I've looked up my VIN and supposedly my 98 has only 170hp....how can I top 200hp (maybe)


btw -- it's a 1977 Ninety-Eight Regency Sedan, 350 V8, ~91,000 miles

Thanks!

7798

 

In my book its 170hp and 270tq. To get out some more power out of that thing easy, just put on a set of headers, tune up, and advance the timing alittle. That would get it done.

 

What might adding dual exhaust do??

I remember seeing some lists (in different places) of specs on all the Olds engine combos for '72.
The 350 2bbl single exh was 160hp.
The 350 4bbl single exh was 180hp.
The 350 4bbl dual exh was 200hp.
I do not really believe that you can get THAT much just by adding duals, but maybe someone knows for sure???

 

Leave it alone and enjoy the car, it sounds like a nice cruiser that would probably get close to 20mpg on the freeway. Put your "go faster" money somewhere else. You won't feel any difference with a 25hp increase.

Dave

 

Dual exhaust would be a good starting point.
Mine came from here. http://classicexhaustinc.com/

That must mean my '71 350 2bbl dual exhaust is a 180hp then? I haven't been able to drive it yet to see if it makes any noticeable difference. It does idle better and revs a lot more freely now. I was thinking of switching to an Edelbrock Performer with a Q-Jet, wonder if that would take it over 200hp?

 

Your still up against the low compresion ratio. Dual exhaust, after market 4 barrel will add a little as will a different cam. But for the cost the gain is small. Might think about buying a core engine and putting you money into building a performer over a period of time so the outlay of money is spread out. Thats how I am doing it with my 455 in my 48 olds. Its also fun to build. Just bought a performer intake in the parts for sell section for $1500.00, Edelbrock heads and roller rockers for $1500.00, Steel crank for $200.00, now I am looking for pistons. Takes time but getting good buys makes it worth it.

 

yea... she's a 4bbl

 

Definitely go to dual exhaust and an aftermarket intake manifold. However, Pat has a good point. It might be easier to purchase a second engine and rebuild it while enjoying your car.

 

According to my cheat sheet, the 71 350 2bbl single exh was 240 bhp. No dual rating is given.
In 72, the ratings went to net hp, which looked much lower but were more realistic.
Of course I do have doubt on the accuracy of the data I have...

 

Your best bet to break 200hp would be to have the heads milled and a good 4 angle valve job done. 71-72 have deep dish pistons that make the compression suffer.

 

Silly me. Posted '72 numbers in error.

Left them here, because they do not change the message.

Depends on the circumstances. A knowledgeable dyno operator can easily get more than 20 HP with no changes. Another way, would be to apply a "tweak" or two, prior to that pull.

Another way, might be to take two different numbers, from the same pull: 180 HP @ 4000 RPM and 200 HP @ 4400 RPM, for example.

Taking it one step further, four different torque numbers could have been taken from the same pull: 275 @ 2400, 295 @ 2600, 275 @ 2800, and 300 @ 3200.

But if they had done that, the results would only be useful for PR purposes, wouldn't they?

Norm

 

That is what I always fall back upon when discussing published hp numbers by Detroit (for any car in the sixties and seventies especially), how valid are they? So many ways to manipulate number to one's advantage.

 

Norm, Dan - very good points indeed...