If i remember correctly you said you wanted to pass this car to your son when you are gone. I wonder what he would want to inherit? The cutlass with the 455 olds or the 502 chevy? If he wanted to make it all olds later on I hope you will keep the motor for him to rebuild in the future.
Do as you like, it is your car! Have fun and enjoy the whole experience of owning something most people will never have the joy of owning. Whether is powered by an olds motor or chevy is secondary.

 

If you were a true die hard Olds guy we wouldnt be having this conversation....... I havent been alive for 43 years yet but i have owned my car since high school circa 1987........And again I wouldnt EVER put a chevy motor in my Olds.........Sounds like the car needs more than a new engine,Maybe a father son resto would be more what the car needs.....

 

Robert C.
Ultimate Warrior

Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Midlothian Va.
Posts: 1,005

We have done two IA II's with the Olds head bolt pattern in the past. Mondello has one of them i think. It is call a PontiOlds. It has His heads and our block.

Olda has the same bore spacing as a Pontiac Block. The decks are reversed. So a sheet metal intake is needed. A BOP belt drive was used.

Want one?
__________________
Bob C.

Quickest, Fastest, Best selling Pontiac Aftermarket Block IA II

2002 Funny car
477 cid IA II Block and ported Tiger Heads
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1/4 Mile 6.52 @ 213.1 by Dave Wilcox in Scott Roberts car. 05-30-09 @ Virginia Motor Sports Park
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http://www.AllPontiac.com

 

I didn't remember the sheet metal intake part kinda ruined it for me.

 

I like where your head is at Jerr. My vote goes for Olds power, but I'll freely admit I'm more than a little biased.

 

 

Swapping the rear is not bastardizing the car.Swapping to a different make of engine ,which changes the appearance under the hood & such,& it never came in there,then yes.Nothing hard about swapping a BBC into an Olds.You just get everything for a Chevelle.Not too hard.Engine perches for the frame,headers,& the neccessary engine brackets & pulleys.I do agree with gearhead,if you want to go multiple steps in the right direction,you should consider doing the modern LS-based engine swap.Those are soon to become the next 350 Chevy,as far as popularity goes.More power,less weight,& a whole slew of aftermarket parts.Swapping a BBO for a BBC is not getting you anywhere,unless you have a REAL fast car,& you just can't get any more power out of your BBO without blowing it up.I have looked at & considered this same things many times,but it just would never be the same.I would no longer get the same reaction or respect from people,if they found I was running a more conventional BBC.Anyone can make a Chevy fast,but it takes a real man with brass ***** to make an Olds go fast.
You should also consider this:
You own everything that is on your car now,& the way it is set-up.yes,you have the cost of the engine vs the Olds engine rebuild,but you need to factor in the cost of all the other parts that you do not have.you need to look at the final cost,when all the smoke clears,& the car is up & driving again,& see what that cost is compared to keeping what you have & making it better.

 

They're all Chevy motors. The "Pontiac" block and "Olds" heads are just parts that were released for use on "corporate" motors installed in those brands' bodies for racing.

 

Wow, really? I did not know that!

 

The one thing I'll say here is that if your heart is set on a BBC, AT LEAST make it a DRCE with Olds heads and valve covers. Most DRCEs are 500 cu in and the block is designed to go to 650 cu in.

 

Tried Google this AM and have yet to find anything on one. Love to see it.
Go to that site and there are pics of the Pontiac block and video's pretty cool stuff.

 

pontiac has it pretty good I believe 3 companies are making blocks one is full aluminum for them and five or six heads are in being built. I think ia wold put a olds based stock components together if the orders were there .

 

Wow! I really ruffled some feathers with this post.

You haven't been reading my posts. I've mentioned that I haven't make up my mind yet. Part of my original question was to what was involved in doing this and economic reason with going with a different engine.

No one has really answered the question as to what is involved. Other than the numerous comments about why not to do it.

Some mentioned the extra expense for the extra parts need for a change over. Headers, trans adapters, brackets motor mounts etc. All of that is a mute point. My headers are 36 years old and in need of replacement, the trans adapter has already been installed last year when I 'swapped' out the 400 for a 700, the engine mounts are original and should be replace. As for the brackets I really want to get rid of the massively heavy cast iron accessory brackets for something lighter.

I biggest concern I have with this is it appears that the BBC would require I remove the A/C-heater blower housing on the firewall and possibility removing or replacing the power brake vacuum booster. No engine is worth not having A/C or a heater.

As for the SBC/LS I'm not really liking that idea. I guess I just stuck on cubic inches.

Like I just said, I haven't decided on doing this yet, but I won't be doing it if I have to loose the A/C. It's too damn hot here in the south not to have a/c.

I'll do my own wrench twisting if building the BBO. That way I know what's in the engine and exactly how it went together.

Thanks for all suggestion and concern about this.

 

why would you not be able to have a brake bootster or AC with a BBC motor?

66/67 chevelles had power brakes & AC available with big blocks- the peices on your firewall are identical to the ones on a chevelle.

 

Did not say anything about a SBC. The LS is a whole other animal. If you have to have cubes a LS2 can be built into a 408 easy and will run circles around a 502 if built right. If you are still dead set on a BBC at least have one built right and don't waist your money on that junk crate motor. Contact Wolfpace on Chevelles.com for a nice build for the money.

 

I agree Whats the point. Sell it and go buy a Chevy.

 

OK why not a 572 crate ???

 

FWIW besides the cost a 572 is a tall block, which may create issues with exhaust. I know the guy who ended up with my old SS396 went 572 and had to go with custom headers. (big bucks)
Theres are 455 crate engines as well as big inch Olds crates again FWIW.

Tuff crowd on this post.

 

Just something for the die-hards to chew on. My '84 Buick has an Olds engine FROM THE FACTORY. My girlfriends '88 Olds Toronado has a Buick 3.8 FROM THE FACTORY. Stop complaining about bastardizing and realize that the only thing an engine is is an air pump designed to rotate a shaft. If you want to swap it out for one manufactured by another division of the same company then go for it. And sell me your 455 for cheap

The first time anyone switched out a part or pice they bastardized their car since that piece didn't come with that car. Good thing Coker still makes bias-ply tires for that crowd

Where are all the purist buying their leaded gas nowadays anyway? I need to fill up on the gas that was recommended back in 1964

 

The 67 did NOT come with the BBC engine.
Everyone here knows that.
Why do you think GM got sued in the late 70's. They blew millions on that decision to dillute their division's identities.
People WANTED those Oldsmobile engines, in their Cutlasses.
Back then, People knew the difference.

And I really like the ploy to get the 455 he has for cheap. Like it may happen. Really cute.

The BBC is the better engine if you have a drag only car, and want to take on all comers. Heads flow better, aftermarket stuff is a step above. Blocks are thicker, etc, etc.

With A/C everyday driver car, and a future with his son (this car IS a collectible-read insurable value) I think it is more of a collectible with the Olds engine. His son will either sell it to finance a house, or possible try to wrap it around a pole.
I give the son a 1 in 4 chance of keeping it until HIS retirement-even if they do a father-son project.
I know MY 27-going on 13 yr old step son will NEVER-even upon my death-NEVER get my 65.

All the pieces are still available for Chevelles, will convert straight over.
You know what you need to do it.
BTW-it looks like a nice, top notch ride.

Make the choice that is right for you-your car.
The rest of this is just stirring the pot, again.
My opinion
Jim

 

i was just fanning the flame I think a light top end Ie heads and intake
a set of coated headers would be all the olds would need after all its just
a cutlas as he state's

 

[quote=turnpike_cruiser;186959]Ok don't flame me about this.

I think you are well alight at this point
Burns ward ??

Good luck

 

Joe,
The right thing to do is to leave the car alone and put the olds Motor back in the car. I agree with your post. If you want a Chevy go buy one. If you want an olds stay with the correct motor. Just my opinion for whatever its worth.

 

Just a quick rundown.
Engine mounts/frame pads from a Chevelle, and redrill frame for the new pads.
Change out the front springs. BBC IS heavier.
Exhaust manifolds/headers for BBC. Modify head pipes for new locations.
Transmission housing change (basically another Turbo 400 that will mount behind the Chevy engine, unless you want to run the adapter).
Water pump, alt brackets, power steering pump and brackets, all a/c brackets, possibly all hoses to compressor will need changed out for remounted compressor. Pulleys and change of coolant hoses to engine/radiator/heater core.
Starter wiring for Chevy engine. Starter is on opposite side, so the wires need to be extended. Same with alternator, and A/C.

A donor car is the only economical way to do this, in my opinion.
Jim

 

Think of all the money you save by going bbc! Kinda throws the bbc is cheaper myth out the window in my mind!

 

It still amazes me how long these threads always run on the Olds vs. Chevy debate. I wonder if this one will hit 100 posts.

 

yeah they do kind of go on forever and nothing ever gets resolved.

 

Since he now has a straight answer on what all this will entail, he can give us HIS decision.

Jim

 

Sorry this argument doesn't hold up.

Engine mounts/frame pads from a Chevelle, and redrill frame for the new pads.
I need to replace the motor mounts for the Olds - Mute point.

Exhaust manifolds/headers for BBC. Modify head pipes for new locations.
Headers on this car are 36 years old and in need of replacement. I need headers reqardless. Mute point.

Transmission housing change (basically another Turbo 400 that will mount behind the Chevy engine, unless you want to run the adapter).
You haven't read my signature. The turbo 400 was changed out to a 700R transmission last year. Mute point.

Water pump, alt brackets, power steering pump and brackets, all a/c brackets, possibly all hoses to compressor will need changed out for remounted compressor. Pulleys and change of coolant hoses to engine/radiator/heater core.
I already plan on getting rid of the heavy cast iron brackets and replace with March pulleys. The original a/c hoses should also be changed at this time. Anytime I rebuild an engine ALL hoses are replaced. Either BB0 or BBC the a/c compressor, all brackets and all hoses are being replaced. Mute point.

Starter wiring for Chevy engine. Starter is on opposite side, so the wires need to be extended. Same with alternator, and A/C.
I have already planed on replacing the underhood wiring. Changing the wiring at this point is trivial. Mute point.

Either way, I've already planned on replacing just about everything under the hood new components. With everything being replaced, the cost/power/reliability factor is still in favor of the Chevy.

Everything you pointed is already on my list of things to change. What it boils down to is the the price difference for the Olds engine vs the Chevy engine.

I still have not decided yet if it's a BBO or a BBC. Do I want the limited engine options of using the Olds or the almost unlimited engine options of going with the Chevy?

Either way I go, this will be a nice build. I won't be using used parts - well not quite true. If I used the Olds engine then I guess there will be some used parts.

 

Lets see...you say you have still not made up your mind, and then the next statement you make is... "Do I want the limited engine options of using the Olds or the almost unlimited engine options of going with the Chevy?"

Put the BBC in it, and then you can stay away from classicoldsmobile.com

Just so you know. I bought my 65 Cutlass with a 454 BBC in it. The first order of business was to get that thing out of there and put an Olds motor back in it. If I wanted an GM "A" body car with a BBC, I would own a Chevelle.

 

Stay away from Classic Olds is the best suggestion I've heard yet.



http://www.chevelles.com/

 

wow. Our way or stay away? Ok I wouldnt do it myself as a olds owner I would hope that we are on the brink of a flood of aftermarket parts like pontiac did about 3 to 5 years ago with more heads blocks and intake choices I love to see the 88, delmonts and 98s, doing mod work to their cars it adds to our number's and will help us get noticed by someone in the parts world.

 

We're done here.