Hey bros, I just recently bought a 85 442, it has a small block chevy conversion done before I got it. They built a turbo350 trans for it. They pulled motor before I bought it. The question is should I go back to the chevy small block or go back with an olds motor? I know I have to swap trans too. And what is best option ? I know I won't find another peiod correct 307 for 442 , considering there was only 3000 442 that year. But will it hurt value to do a 350 or 403 swap? I have a good 305 that would bolt right in, but seems sacrilege to put a chevy in the 442. Please any thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated

 

It depends on how much of the remainder of the car is still stock and or will remain stock on what the future value will be. Missing the original engine upfront already inpacts future value. It also depends on how deep your pockets are to return to the Olds power train. There are plus's and minus's for either direction. It's your car and your call.

 

I would go back Olds, if it were mine, I would use small block gbody headers and a trans dapt bellhousing adapter and keep the Chevy TH350! I have used the adapter several times with no issue, in fact I drove a 455 TH350 car with one to work today.

 

Is the TH350 in it a Chevy only case or did they use a universal case?

I'd vote for Olds power too!!!

 

Right on, where doess a guy inquire one? Unfortunately it is a chevy bell housing but if adapter plate is to much, sure would save some time and money. Still have to change saddles and exhaust, they set it up with chevy stock manifolds and duel exhaust. But do you think it's worth looking for the 9 code 307 is worth looking for? Is it better to up grade to 350 or 403? And if olds kept to more of a traditional thought pattern, don't you think they would have put the 403 in the 442? Being it is the big block( small block ) of that era.

 

The rest of the car is unmolested, except for b&m shifter put in instead of original floorshifter. Has reclining buckets which I heard was a rare option. And the factory electric sun roof. Also heard to be rareer option then t- tops. Has electric windows. Elctric drivers seat. So a few good options.

 

I am a little bias... My 85 in the avatar has a 455 Olds (previously a V6 vehicle)...

 

That would make it a lot more fun.

 

Even more fun if I install one of my TriPower setups or my 66 W30 set-up...

 

if it were mine olds power w a 350, 403 , or 455...local to me (mass) there are 1 or 2 vin 9 307s on craigslist i would check cl if thats what your after.

IMO the engine will never be #s matching again, an SBO or BBO is the way to go here.

 

Does anybody know if you need a special torque converter for the adapter plate, there were coments about the converter is out of front pump a half inch or more. Is this an issue? Do they sell a longer shaft converter?

 

If I had a olds gbody i would consider the olds 350, olds 455, olds 400 or olds 425. Maybe even a buick 350.

 

is the trans a uni-bell? it will have both chev and olds patterns.

 

Nothing special needed for the torque converter. There are many people that offer the adapter. Two of my four Olds have Chevy transmissions in them. I abuse one of them regularly! Eighth mile track times in the low 8 second range.

 

Obviously a 455 is fun, but I have a friend that did a 403 in an 84 H/O that's ran well.

 

I've got a 350 engine that I believe a previous owner had put into a 1984 g-body. They drilled and threaded ports for the AIR system on a set of #5 heads. If you still have that system on your car I'd be open to discussing this engine and/or heads. John

 

Thanks guys for all the help. I think I am I'm the market for a good 403 to stick in it

 

I have a running vin9 307 for sale

 

Older thread revived, I see. Washers are needed to take up the space so the torque converter doesn't come out too far. Did you find a 403? The stock 3.73 gears will suck at 70 mph with a 3 SPD.