Was asked a question from a neighbor. He asked if it is possible to bolt an Olds 350 rocket (from a 72 Cutlass) into a 1980 Chevy Malibu. Anyone know if this is doable?

 

Yes, treat it like a Cutlass.

 

So it will drop into the same mounts for engine & trans? Don't have to change anything?

 

No, you'll need mounts for a '78-'88 G-body that uses an SBO.

 

By treating it as a Cutlass, I meant you would need the frame brackets and sbo engine mounts for a Cutlass. You will need to use the sending units for oil pressure, engine temp from the Chevy engine. There are some misc wiring changes as the starter is on the opposite side. You need exhaust manifolds for the Olds engine and mod the front pipes. The transmission needs to be a BOP pattern to mount it to the Olds engine. Its not that complicated.

 

There's a kit that will allow you use chevy trans to an olds engine.
Railguy

 

Is there a reason to do this? It can work but the small block chevy is the cheapest/easiest/most plentiful engine out there. If its a good 350 Olds why not sell it and get a bolt in Chevy?

 

olds oil sender wire goes to front of engine on top,chevy goes in back behind distributor so it won't work.chevy more then likely has a chevy trans,whereas if it was a cutlass it would have a dual pattern trans.easier to go cutlass to chevy engine then chevy to olds engine.

 

Possible?
Sure, with torch and welder a Ford 9" diff can be installed.

Easy?
No.
It's not like unbolt one engine and put the other in. Unless they are both the same type and even THAT has pitfalls.

 

x100.

 

i put a 260 in my sons 79 malibu years ago. wasnt a big deal,changes had to be made,but not bad. had the engine and trans from the donor 76cutlass

 

The 1978-1988 A/G body cars are mechanically identical. The Olds 350 is externally identical to the Olds 260 and 307 that were factory installed in the Cutlass line.

This IS a bolt in, but there are a LOT of parts that need to be "bolted in". The motor mounts are the easiest part of this - just get the frame mounts used in the 1978-88 Olds-powered A/G cars or the 1977-1990 B/C cars. Use Anchor 2328 rubber motor mounts to match. Note that these frame mounts are RH/LH (the location of the top bolt is different).



Now the fun starts. You'll need a BOP trans or adapter plate if the car doesn't already have a "unisex" case. You'll need the Olds exhaust manifolds and associated changes to the exhaust pipes. You'll need the Olds accessory brackets and associated changes to plumbing and wiring.

Given the number of Oldsmobile G-body cars that have had belly-button motors installed in place of the Olds 307, the parts to do this swap must pretty much grow on trees (yeah, sadly, I'm sure they've all been thrown out in reality...).

 

A reason? In my opinion all you need is 1/2 a reason.
Railguy
Make me an offer on the adapter plate / kit.

 

Thanks for the reply's. He has a SBO 350 engine w/trans so matching a transmission isn't a worry. I will pass along the info about the mounts, etc.

 

Will olds G body headers work in the Malibu out of the Olds?

 

Yes. The 1978-1988 A/G-body cars are all the same in this respect.

 

Thank you Joe!

 

From the money he is going to spend for the mounts, adapter plate, etc. he can find a solid SBC on Craigslist. I just bought a running 396 for $300 last weekend, few weeks ago I bought a running low mileage 454 from mid-80's truck for $200.

I love Olds just as much as the next guy, but this seems *** backwards to me. But if you have extra money to throw away, go for it. JMO.

 

Everyone is assuming the Malibu currently has a V8 Chevy. Could be a V6.
Plus if he's looking for any kind of performance the Chevy exhaust will have to go anyway.

 

because some of us are effing sick of tired of chevy engines in oldsmobiles. I'm dropping a 350 Olds in my 85 Monte carlo SS as a big middle finger to the people who SBC'd their oldsmobiles and to everyone who follows the crowd... SBC and LS is freaking boring and beat to death. could i be faster? could it be cheaper?...probably yes to both but if i was a cheapskate i'd probably consider myself a chevy guy. This is even more reason why i'm glad i'm doing this same swap.

 

Well put,I couldn't agree more .
As I said before I have one of those kits for putting a chevy trans on a Olds motor.I bought it and didn't use it.
Railguy

 

Well it's not like putting a ford in a chevy..............1980 as well. 455 though

 

Nice sleeper