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I have a 1964 Olds F85 with the original 330 still in it. It runs and drives right now but it doesn’t have much power. It cruises down the road nice but I would like something that’ll burn the tires if I want it to. I plan on pulling the motor and tearing it down as it has been sitting for the last 20+ years. I replaced the plugs, wires, cap, rotor, water pump, and put a Holley 600 cfm on it to get it running. When I pull the motor I planned on putting in a new cam, springs etc, getting heads cleaned and checked, new timing chain, and new gaskets through out. I’m wondering now is it worth rebuilding or would I be better off looking for a different motor to swap in it over the winter?
You'd be much better off with a 350 or a 455. Costs difference to rebuild between the 2 is not much. There are many inherent issues with the early 330, to start is cam bank angle and the shaft mounted rockers.
the stock 330 with a good tune is not lacking in power.it looks like you have a jetaway trans you might want to make sure the converter switch is working and even if it is you might want to consider swapping for a th350 trans,you will feel a big difference in power
I didn’t rejet the carb. I’ll have to have the carb looked at to get it tuned. I’m not sure what rear gear is in it I’ll have to look into that as well. I have been looking for a th350. The motor idles and runs good (besides the manifold exhaust leaks) it just doesn’t seem to have any power when you hit the gas just slowly goes. It does have the 2 speed jetway in it as well.
the jetaway has a fairly tall first gear which makes them sluggish especially if the converter isn't switching.a th350 is a good/easy swap.if you have a good running 330 i would stick with it and change the trans otherwise i would go big block if you are going to build.jc
Try power timing the advance curve in the distributor. I can't remember what you should aim for, but I'm sure someone on here will chip in with the specs. I haven't done this to my 330 yet but did it on a 72 350 2bb and it made a huge difference.
I'd go with a th 200r4 instead of a th350 then you could run 3.42 or lower gears and still be hi-way friendly.
Remember the 330 has a modular crank.
Well....first hurdle is the 45* bank angle. How important is originality to you? Doesn't look too important from the photos. I would use a 350 or 403. You already have a good crank to grind offset and a good set of heads to put big valves into. All the accessories would bolt up no problem unlike a big block swap. Still looking at ~$3000 in parts and labor, though.
Basically Egge pistons are the only option for pistons with the stock stroke. Either 350 sbc pistons and the right length aftermarket rods and the offset ground 330 crank to make a very durable 350ish CI motor. Or use Cutlassefi's 4" stroker crank and 4" bore pistons for around 400 ci. A 350 with the 330 crank and the new Mahle pistons would be cheaper and take more abuse than the crappy cast Egge pistons. It is ultimately your choice.
Basically Egge pistons are the only option for pistons with the stock stroke. Either 350 sbc pistons and the right length aftermarket rods and the offset ground 330 crank to make a very durable 350ish CI motor. Or use Cutlassefi's 4" stroker crank and 4" bore pistons for around 400 ci.
Why not just use the 4" bore pistons with the factory crank and rods?
With our advice we tend to spend other peoples money freely. It sounds like he has a good running engine now but is looking for better acceleration . A th 350 would be the easiest and cheapest route and could be used later if a engine swap is needed at a later time. A evaluation could be made on the rear end if the th 350 didn't meet his goals. At least this is how I would approach this problem being the tight wad that I am..... Tedd
With our advice we tend to spend other peoples money freely. It sounds like he has a good running engine now but is looking for better acceleration . A th 350 would be the easiest and cheapest route and could be used later if a engine swap is needed at a later time. A evaluation could be made on the rear end if the th 350 didn't meet his goals. At least this is how I would approach this problem being the tight wad that I am..... Tedd
I believe that will be my next step. If I find a 455 or 350 before winter I may swap that in. I plan on pulling the engine over the winter to tear it down, put a different cam in and freshen everything up.
if you cam that engine with that trans the car will have less power,if that engine is in good shape there is plenty of power to be had,changing the trans is a good start to accessing it.
I felt the same way when I bought my 67 Vista cruiser, the car just felt sluggish with no power, I even started a few threads on here saying the same thing and the guys told me pretty much the same thing as they have told you here, the only difference is my car has a turbo 400 trans. Since I don't want to swap the engine ( I almost did that) I think I will get the most bang for my buck by changing the trans to a 2004r and going to a 3.55 - 3.73 or so rear gear. It still wouldn't be a hot rod but I feel it would be a lot more responsive that way.
Whatever you decide to do come back and tell us what you plan to do.
I have a good 300hp 350 Chevy engine and a good Turbo 350 trans along with headers and everything needed to put a Chevy engine in my Vista, I actually started to do that but I think its cooler having the Olds 330 in the car, plus I think it would devalue the car.
I would build the 330 . some of the 330's if the check out can take a std 350 olds piston with the proper overbore. A well planned build will give you plenty of power. For who ever said a 600 cfm carb is too much for a 330. I ran a 650 holley double pumper in box stock form on a stock 307 with headers.
I have ran combinations near stock that ran high 13's in the 1/4 mile with a 350 to currently the best e/t is 11.89 with a 350 .030 over olds. FWIW the 307 with the holley double pumper was a tire shredder. How dedicated to tuning are you. I bet you you can get that 330 ripping with some indepth tuning , proper gearing , a good working trans and tourqe converter.
I think my 330 with jetaway is quite peppy. It does have a 3.23 rear, but also has been rebuilt using low comp pistons, I think ( done before I got it and I can run lo obtain gas). If the engine runs good, I'd install a 200 4r and 3.73 rear, should be fun!
June 17th, 2019, 02:46 PM
