loosecannon39

Question please.
regarding a 49/50 Olds w/303 eng. will 324/371/394 swap into this chassis without adapters?? Either just engine, or both engine and tranny from the later car????
TKS
DAN

88 coupe

Welcome to the site,

Yes.

Yes and yes

I don't know anything about trannys.

Norm

loosecannon39

Been away a while, but the tranny thing is generation gap thing. I looked up tranny on the net, and it wasn't something I want in my ride...

DAN

Nailhead 88

got a problem my 50 Olds 88 coupe had a 371 Olds just laying on the frame
held up at the rear with a chain no transmission no rear crossmember

so i figured why know keep it simple put a 55 Olds 324 with stock hydramatic they both were rebuilt and bolted together

i did not have a cross member so i got one from the junkyard it came out of a 50 Olds 98 ( this my be the problem?) not a 50 Olds 88
the length was ok it fit the frame

the rebuilt 55 Olds 324 had front & rear mount mounts on it
when i put the 324 in i couldn't get the mounts 55 rear mounts
to line up with the 50 Olds 98 X member
i bought new 50 Olds 88 rear mounts the angle on the cross member and mounts didn't line up

this is the 50 Olds cross member from a 50 Olds 98 - problem???
P5311032.jpg
rear mounts green are 55 Olds black are for a 50 Olds 88
P6181050.jpg

P6181051.jpg

i'm not sure if a 55 Olds cross member has a different angle or what?

so if anyone has been through this swap what's the answer

Thanks for any help or what am i doing wrong here

Tedd Thompson

Nailhead,
I've personally seen a 371 mated up to a 55 slant pan hydro and I don't remember any major modifications. This was put in a 55 hardtop.The one to call would be Ross Racinghttp://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=ross%20racing%20engines&source=we b&cd=3&ved=0CFMQjBAwAg&url=http%3A%2F%2Frossracing engines.com%2Fc%2F11%2Foldsmobile-rocket-engines-early-catalog%2F&ei=b04lUMvKEcf7iwLukYGYDQ&usg=AFQjCNE00 GF-MP_R7kHcpal0z5e757-xuA&cad=rja they know most everything about adapting these first generation Olds motors. There are problems that can happen from the difference from the 371 being internal balanced and the 324 being externally balanced but I have seen and done this myself with no problems( maybe just lucky)but I've never adapted a slant pan to a 50 Olds I thought they took the same rear mount.

This thread is very old and in fact 88 Cope is no longer with us( deceased ) so I wouldn't hold my breath expecting him to respond.

You might try posting this in the vintage or transmission forum where a bunch of the earley olds guys hang out, they are trying to close out this forum and it gets little use....Tedd

Nailhead 88

Thanks for the heads up on 88 coupe Rest in Peace Norm
Tony at Ross said use the 50 mounts with the 324 but
that hasn't worked not sure what the answer is

vintage guys i'll try that
Thanks Tedd for the info