330 hp ratings ? 315 hp fact or fiction ?
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 23
From: Missouri
330 hp ratings ? 315 hp fact or fiction ?
Hey guys , I have a 1965 330 SBO and considering building for a fun project; the problem is it’s totally apart , bare block , heads , the good news is I have ALL the old parts, crank, pistons, con rods, cam ect, ect. The problem is that it has been in pieces for 25 + years ! It is stored indoors and the last thing I did to it was taken it to local machine shop and had it hot tanked and magnafluxed for cracks .. that was all good untill I abandoned project 330 for lack of funding and knowledge. There is a tag on the crankshaft that Says all journals on the low and I don’t know what that means ! Hence lack of knowledge, is the 330 worth rebuilding ? And how much power can be extracted from a general rebuilt ( no exotic parts ) 330 SBO with as many original parts as I can unbox ? Sorry in advance for long winded bla bla ! And thanks for any feedback .
Old(s) Fart
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 50,698
From: Northern VA
I'm not sure exactly what your question is, as the title of your post doesn't match the text. In any case, the 330 and 350 Olds motors are basically the same, except for the bore diameter. 330s have the added advantage of having a stronger forged crank.
If you are asking about factory HP ratings, take them with a grain of salt.
If you are asking about factory HP ratings, take them with a grain of salt.
Old(s) Fart
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 50,698
From: Northern VA
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 23
From: Missouri
Many questions
Thanks for replying to the fact or fiction thread (as people on this site say-thread ) I have many questions, first and foremost is what would a Well built 330 SBO produce on a dynamometer? Question #2) what does ( all journals on the low ) mean or indicate on the crankshaft tag from the machine shop? Finally; question #3) with the block, crank,cam, with minor surface rust on the exposed metal surfaces will that be able to be rebuilt? Again thank you for any input , information and any directions for saving the motor .
Old(s) Fart
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 50,698
From: Northern VA
Thanks for replying to the fact or fiction thread (as people on this site say-thread ) I have many questions, first and foremost is what would a Well built 330 SBO produce on a dynamometer? Question #2) what does ( all journals on the low ) mean or indicate on the crankshaft tag from the machine shop? Finally; question #3) with the block, crank,cam, with minor surface rust on the exposed metal surfaces will that be able to be rebuilt? Again thank you for any input , information and any directions for saving the motor .
I would ASSUME (for what that's worth) that "journals on the low" means that they are at the small end of the factory spec and will likely want to be ground undersize. A micrometer is your friend here.
Find a good, old-school machine shop with a real caustic hot tank (as opposed to a steam cleaner for aluminum motors). Most machine shops these days only have the latter. The hot tank will remove the rust. Of course, the quality of the machined surfaces remaining will determine whether or not they need to be re-machined.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 5,203
From: St. Paul Minnesota
Thanks for replying to the fact or fiction thread (as people on this site say-thread ) I have many questions, first and foremost is what would a Well built 330 SBO produce on a dynamometer? Question #2) what does ( all journals on the low ) mean or indicate on the crankshaft tag from the machine shop? Finally; question #3) with the block, crank,cam, with minor surface rust on the exposed metal surfaces will that be able to be rebuilt? Again thank you for any input , information and any directions for saving the motor .
(2) You need to have the crank checked and measured, with the main journal and rod journal sizes written down for reference. "all journals on the low" could be interpreted a couple different ways, meaning to completely opposite things.
(3) Rust can be removed and the engine can be rebuilt, assuming no damage.
...........Just my two cents worth
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 23
From: Missouri
Thanks gentlemen
Thanks Joe & Oldster for your input ! I LOVE OLDSMOBILES and just can’t stand to see anything sent to the scrap yard when it can be saved even an old 1965 330 SBO motor ; I have saved any part I could get my hands on for my 65 vert .. I’m hoping to relight the fire for that motor project
Out of Line, Everytime😉
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,030
From: Melville, Saskatchewan
Remember, that hp rating is gross and optimistic. Egge is the only place with cast 330 pistons, not cheap. Either 400E or standard bore 350 pistons can be used if the walls Sonic check thick enough. The bigger bore helps breathing and more pistons are available for the 350.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 5,203
From: St. Paul Minnesota
New pistons may be needed, and certainly a good expense. DON'T waste money on "cast pistons". Contact Cutlassefi for a decent set of pistons when you have measured the cylinder bores. Your block may need a clean up bore job.
.............Just my two cents worth
.............Just my two cents worth
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
