Still trying to sell my Olds down here....couple of bids on Aussie eBay.
Looking for a 1970-1972 442 convertible or real good clone.
I have never driven an Olds 350 with 350 trans or a 455 with 400 trans.
My 330 (320hp) 2 speed is the only Olds I've ever experienced.
Ideally I'd like a big block, however, if the right 350 comes along I would consider it.
From you experience guys, what's the difference in "drivebility, power and economy" between the 350 & 455? Is the 350 / 3speed a much different driver than the 330?
I want something more than a cruiser which is how I see the 330.
There also seem to be a number of HP rating variations across the 350 range. For example there's a nice looking clone with a 240HP 350 which seems small compared to the 330, but how would it stack up with a 3 speed trans? Also a few 350 HP smallblocks around. What should I look for guys?

 

I would gather in stock form a 68-69 350 with #5 heads would be a good starting point. I believe they were rated @ 310-325hp with 4bbl and the high compression pistons. Someone else may correct me though....

 

Nobody like small blocks more than I do, but in a heavy car the 455 is going to out perform the 350 by quite a bit. The torque is really more important on a driver, and the extra cubes and torque of the 455 are hard for the 350 to overcome. However, there will be a lot more 350 powered cars available and at a lower price. If you can find a high comp 350 like csouth suggested, upgrade the cam, intake, and exhaust, pop in some gears and it should be fun enough to drive. But again, bang for the buck the 455 wins out in most circumstances.

 

If you are looking at horsepower ratings, keep in mind they changed to net hp ratings in 1972 which in itself showed a large decrease. They were rated at the back of the transmission with all accessories an air cleaner and mufflers. I may be a little off on how they were rated and I am sure there is somebody on here that has the exact details.

 

In the 1980's I did a resto-rod of a 1971 Cutlass Supreme. It had 2.56 rear end gears. I put in a mildly built 455 and ran that for years. Then I pull the 455 to put it in a different car and installed a 350 that also was mildly built. What I noticed is the two performed in a similar manner until I hit 50 mph. At that point wide open throttle the 350 stopped pushing me back in the seat. But the 455 continued pushing me back well over the 80 mph mark. So my experience was that with highway gears the two were similar around town, but at highway speed I really saw the difference from the greater torque of the 455. John

 

Gotta love the torque of that 455 on the highway!