New to oldsmobile performance
February 8th, 2015, 09:33 PM
#1
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Location: nashville tn
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New to oldsmobile performance
Hello everyone, im new to oldsmobile coming from mopars. Just purchased a 1977 oldsmobile cutlass s 2 door, and would like to build a fun street/strip car out of it. ill post pictures asap. It has a 350olds with a factory quadrajet and a th400 trans. Its stone stock with the exception of long tube headers. car runs and drives well and is in nice shape. Im unversed in oldsmobile 350s....worked on 307/330/350/403/425/455s just not performance stuff. My question is what modifications produce the best results? id like to keep stock torque converter and gear if possible. the engine is the original 77 8.0.1 compression 350 in consideration of camshafts. thanks everybody
February 8th, 2015, 10:39 PM
#2
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A "stone stock" 77 with a TH400? Doesn't seem likely to me.
If it really is a TH400, and it already has headers, you may need to check the block casting number and head letters to verify it's really what you think it is. And maybe verify the rear gears, too, as the previous owner(s) may have done some modifications.
If it really is a TH400, and it already has headers, you may need to check the block casting number and head letters to verify it's really what you think it is. And maybe verify the rear gears, too, as the previous owner(s) may have done some modifications.
February 9th, 2015, 06:42 AM
#5
Depends how far you want to go and how much you want to spend. Biggest improvement would be to get that compression up than make the whole engine breathe better.
Early year heads will help with compression but a piston with less of a dish is the real answer.
Then add a mild cam and intake.
Early year heads will help with compression but a piston with less of a dish is the real answer.
Then add a mild cam and intake.
February 9th, 2015, 04:22 PM
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Depends how far you want to go and how much you want to spend. Biggest improvement would be to get that compression up than make the whole engine breathe better.
Early year heads will help with compression but a piston with less of a dish is the real answer.
Then add a mild cam and intake.
Early year heads will help with compression but a piston with less of a dish is the real answer.
Then add a mild cam and intake.
for now id like to just do sub 1k $ basic bolt ons. Once im settled in a new house i plan to build a olds 455 for it. Till then id like a competitive bracket racer for the upcoming season. Would a edelbrock performer rpm intake and a comp 250xe help at all? I figure a cam that builds torque and tons of static compression would do well with the 2.73. But im not sure if an olds responds to modifications like what im used to building which is chrysler 360s .
February 9th, 2015, 04:24 PM
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February 9th, 2015, 04:26 PM
#9
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A "stone stock" 77 with a TH400? Doesn't seem likely to me.
If it really is a TH400, and it already has headers, you may need to check the block casting number and head letters to verify it's really what you think it is. And maybe verify the rear gears, too, as the previous owner(s) may have done some modifications.
If it really is a TH400, and it already has headers, you may need to check the block casting number and head letters to verify it's really what you think it is. And maybe verify the rear gears, too, as the previous owner(s) may have done some modifications.
February 10th, 2015, 06:44 PM
#10
I'm not sure on 5a heads. think those are later since i know regular 5s are 68-69ish 350 heads. The edelbtock 7111 RPM intake is a great small block intake but I'm not sure how to respond with a cam givien your possibly low compression.
February 10th, 2015, 09:54 PM
#11
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Location: Phoenix, AZ
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Are you certain it's a 5 and not a 3?
From what I remember, 5A heads are 307 heads and the '77-80 350s used 3A heads. Maybe they were put on in an attempt to increase the compression since they have ~10cc smaller chambers than the original 3A heads? Even with higher compression, I can't imagine they flow well enough for a 350 engine.
edit: I recommend you check the engine block casting number to make sure those 307 heads aren't attached to a 307 engine. The previous owner may have swapped the entire engine.
From what I remember, 5A heads are 307 heads and the '77-80 350s used 3A heads. Maybe they were put on in an attempt to increase the compression since they have ~10cc smaller chambers than the original 3A heads? Even with higher compression, I can't imagine they flow well enough for a 350 engine.
edit: I recommend you check the engine block casting number to make sure those 307 heads aren't attached to a 307 engine. The previous owner may have swapped the entire engine.
Last edited by Fun71; February 10th, 2015 at 11:00 PM.
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