Olds_71_442

I was searching Kijiji today and came across this........a 1977 Olds Omega SX. Nice looking car. The ad says it's got a big block 400. I also see it is definitely an Olds engine. Does anyone know anything about these cars? I've never seen one like this before and never knew they existed. 39,000 original miles on the car, according to the ad. The car is located about 45 minutes from my place. I'm tempted to go look at it.

http://novascotia.kijiji.ca/c-cars-v...AdIdZ474214567

MDchanic

Looks like a small block to me (tough angle, though). Could be a 402, but I don't think that would have been original.

- Eric

arodenhiser

That car looks very nice. My brothers '78 Omega SX Hatch came with a 305 in it. I think the 400 is a custom job. The roof/window treatment is correct as are the paint lines. It has been on sale for months. Original price was $18,500, if I remember correctly. I hope it goes to a good home.

Adam

1970cs

Found this on the net.

Pat

1969w3155

The 400 was last used in '69, so it's a transplant.

Olds_71_442

I was thinking it was a 403 or 350 small block, not the 402 big block. Most people around here don't know much about Oldsmobiles and think the Olds engine is a big block because it's much bigger than the Chevy engine. I agree that it's definitely a custom job, not factory correct.

Olds_71_442

I'd be willing to bet he has air shocks in the back too....either that or he tried to convert it to a 4X4.

I was trying to look at the stamping on the firewall end of the passenger side cylinder head. It looks like a #4 to me.

Allan R

Eddie,
I remember seeing those cars back then. I was still working for a local market in the evening loading cars with groceries to make gas money. That one is the equivalent of the Chev Nova Concours IIRC. The SX was a package you could add to most of the 2 door omega's according to the 77 Olds brochure. That one looks like it was an Omega coupe Brougham with the added SX package.


And the largest engine I've seen advertised by Olds for the 77 Omega was the 350

1969w3155

Thanks Allan, I knew that the Omega had the 350 when it debuted, but I was unsure how long it was available.

Olds_71_442

It says 350, but doesn't specify if it's an Olds 350 or Chevy 350.

I used to have a 78 Pontiac Ventura with the 231 V6 Buick engine. Same color as this car. I've never seen the SX model of these cars. Then again, there were very few Olds Omegas around here and what few there were, most were 4 door sedans.

arodenhiser

I know the Nova got the Chevy 350. Since there are threads on here about fitment troubles with getting a 455 in this generation Omega, I am going to guess it was a Chevy 350. I think the proper frame mounts, engine mounts would bee easier to figure for a 455 if the platform could have had a Olds 350 in it.

Adam

copper128

Sure looks like 4A heads on that engine to me. That would mean it's likely a 403.
Definitely transplanted in. So far as I know, the only Olds V8 offered in the Omega in 77 was the 260. After that you could have a 305 or 350 Chevy. In 78 they even dropped the 260, so the only choices then were Buick V6 or Chevy small-block.

I'd bet about anything that this was an original 260 car, with a quick & easy 403 swap.

I bought my 78 SX hatchback new in Sept. 77.

Allan R

True enough. I'm not sure but I think the offering for 350's here in Canada was better than in the US.

Also has the signature 403 valve covers too.

260 originally? Possible according to new information I just read from 2blu442. If it was a 260 the tranny was likely changed out too.

The 305 4bbl and 350 were both decent Chev engines. Maybe it was a 350 - that way the 403 should just bolt right up to the Tranny. I don't think it would be a straight plug and play to a 260 with a TH200.

2blu442

Allan, I've seen a couple of these cars with the 260 and 5 speed setup. The last one was a driver for $1500. If I only had more time and more money... it would be a fun car to swap in an older engine and 4 speed

John

Allan R

I stand corrected. I didn't realize they could have the 260 in the Omega. I'll go back and fix that. Funny that back in the day the Omega, Nova, Apollo and Ventura were so common they were almost boring. Now there's a lot of interest in them. Wonder how many of them got discarded and crushed as compared to saved/restored? I know - it's a moot point. Thx for the info John!

MDchanic

Almost?

How times do change.

- Eric

copper128

The reason I know the 260 was available in 77 is because I ordered my 78 in early August before the 78 sales info was available, so it was ordered using the 77 salesman's book, which showed the 260 available. After the dealer submitted the order, they got a call from the zone office to let them know the 260 had been dropped for the 78 model year. The dealer called me and offered me my pick of the Buick V6 or a 305 Chevy 2bbl. I took the V6 since it was NOT a Chevy.

BTW, don't assume the 260 would have had a TH200 behind it. Even my 3.8 V6 got a TH350. Not a dual-pattern bellhousing, either. Good ol' BOP TH350.

Allan R

I know the early 200 and 200C's were failure prone. Do you know if the TH200 was the standard that went with the 260 at the time though? At least till the TH250C came out?

copper128

I don't know. My service manual is for the 78 models & Wild About Cars doesn't have any factory material on the late 70's cars.
I'm thinking maybe it depends on the car line. The Omegas were built in other division's plants (mine came from Buick Ypsilanti) along with Skylark & Phoenix models.
A/G bodies were a different animal and maybe more division specific.

Olds_71_442

Nice car. I really like the color combination.

Olds_71_442

I think so too. I remember someone telling me that you could only get the 1981 Z28 with the 350 Chevy in Canada. I'm not sure if that's true or not, but we never had the emissions regulations that a lot of States in the US had or have.

Olds_71_442

I remember they were considered a joke back then. But compared to the turds auto manufacturers make today, these cars are great.

I used to think the Chevy Malibu from the late 70s/early 80s was a crappy looking car. Now, I catch myself admiring them when I see one drive by that's in nice shape.

arodenhiser

Relisted with a $200 price drop......

http://novascotia.kijiji.ca/c-cars-v...AdIdZ476272705

Adam

Olds_71_442

I forgot to go check it out in person. I'm only 45 minutes away.

It's a nice looking car, but I've already got one car I can only drive once in awhile. I don't really have a need for another. But I'd still like to see it in person.

Octania

Sweet pc of 70's nostalgia

price seems 2x high to me, but what do I know? It's not like you can just go get another one.

If you go see it, GET THE BLOCK CASTING NUMBER... and all the other numbers you can.

Most non-Olds folks think the 403 is a "big block" just because the block is big- compared to their girly Cheby motor.

BILL DEMMER

i just can't get past the NOVA-caine look of that thing.


bill

Olds_71_442

Yes......if I get a chance to go see it, I will definitely get the block casting number. I'm sure it's a small block. Just seeing the number stamped on the head instead of a letter tells me it's not a big block. And like you said......most people who don't know Oldsmobiles think a 403 is a big block because it's much larger than a Chevy. I know this first hand and have had arguments with people in this area, about it. These are people who "supposedly" know everything about General Motors or musclecars.

Chesrown 67 OAI

The Omega 350 could have been a Buick too! As you know, it was "pot luck" baqck then. You could order a 350 and not be sure what you got. Remember the lawsuit from the guy that got his Olds delivered with a Cheby motor?

Heres a pic of Ron Garey's Omega tha he raced with the (legal) 350 Buick motor in L/SA back in the day!!

Chesrown 67 OAI

This is what i was talking about in my previous post. The 350 listed in this ad could have been a Buick 350 -- and thats why NHRA recognized the Buick 350 as a legal motor for a stocker Omega in those years. I dont know my Omega years but I think Ron's race car was a 76 or 77? The car is N/SA in this pic. It was L/SA in other pic. ( same car, different seasons)

Olds_71_442

I had a '77 Firebird Formula with a 350 Buick in it. I doubt it was the original engine, but it had been in the car for a long time because you couldn't tell that it had been installed later in the car's life.

arodenhiser

Another Omega up for grabs in Nova Scotia. This time a 1976 S Hatchback. This one comes with the 350. It is not an Olds SBO. I wonder what it is? Hmmmm..... I think Chesrown had it right.













http://novascotia.kijiji.ca/c-cars-v...AdIdZ477647016



Adam

MDchanic

That's a Buick motor -- No doubt.

- Eric

Fun71

The picture shows a front mounted distributor that is tilted, which makes it a Buick V-8 engine.

Fun71

Did you ever notice that the first letters of each of those names spells NOVA?

Nova
Omega
Ventura
Apollo

We used to wonder about the significance of that back in the day.

BILL DEMMER

it also spells avon...


bill

texxas

I once had a 1975 Buick Skylark in the same color combo as the SX in the first post, same horrible, padded vinyl top. It had the Olds 260 in it. I paid all of $25 dollars for it. All it needed was a timing chain. I gave it to an old GF for her first car. It might have been why we broke up.

copper128

Thanks Eddie. It was originally silver w/black stripes. In '84 I had a local custom painter reverse the colors in the new (at the time) catalyzed urethane. It came out really nice but the black was a bear to keep looking good. It it's next incarnation it'll be a different color - haven't decided for sure yet - but I'm keeping the white interior. This time it'll be Olds powered for sure.

True, but I think you're a lot closer to reality than the seller, Chris. It is nice (except for that 1/2 vinyl top ) but lack of demand will limit the price. The buckets & console are non-original, BTW.

Notice the side marker in the right quarter. Quarter panel was apparently replaced with one for a Nova. '75-79 Omegas all had the rear side markers in the tail lamps. These cars are prone to rot in the rear unit body.

Olds_71_442

Oops! The ad is already gone. I wonder if it sold that fast?

Olds_71_442

You'll have to post pictures of it when it's done. Do you still have the same rims on it? Those really make the black and silver stand out.

arodenhiser

It's back.....

http://novascotia.kijiji.ca/c-cars-v...AdIdZ477845991

Adam