hello olds guru's
I have seen that a machine shop used to make a front crossmember for this swap, I have emailed with no response, I think they are in Arizona. Anyway I know its been done so if anyone wants to share some pics or knowledge it would be appreciated. I basically have a fresh 394 sitting around and a 68 A-body that I would like to mate it with.I also have the slimjim transmission. It is very strange how it is mounted into a car regular motor mounts will not work/ Thanks in advance
Joe

 

I don't want to rain on your parade, but it would be lot less trouble to drop the 394 into a 1964 or earlier full size body. Get another engine for your A body. You might be able to fabricate something using an Olds Toronado front engine mount. I guess, with enough money, anything can be done.
......Just my two cents worth.

 

Thanks for the advice, I still would like to do it. My 64 I bought from the original owner it was still in pristine shape I loved to take it cruising, for a big boat that 394 easily powered it right down the road. Good luck on your starfire

 

Wow, that sir is a beautiful car!

 

Yes it is, my neighbor growing up bought it new and I remember him taking meticulous care of it, I grew up and moved away, my dad calls me one day and says he has a for sale sign on it. I told him to go tell him I'll take it. well the brake line going to the front passenger wheel had rubbed a hole and it was too much for him to fix. I bought it and enjoyed it several years and never did anything but oil and maintenance. I sold it to a guy in springfield , mo he was a car sniffer for a car dealership. I seen it on a online ad, looks like they freshened up the paint/ it must of been a massive job there is a lot of chrome trim to deal with. It was yellow with green interior kind of odd but beautiful. Thanks .

 

OK, first, the type of mounting used on the 394 is not "very strange", it was normal design practice in the 1940s and 50s when this motor was first designed (as the 1949 303 Rocket V8). Second, the 394 weighs about 100 lbs MORE than a 455, while making less HP, and that's not counting the additional structure you'll need to mount the motor. Third, the 394 won't bolt to any trans that fits in an A-body car unless you buy the adapter for a TH400. Fourth, you'll need to custom fabricate headers, as there are no 394 exhaust manifolds that fit an A-body (and given the fact that factory dual exhaust manifolds for a 394 are worth their weight in gold if and when you do find one, custom is about your only option anyway). Sorry, this is just a bad idea all around.

 

This project sounds like a " I did it just to show it could be done " build ,
You will need two things , mad fabrication skills , and deep pockets .
If you don't have the fabrication skills , you will need even deeper pockets .

 

"I choose to restore an Oldsmobile . Not because it is easy . But because it is hard ."

But not this...no this is too hard...

 

This would turn out to be the worst idea you ever had. Get another car or get another engine.

 

When I was 16 I bought a 65 Cutlass with a 330 cheap with some engine problem. I also bought a friend's 64 88. The 88 was rusted to hell so it was a perfect combination, put the 394 and slim jim in the 65 Cutlass- what could go wrong??? Fast car for cheap!! So I took the engine/trans out of the 64, using a borrowed chain fall and tree in the front yard of my parents house. I then did something smart ( not usual for this 16 year old know it all) I called a local speed shop in Lansing who raced a Oldsmobile in those days. He told me I was nuts!! I ended up not doing the swap.. Good thinking for once....

 

Where are you located? Have you thought about trading the 394 for a 455, or selling the 68 and buying a full-size to put the 394 in? Post up some pics of the 68 and details of the rebuild on the 394. Depending on the condition of the 68 i would be interested in it as a roller. The full size cars are generally less expensive than the mid sized in the same condition. Also there is a often someone in need of a running 394, myself included.

 

Indeed. But to be fair, mounting a 394 in a '68 Cutlass is not even remotely a restoration.

 

how did you make out with this swap? Was thinking about putting a 394 in a 69 cutlass.