billmerbach

Please help I'm trying to build my first car a 77 omega sx I need a 350 Chevy engine because of the power the 69 pit out I'm 16 and if you can help let me know

droptopron

Don't limit your search to 1969's and check for ID #'s to make sure you aren't buying a 305 or a 307.

billmerbach

What years were the 350 pushing almost 375 stock

billmerbach

Its all froze up and I personally ain't one for v6 engines I like v8 for some reason

MDchanic

None, as far as I know, unless you were driving a Corvette.
The 1969 Engine line included a 370 HP / 380 ft/lb 350 and a 350 HP / 380 ft/lb 350, both at 11:1 compression, and a 300 HP / 380 ft/lb 350, at 10.25:1 compression.
The 1969 10.25:1 Olds 350 was rated at 325 HP 360 ft/lb or 310 HP / 390 ft/lb.

What's wrong with an Olds motor? Was a Chebby motor in the car originally?

- Eric

billmerbach

I'm just wanting all the power I can get I have no problem with an olds motor at all

billmerbach

And no it had the 231 v6

billmerbach

Bump

oldcutlass

If that's the route your going your going to need to treat it like a Nova. You will need Chevy motor mount frame brackets, a Chevy trans of your choice, and possibly a new drive shaft depending on which trans you choose. I would be willing to bet you can find a used engine/trans off your local Craigslist.

If you find an Olds engine, you can probably use your trans and driveshaft. But I believe you will still need frame brackets.

DENT

Where are you at? I have a chevy 350 and th350 for sale.

billmerbach

So if I have to change my motor mounts and transmission with the 350 can I continue with my mopqr engine the. If I have to do the same for it and DENT I'm located in Claremont nc

MDchanic

Just to clarify:

You have the Buick 231 V-6, which uses the BOP bellhousing pattern, like the Olds engines.
As OldCutlass says, you will need to change the transmission, driveshaft (because the new transmission will be a different length), motor mounts, and exhaust, and reroute some wiring if you want to use a Chebby engine in that car.

That being said, since the car is an X-body like the Nova, parts and junk Novas should be plentiful.

Since you're 16, my advice to you would be to keep your eyes open for any X-body you can find with the type of engine you want, then swap everything into your car and work with whatever it is.

My question for the rest of the board is, Can you bolt up a Buick 350 in place of a Buick 231?
If so, then finding a small block Buick may be your best way to go.

- Eric

billmerbach

Thanks and I'm trying to do that now but with school and football I can't work much and I wanna get as much done as possible but money is super tight

Octania

Just a thought, but if money is that tight and so is time, and it runs right now, and you haven't studied up on which engines produce how much power in what configuration.... maybe leave the car alone, enjoy it as it is, and save up for modifications while studying up on options. Do you have anyone with a few yrs' experience nearby that you can use as a mentor? Part of using all your resources.

svnt442

And don't focus on HP numbers....you'll be surprised what a couple hundred HP will give you.

billmerbach

Well it is all froze up so I need a running engine and tranny

MDchanic

Then the question is: Do you want to drive now or later?

I'd get the cheapest running engine I could find that would fit in it, so I could drive it, then use the subsequent time to learn, plan, and search for the parts you really want.

- Eric

billmerbach

Well a friend is basically gonna give me a running 305 can I take a 350 crank and slap it in there to be able to get the 305 to actually make some power

olds 307 and 403

No, the 305 has the same stroke as the 350. If you can find a Buick 350, it will bolt straight in and use all your current accessory brackets and transmission. It is a very torquey and light V8 motor, would be a ton of fun.

billmerbach

Then I have to change the tranny and motor mounts don't I ?

svnt442

At this point I'm going to tell you to take an autos class if you can at school or see if you can find somone that rwally knows about cars and engines....not cousin Joe who thinks he knows.
You have a lot of questions and that's great, but I think you need a good guide to help you with this project.

billmerbach

I know I'm going need a lot of help lol but at one point I'm being told I'll need to change the motor mounts if I put a Chevy engine in it since its a Buick right now and my school got rid of auto mechanic which blows but these are die hard Chevy fans I'm talking to who have told me this and idk lol how much power could I get out of the 231 buik if I am to upgrade it since it already needs a complete overhaul

oldcutlass

Let's go about this differently, whats your budget?

billmerbach

Really tight I'm trying to get performance on a budget at least so I can get it running so it can be a daily driver to work and such so I can make more money to build on it

oldcutlass

Define really tight with an exact figure.

billmerbach

About 2 grand over the next 2 years

MDchanic

Never mind "performance," how about "operational"?

You have a non-operational car with a seized engine.

The easiest way to get it operational, and also a good way to get power, as Olds307and403 and I have told you, is to look around and find a Buick engine.
A Buick 350 should bolt right in, and, though I'm not certain, I think a Buick 400, 430, or 455 should bolt in without major changes (possibly exhaust and motor mounts).

They made a lot of Buicks, all of them had engines, and lots of those engines are still around.
A Buick 350, especially a '68-'70 model with 230 to 280 HP, is a very peppy motor for an X-body.

As for your budget, if you're serious about making your car fast, talk to coppercutlass - he's very experienced with putting motors together with the cheapest parts he can find.

- Eric

oldcutlass

Your going to have to be patient and keep looking. You can use Olds, Buick, or Pontiac all of which used the same basic body/frame combo to be able to use your transmission that's in it now. What ever engine you purchase try and get all the accessory brackets with it.

You will need an engine that runs well as your budget does not allow for a rebuild.
I'm assuming this is a 403:
http://charlotte.craigslist.org/pts/4014004735.html

Pontiac:
http://charlotte.craigslist.org/pts/3987093061.html

Heres some Chevy options:

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/pts/4057437815.html

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/pts/4011407751.html

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/pts/3930843142.html

11971four4two

i have a turn key
in minnesota

billmerbach

All those engines I have seen but noons will work with me on pricing and 1971 what do you mean a turn key

coppercutlass

I'll tell ya what i have a 307 that i personally ran last summer oil psi is on the low side but it made zero noises. I got spare headers, a spare hei dist, spare starter, fuel pump, you can have all this for the price of shiping and 100 bucks. AND i'll even fire it up before i ship it. All you need to do is find someone to doante a carb and im sre we can set you up with something for probably under 500 bucks. last time i checked shipping throgh fastenal from my house to cali was like under 400. so figre shipping out from me 60123 to a local fastenal location near yo and budget that out. Also make sure A body olds headers will work on your omega.

billmerbach

OK I live in Claremont nc but it may be a long time before I have that money with school and football plus I still owe 215 on my omega

billmerbach

BTW guys I'm not trying to sound needy I'm just needing help I'm wanting to have a nice car to drive when I turn 18 you know impressing ladies lol

coppercutlass

Well when you have the cash i got plenty of stuff here That will not see use It aint goin nowhere. I just figured i would help out keeping your olds olds powered Then when you decide to turn the wick up an olds 350 will drop right in it's place. I might have also just sourced a carb for free so I will probably make it a runner just for grins and giggles. I have gotten plenty of good deals and freebies over the years and i dont mind helping someone out .

billmerbach

Ok now a friend of mine may be giving me a chevy 305 for my 318 cam will I have to change motor mounts and transmission

redoldsman

Personally I think the best thing for you to do is save your money and buy another car that is already running.

billmerbach

Saaaayyyy whhhhhhaaaaattttt?! I'm not quitting on my olds man its gonna be a sweet car when I'm finished maybe I'm going to far in right now but I'm keeping options open and I'm not quitting a good friend of mime before he died said don't start something if you ain't gonna finish it well I'm not

coppercutlass

Redoldsman everyone has to start somewhere. When i started i had no forums i was on . I stuffed a chevy 355 i built when i was 15 into my dads parts car 79 pontiac bonneville with all the left over parts. It didnt look pretty and i had a hell of a time finding things out on my own but It ran and it was fast for what it was. Gotta start somewhere.

oldcutlass

Let us know how you make out.

billmerbach

Sure thing I'll be on everyday basically looking for stuff