SuckasHateMyNinetyEight

So I've recently come into possession of an excellent shape, low mileage 1980 Ninety-Eight. The real selling point for me was that she had a 5.7L Olds V8 as her factory engine (which I verified by the VIN) instead of the more common (and underpowered) 307 Y engine. I've read that the 350 was a luxury option in the 1980 model year Ninety-Eight, that being the last year the Rocket 350 was available as a factory option, but I've never come across one before irl. I can't seem to find any sales figures which break down by engine option, so I'm wondering if I have a real needle-in-a-haystack car here.

rocketraider

Standard Catalog of Oldsmobile indicates it was a $130 option for the fullsize wagon, Ninety Eight and Toronado. 160 hp vs 150 for the 307 which sounds a little optimistic for a 307 to me, but it was last year before the C3 system with its electronic carb.

The SCO gives no production breakout.

SuckasHateMyNinetyEight

Interesting. And yeah, I'd have a 307 pegged more in the 140-145 hp range, though I know the earlier 307s were a little bit peppier. I wonder if the 160 hp rating is for a dualjet or q-jet. I know 307s were all 4-barrel, least I think they were.

olds 307 and 403

It was either the 260, which I have never seen in these big cars or the 350 in 1980 for an Olds V8, the 307 didn't become available till the 81 model year. I had a 81 model Delta 88 made the 10 month of 80, Olds 307 powered. I believe the Vin Y 307 till 85, it was rated at 148 hp and 248 ft/lbs. 85 and up was 140 hp and 255 ft/lbs. Nearly all the complaints we heard in the shop for lack of power were the 85 and up. I never had my intake off my 81 307 for years. I saw one 85 307 we polled apart when the shop was slow, the owners ex Wife was driving it and threw a rod through the block. I was shocked at how small the ports were, I didn't realize the difference at the time.

joe_padavano

Sorry, but the 307 was the base engine in the 1980 Ninety Eights. The 350 gas engine and 350 diesel were the only options. Note the Power Trains section at the bottom of this page from the 1980 dealer brochure.

olds 307 and 403

Imagine that Joe was right😉. I thought it was only available staring the 81 model year, thanks for the correction. It also makes sense that the 260 wasn't offered, in 4000+ pounds, talk about a slug. Every 80 model I have seen, probably half a dozen in the one shop I apprenticed at, where I could look at the manufacturer date, all had the optional 350, which is why I didn't think the 307 was available yet. I assume 81 to 85, it was a standard 307 and the 350 diesel as the only option. Was the TH350 the only trans option in 80? My 81 Delta 88 had a TH250C, I wonder if the TH250 was used at all in the 98? My 82 parts car Delta 88 still had the 3 spd auto, pretty much all the 83 and up had the TH2004R from what I saw, other than the former diesel cars.

SuckasHateMyNinetyEight

I take it the 350 was fairly typical for this year, then. I've never met one irl before (not in a 1980 model) but then again, it seems like '83-84 models are more extant by me.

Been trying to figure out what my car is worth with its options. Some of which I'm told are rare, like it's tilt/telescope wheel, but are hard to verify.

Am I correct in understanding that my Quadrajet is also non-electronic? That would be a real boon.

joe_padavano

Yes. A version of the CCC system was used on CA cars, but 49-state cars didn't get the computer control until the 1981 model year.