Please help! I am looking to rebuild my 76 Cutlass engine, it's the 260. I have located all the parts necessary except head gaskets. I have confirmed through Fel-Pro tech support they are discontinued. Surely someone has a set stashed away somewhere. As far as new from any retail auto parts store in my area is not an option. Already exhausted them.
Mondello cannot get them, but can make them for $250, but I'd really like to try and avoid that price tag. The head gasket kit should cost about $75 - 85.

Before you get started, I'm not putting in a 350. Yes it's cheaper, but that's not the goal here. And I hear my 5 speed manual tranny would not like extra torque. This is a cruising Cutlass and not a bruiser, so the 260 goes back in.

Any help with locating these will greatly be appreciated! Phone numbers, email addresses, links, any information welcome.

 

SEALED POWER Part # 2601103

check Rock Auto, although it's $78 for the entire gasket kit...and it hasn't changed saying "unavailable" yet...

 

Thanks for the reply!
Unfortunately, the part number you listed is for 77-82 and its just an engine gasket set that does not include head gaskets. This kit is the universal gaskets across several engine sizes.
I don't know what is different between the 76 and 77 head gaskets yet and I do not know if they can be retrofitted to work on my 76. If anybody knows, please educate me.

The search continues...

 

260 is V8, 4.3L, I believe. Victor doesn't list them in e-catalog.
Good luck. Keep this post alive, somebody has to know something.

 

Summitracing should have them for 20 bucks each....

 

Summit does not. I checked with them first.
Also checked Jegs, Mondello, Fusick and all my local auto parts stores.

 

It doesn't say anything about NOT having the head gaskets and they're shown in the picture. I've never seen anything about the 260's being different...

 

I could be wrong, but I think the only difference between 76 and 77 260 is CR.
75-76 is 8:1 CR and 77 dropped to 7.5:1.

 

Correct if I'm wrong here. If the 77 has lower CR then it should work just fine on the 76? But if this is the case, then why do the suppliers separate the sales for the 76 and 77. Wouldn't the suppliers or manufacturers know and show this in their database?

 

The 260 should be different in the bore size, therefore it gets its own head gasket. That's my guess. I do not know the bore size of the 350, but the 260 has a 3.5" bore.

 

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/fe...FfNxMgodugcAmg

 

Fel-Pro Q8505PT - Fel-Pro Head Gaskets
Application
Result 1 of 1
Make: OLDSMOBILE
Beginning Year: 1977
Ending Year: 1982
Engine Type: V8
Liter: 4.3
CID: 260
Engine Size: 4.3L/260
Engine Family: Oldsmobile V8


I don't know if this will work. It says 77-82 years.

 

All this effort for a 260...

- Eric

 

Eric
What do you care what I want. If you don't like it, then I must change what I like?

What was the point of you even writing this in my post? I ask for help for something I obviously like and want to do and you post nonproductive rubbish like this.

Gee thanks!

And you drive a pink car?? LoL

 

A pink car that until recently had a 260.

It's your car, and you have your own priorities, and you can do anything you want, but if the engine is out, or coming out, and needs a complete rebuild, you can replace it with a 350, do the exact same work for the same price (or possibly less, if any 260 parts end up being rare or expensive), build the engine as hot or as mellow as you want, and have it look and sound exactly like the 260 when you're done, with more power and similar fuel economy.

It's a free country, and we all like to tilt at windmills from time to time, but, objectively, there's a hard way and an easy way, and you've chosen the hard way.

- Eric

 

Eric.
Fair enough. Since you had a 260.
Still have it? LoL I could use some parts.

The deal is, I have an unusual car, some call it rare. I'm the second owner and I know the original owner. He never had to work on it, so it's all originally made by Oldsmobile. That's the way I'd like to keep it. All factory original. It's been trouble free and modifications always add trouble.
In its prime this car got 30 mpg cruising down the highway. Even today with 170,000+ miles on the engine I can still get 22-24 on the highway. The little engine has proven itself to me many times over, so it's worth a shot to give it a second life. If it doesn't work out, it doesn't, but it deserves a good chance.
I also hear stories of the weak 5 speed can't handle the extra torque from a 350. I do not want to find out. That's what makes my car different from most, the 260 and 5 speed getting 30 mpg while cruising in a 2 ton 76 Cutlass.
It has never been too slow to get me where I want to go, so the extra speed is irrelevant. Spinning tires? Whatever... It's a cruiser.

 

When I was in auto shop in the late 80s, a kid had a nice 78-79 cutlass w/ a worn 260 that he rebuilt in the class. Everybody was like why?!! Olds 350s were cheap back then, build the 350 while you drive the car. Paint it corp. blue if you want.
Look at it this way, for the same weight & size you get 90 cubes. Those small emission motors weren't that much more efficient then the larger ones.

 

So, I'm still looking for head gaskets for a 76 Cutlass 260 (4.3L) V8.

If anybody can help find a set, it would be greatly appreciated.

 

I've still got the 260, but I'm keeping it for now, as it runs well.
That's kind of the thing - the 260 is like the old Slant-6 - on the one hand, there's nothing you can do to kill the darn things, on the other hand, you just wish they would die.

Mine has unknown mileage (presumed high), and was giving about 20mpg highway / 8-9mpg city in my 5,000 pound Delta (but zero smiles er gallon). It also had some of its right-hand exhaust manifold bolts epoxied on.

I understand your desire to keep the car original, but would suggest that the 260 rebuild might work out better as a long-term project, where you collect the parts over several years, and that a 350 might be a better solution for actually driving the car in the near future. As for the transmission, you could either just keep your foot out of it, or (with some effort, no doubt) temporarily install an older 4-speed.

- Eric

 

I have all the parts located except the head gaskets. I'm trying to save $200 by finding a set instead of having them made.

That's all. That's not so bad?

My signature line should read. " I'm a guy who just wants a head gasket set."

Ha!

 

Try these guys. Its an old school parts house with ton of old stuff on the shelves. Their motto is "If you can't find it anyplace on Earth try Mars".
http://www.marsauto.net/autoparts.htm

 

Thanks!!!
That's an awesome motto

 

I have a set taking up space. I believe they are the later set, I can take pictures, if you want. They are the thinner, black Detroit gaskets. You have the solid mains and slightly better heads with that motor. I think a modded A5 or my SP2P small port with a modified Qjet and tiny cam would help mileage and add zip too. The Edelbrock SP2P intake gives very strong part throttle acceleration, just limits top end, idle to 4000 rpm. It wasn't a big drop on top end with my 5A 307, very noticeable on my 350 that replaced it. Supposed to improve mileage due to improved velocity. The SP2P has small 260 sized triangle runners, I would sell it very cheap.

 

Sounds like a match.
Maybe 307/403 could sned them to Akoostics on approval to see if they look right in person.

Exactly - the SP2P was a great manifold that did what it was designed to do.
If you weren't in the habit of putting your foot to the floor, it felt like you just bolted on a couple dozen horses, and you gained a couple of MPG as well.
Its behavior should be exactly as you described - it would pep up a smaller motor, but choke a larger one.

- Eric

 

All 260 have the same bore 3.5 I don't see why 77 head gasket wouldn't fit.

 

My engine is still running, so a visual comparison is a no go. I'm trying to gather parts before tearing it down.

Do you have a part number? How much are you looking to get for the set?

 

Pay for shipping and they are yours. Consider the SP2P too, I will let it go cheap.