deltaskelta

I've got a 1985 delta 88 with the 5.0 307 7a heads. Now can anyone run down my options for an upgrade with little to no fabrication but the best bang for my buck. I'm lookin at a 403 but dont know much about it or more importantly what they are capable of becoming. Thanks for takin the time to help

Redog

You can drop any Olds block in that car and have no problems.

All SBO and BBO are extrenally the same. The BB is 2 inches taller so you probably wouldn't be able to use a high rise manifold with it.

You just need motor mounts and it's a straight forward swap. You can use the 200R4 tranny as well, but you might want to think about upgrading to a rebuilt one that can stand upto the torque of an Olds motor. The 200R4 max torque rating is about 250 in stock forum (yes even thought the 307 can out out 255 ft lbs )

All your brackets will work with any SBO, BBO I'm not too sure about.

The 403 isn't a bad engine. I presonally don't care for it. The older 350's are better motors. Solid mains, stronger block. Look for the casting number 395558 and a large 2 above the timing chain cover. While the engine is out of the car, take the time to swap the timing chain and water pump. Much easier out of the car and if you are buying a used engine, it's cheap insurance. Drop the extra $20 for a double roller chain.

You can convert any SBO over to HEI. You'll need one, newest I would buy would be for a 1975 Olds motor car. About $120 brand new at any auto parts store.

If you keep the 200R4, you'll need a vacuum lock up kit. The 200R4 locks up thru the PCM (or ECU whatever you like to call it) All the PCM issues will not be in place with a 1976 and older block due to no emission ports on the heads. You can swap the heads, but why bother IMHO. Lock up kits are about $100 and any trans shop or good mech can do that for you

Have fun swapping

Redog

As you start putting power to the car, you'll need to upgrade the rear end and driveshaft as well, the 26 spline axles don't like a lot of power

captjim

I don't understand this statement. If a BBO is taller (and wider) how can they be externally the same?? There will be problems with exhaust, weight, and accessories with a BBO. Go with a 350 or 403, they are both a direct bolt-in swap.

jcdynamic88

the lower dimensions are the same on bb and sb;motor mounts and tranny bolt up and p/s bolts up,after that there are a number of minor fabrications.a/c brackets,spacer between p/s and alt bracket,right manifold hits unless you use a 74 or older.the stock 200 will fail sooner than later.i prefer the 455 but if the fab is too involved i would go with a 350,i always thought the 403 were pigs on fuel and not worth the powergain over a 350,my .02 jc

Redog

I go with the SBO because it makes the Delta my fav kind of car, SLEEPER!!

Plus according to the OCA, a car can still compete in a stock class at a show with an engine swap, as long as the swap is 50 ci or smaller.

307 to 350 = 43 ci
307 to 330 = 23 ci
307 to 403 = 96 ci

Plus I'm going to paint my motor flat black, stock color for the year. People will think it's a stock 307. Others may think it's a 307 with no emissions, only an Olds guy will know it's a 330

captjim

So, you are going to ignore your previous posts in this thread????

Intragration

I'd go with a 455. If a black 330 is a sleeper, a black 455 is REALLY a sleeper. I run an Edelbrock performer with a drop base air cleaner in a G-body Cutlass and I don't have any problems with hood clearance. The 455 weighs about 45 pounds more than a 350, you'll pretty much cancel this out with an aluminum intake. I can't see how you'd have major problems with manifolds, and I THINK A-body 455 headers can be made to work fairly easily in a later B-body, you'd have to check on this to be sure. You may need to notch the crossmember in order to run true duals, you'd need to do that with the 307 if you wanted to run true duals. There are no later-style AC compressor brackets for the 455, but it's not that difficult to modify 455 brackets to work with the later style compressor. Sure it's more work to do a 455, but it's worth it IMO.

jcdynamic88

a bone stock low compression 455 with a performer and headers will give you gobs of power and excellent gas mileage,not much fuss just a bunch of little mods.like intragration said the weight difference is marginal but the payoff is huge.i had a 80 98 with a 75 455 that was endless in power but would do 22 mpg without an overdrive on hiway.if you use a built 200r4 it would probably be 25.jc

joe_padavano

NO NO NO

ALL BBO and SBO motors use the SAME motor mounts for a given set of frame mounts. For the 1980s frame mounts, use Anchor P/N 2328 motor mounts (these are stock replacement for the 307 mounts) with ANY Olds V8. Period.

The 307 accessory brackets are small-block unique and require a couple of minor mods to fit the taller deck of the BBO. You will need a spacer between the lower alternator bracket and the PS pump bracket and you will need to weld a couple of extensions onto the A/C compressor bracket where it bolts to the head. That's all. Use the water pump, pulleys, etc from the 307. Get longer belts. If you use a 403 or 350, ignore this - everything from the 307 bolts right up with no mods.

A BBO will require the W/Z exhaust manifolds and some exhaust pipe mods to fit.