angee

Just curious. New user here. My S/O and I just got a 73 Omega (rescued is more like it) and it is currently stripped down, has been TOOTHBRUSHED clean (yes, I'm serious about the toothbrush), been wire brushed, painted back to gold and is waiting for gaskets and timing chain to get here tomorrow. Carb rebuild on the way as well, as we want to get her on the road and run her until we get the new motor and tranny together for next season. No running her in the winter here anyway, so we'll take that time to put in the goodies. I hadn't seen an Omega in over two decades when I saw this one on CL, and it doesn't seem like there's very many left around. Thus, one of the reasons we got her. I've done the Olds 98, Cutlass Supreme 2 and 4 door so this is something a little different. Of course, this is HIS baby...I'm just gonna get dirty helping him with it. (and driving it!!)

Cheers!
Ang

74 Omega

I agree, not too many left. The best part is every show or cruise night, I am the only Omega.

On the flip side it is damn hard to find parts.

This winter, I plan on getting into the motor. I have done the gears, and transmision, body has been done before I got the car.

Still looking for the camper package. This would be different at some cruise nights.

Allan R

Weren't the 73 Nova and Omega pretty compatible for body parts? If I remember right, the major changes were interior trim, and front end styling? Does this sound right to you?
The only Omega I owned was in 1981. It was an Omega Brougham. White 4 door with burgandy interior-fully loaded. Great little X body car. Back then I changed cars almost more than I changed clothes so I only kept it for a year. (Oh to be young and financially foolish again....)_

I do remember the 73 models, but like you say they weren't as popular a seller. If I was given the choice between Omega and Nova back then?? hmmmm, Nova was cheaper, but Omega was classier. Yup that would be my choice. Olds would win every time.

Any chance you could find the specs for the camper option and have an upholstery shop do up the order? It would sure be a conversation starter on cruise night.

74 Omega

As far as I can tell that is correct. My 74 is different from most, for example, I have been looking for a front blinker/marker light.

It was only made for the 74 Omega, Nova's, Apollo's and Ventura's do not match the Omega. 73 and 75 are different from the 74. Most of the time, if I cannot get the part for an Omega, I will check Nova parts
The worst is being a hatchback, even looking for Nova Hatchback parts is impossible; rear carpet,(the best anyone will do is sell me extra carpet and an edging and I will have to find someone to sew it for me) hatch supports, the little rubber boots around the supports, etc.

Olds64

Those are cool!

angee

The rear marker lights are different from the nova, but the skins are interchangeable with slight modding. We are missing the dipstick, and can't seem to locate one. Checking JC Whitney in the morning. Had to order the timing chain from Advance, and the gasket sets from Summit Racing. Engine has been cleaned, stripped and repainted, block is back in the car and we are waiting on finding the dip to complete the reassembly. We painted the engine back to the gold color it was when we got it. This car was originally yellow...odd color. It's going to get painted matte black with gloss accents.
Can't wait to get her back running!

74omega

I have one, Its a 1974 hatchback. It has buckets,console shift,a/c, 350 v-8.It is Yellow with black "Hurst" style striping on the side and black interior. Its a *numbers matching* car, as if it matters lol.

I have done very little so far to it. I bought a new edelbrock intake manifold and a Holley double pumper 650, De smogged it, Put true dual exhaust with 2.5" pipe.I also Installed gauges and a tach. I have #5 heads that have been rebuilt for it also..

My plans are to drive it daily how it is and source another 74 under 350 block and build the bottom end, put the #5 heads on, get the stupid expensive hooker headers & Posi rear with 3.40's gearing ..

I want to keep the Olds motor .. My wish is a good streetable low 13 second omega..

I need the Taillight/trim (the passenger) 74_omega lkinked me to E-bay ones but I was on vacation lol.. So if you find one let me know..

Toro68

I some 1980/82 Olds Omgema factory manuals for sale.

mike's88

Ask and ye shall recieve http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1974-...1%7C240%3A1318 If anyone knows Dave offsite, relay this to him asap. Thanks.

74 Omega

Thanks
I have made contact...

74 Omega

Thanks Mike's88, I am now the proud owner of an OLDS MINI CAMPER

Oldsguy

Cool

KeithA0000

Isn't it great when a plan comes together like that!
Now you gotta show us the thing installed in your Olds!

mike's88

Dave you're welcome. Funny, when you posted the pic. of that option, for curiosity sake, went to the bay of e. Did a search and there it was. Glad you got it.

lowdynamo

That is awesome!! I wish cool stuff like that was still made, nooooo everybody wants tv's instead

74NovaSS

How about some Pics of you guys 73-74 Omegas?

1973oldsomega

He is a pic of my 73 i just got it about a week and a half ago the car is rust free and in great shape to restore it the interior is the worst part but im not worried about it needs some slight body work behind the driver door but thats it and it runs like a champ right now too. It has the olds 350 rocket engine in it so i am going to use that engine but upgrade it

1973oldsomega

I guess the omega's aren't that popular huh!!!! Oh well i love mine and i can not wait to get it fully restored.

74 Omega

here are a few

Omega 002.jpg

Omega 003.jpg

Omega 004.jpg

Cruising Downtown 2008 031.jpg

Oldsguy

I like that little white Omega. Very nice. I just missed it earlier. Owned an Omega for a while but it was a little newer and had those huge bumpers. Didn't like those, also, it had a chevy straight six in it.

Oldsguy

here is a picture of it. It was pretty nice but the front end was a little loose and the engine was anemic. I never rebuilt anything on it, just drove the crap out of it.

Allan R

No doubt about it, you've got a nice looking car there. It's funny (probably only to me) that when these cars were new, I was only 16 and although I was a dyed in the wool Olds fan (Dad beat that into me, and it stuck) I couldn't help but think (to myself) that these cars were nothing more than Nova knock offs. Naturally, I was driving a "real" Olds at the time: a 72 Cutlass S with probably exactly the same drive train as yours. Only the Omega might have had some "pollution control" crap mine didn't. Well, Nova was a popular car back then, and that was also the start of the gas crunch. OMG it was about close to 40 cents a GALLON and going up in spurts of 2-5 cents at a time. Guess that's why Nova's, Apollos, Venturas and Omegas had a good following. You could still get V8 power (read: performance) in lighter smaller car.

I really like your Omega in white. But, it's hard for me not to remember where the body design came from.

Congrats on your new Olds. I'm sure you'll do it proud. Looking forward to more pics of any upgrades you do to the interior.

RATCHETMASTER

Let me see if I can attach a pic of my 78 omega SX that I sold this summer. .

The last one of it on the trailer was when I had it at my dads house for a few weeks.

1973oldsomega

Thanks for the compliments and i will keep you all posted on the progress. I have gutted the interior and pulled the engine and from the looks of it my drive train is a Rocket 350 with a turbo 400 trans should work well for the rebuild and upgrades.

1973oldsomega

lol well when my Omega came out i was -11 since i wasnt born until 1984 and i am only 24 years old. My dad is a chevy man he has a 1978 Camaro that him and i fully restored and has won a good amount of show with. I originally wanted a Nova but when i seen the Omega i knew that is the car i wanted to restore i love the front end it looks way better then the Nova's front clip. but rebuilding the engine is not going to be cheap its going to be 1800 dollars just for the heads on it here are some pics of the drive train i really want to know exactly what i am working with my dad said that it is the rocket with a 400 trans and i trust him as he has been dealing with cars for well over 20 years but just would like to clarify with the olds guys.

oldsconv

I think it is a Turbo 350 transmission?

RATCHETMASTER

Yes, turbo 350. A good trans.

No problems with this one . . . lighter, and plenty strong for a small block.

Why soo much for the head work?? $1800??? Are they dipping them into gold?

1973oldsomega

Ok so the trans is a turbo 350 no big deal but am i working with the rocket engine i really think that i am but i would just like some clarification from the olds guys who know their stuff. The heads i want to get are the edlebrock performer rpm heads they are brand new that is why they would be so expensive.

RATCHETMASTER

OOPS . . . those heads are expensive but very good!!

I misunderstood what you were saying . . . I thought you meant to rebuild the heads. I figured you were having some major porting done to them or something.

Your Omega is going to make a great car!!

I don't know if your funds are unlimited or not, but I would consider putting the $1800 into some great wheels and tires or part of a paint job, etc. you can get your entire motor back together for around $1500 and it will still run like a champ!!

1973oldsomega

Yes i am going to go with the classic cragar's with some hoosier tires. I wouldnt say its unlimited but its going to be done over the next couple years i hope. But is the motor a ROCKET that is the question im not yelling i just wanted the ROCKET to stand out i think it is and i hope it is.

74 Omega

if it is an olds...its a rocket. there is no olds 350 or other that is not a rocket, it does not mean anything special, just a name it was given...the question should be is it the HO version? I"m not too sure of the vin # for it but ask some one here sure will know...

1973oldsomega

Thanks. Where exactly is the vin located on the engine? i just got done separating the engine and trans and put the engine on the stand so i can start to tear it down

citcapp

I believe you would be better of with reworked cast iron heads on the 350 rather then the edelbrock heads. They are really designed for the 455. Yes I know they with fit the 350. There are problems, the fuel pump will hit the head on the right side and if you try to file or cut into the head to create clearence you will cut into the water jacket and have to have the head welded. You only have one choice in intake manifolds and is a matching one from edelbrock. There is an earlier post in small blocks that explains all of the problems with this setup. Read through and you will find it. Good luck with your build.

RATCHETMASTER

Dave

The camper kit looks pretty cool!! Think you will us it or just use it for show?

BTW your olds is very nicely done. I love the color. ( I am partial to gold).

Here is a pic of my 72 ss454 when I was puting it back together after paint.

1973oldsomega

There is a simple fix to this and that will be to put an electric fuel pump on the car with a regulator and get rid of the mechanical fuel pump all together. The electric fuel pump will be better anyways. I can just put a plate on the engine where the mechanical pump was at to block it off.

yogi442

I was asked yesterday if I was interested in a 1977 Olds Omega. All original with 260 V8. The car has 68K original miles and owner is asking $1200.00 for it. I was not interested. It is located somewhere in the Seattle area. According the guy who asked me it is in exceptional condition for the age.

1973oldsomega

So come one guys does this sound like a easy way around the problem with the heads hitting the mech fuel pump? Also where and how would i find out on my engine what year it was built in?

USAMPFREAK

I have a 1975 Olds Omega Salon with the Buick 350-4 it is almost completely original as far as I can tell. I guess these were pretty rare. I love tha car and put it over in the newbie section.

1973oldsomega

ttt just wanted to see if anyone has had experience with this. Is it possible to just block the fuel pump and put and electric and be able to put the aluminum head and port match them with the intake from edelbrock and everything work fine. It seems like it would to me i dont see any other problems arising putting those heads on rather then they would of hit the mech fuel pump....

Oldsguy

Yes you could use an electric fuel pump and block off the opening for the mechanical fuel pump. Why are you set on using the Edelbrock heads? Stock Oldsmobile heads work great and are cheaper. Unless you plan on racing and want that extra edge I guess.....Are you planning on spending a lot of money on the block too? What kind of camshaft and pistons are you going to use?