bolt up to the transmission. I suggest you just have patience. Wait until your Olds engine is rebuilt and then put it back in the car. You will find that Chevy motors are underpowered and poorly built. They made the Chevy engines out of hardened toothpaste, that is why they had to use 4 bolt mains. You can probably expect 5 or 6 horsepower out of a radically built 350. __________________ "Some men are Baptists, others Catholics. My father was an OLDSMOBILE man." Ralphie Billingsley A Christmas Story 1983 "We rei-eign, supreme, ooooh god! Burrito supreme, and a chicken supreme, and a CUTLASS SUPREME!" Tenacious D 2007

12-30-2007, 08:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
Redog Alero Chapter Secretary Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Newtown, PA Posts: 831	It's not exactly a cheap way to go. By the time you're done working everything out, you're Olds motor should be done and with a lot of money wasted on the Chevy motor... If you have a Chevy motor looking for a home, buy yourself a little truck or G body Malibu and put it in there or sell it to pay for that Olds 350 rebuild __________________ Me 2000 Alero running 14's 2005 Nissan Altima (her's) 1985 Delta 88 w/1968 350 rocket ( MURDERED )

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12-30-2007, 09:40 AM	#4 (permalink)
captjim Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 179	If it has A/c, it is on the wrong side, too. Radiator, etc, along with the things Joe mentioned. Just pop in a running 350 or 307 if you absolutely need the car. Or better yet, get another good 350 core (pretty cheap, in most locations) and build it.

12-30-2007, 10:21 PM	#6 (permalink)
Gert3116 Red69CutlassS Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Billings Posts: 44	Thanks guys. i had no idea that all this stuff was different. Maybe I'll just think about waiting till I can rebuild my old motor all at once. Then I don't have to mess with changing all that stuff then changing it back again.