Ok so I have a 1971 cutlass 442 clone....problem is it has a 1974 olds 350...old owner told me it has a mild cam in it, it also had a holley street dominator intake, and a holley double pumper tht i just put on this weekend...nd over the winter i did headers and exhaust.

i drove it for the first time this week and holy **** what a difference from what it was...it sounds like a muscle car now nd it hauls *** finally (its a 4 speed ad has the stock rear auto gears, ill most likely be keeping them as it moves very well with them and ill be able to cruise as itll be somewhat of a daily fun car lol)

my question is this....i found a 1971 olds 350 on my local craigslist for $300 ...idk if it runs or anything and there were no pics...im going to look at it tomorrow...are those 71 heads better flowing than my 74 heads? would it be worth it to even just buy the engine for the heads and swap just the heads out?

 

71 has a lesser cc combustion chamber .Conversely 74 heads are regarded as smog heads.
You mention your vehicle runs well now with a mild cam and the 74 heads.What will it do once you raise the compression with the 71 heads??
Best you get the numbers off the heads ,they may have been changed over the years .
I would pay $300 here in new zealand for a 350 but can`t see why you would do that to give , other than increased compression , an unknown /untested combination
Anyway, the TECH section at the page top has all the info on these heads.

 

The 71' heads are worth around $100, depending on how much work they need, and will raise your compression a little bit. BUT, the 71 motor's pistons suck. Believe it or not, your 74 smog pistons are shallower dish.

If you can get the motor for $150-200 it would be worth the gamble on getting some good parts out of it.
These things are 40 yrs old now and most of them are crap in one way or another.

If your #8 heads are in good working order, There's no need to putz around with a mystery set in my opinion.
If you plan to rebuild the motor for more power in the future, the #7 heads would be nice to have around.

 

thanks for the quick replies guys

given wht you have said i probably wont even waste my time or money to go look at this engine....i just wasnt sure for the heads but i see ur point on not putting mystery heads on my combo if its already running how i want it to run

the engine runs strong now so no need for a power build, besides if i went tht route id just buy some edelbrocks or have mine worked

thanks again

 

Please, oh please, oh please.
If you do purchase any used heads, plan on rebuilding them.
The fresh guides, fresh surface, and the removal of burnt oil deposits on the backside of the intakes valves will give your engine even more new found power.
Not rebuilding can easily negate the power to be gained from compression increase.
Jim

 

well i ended up going to looks at it and he has chevy engine parts tht i need also for my nova....im gunna buy the olds engine for $250 ...ill keep it on the side and build it up and eventually swap over

he said it ran when he took it out 12-15 years ago lol