Sorry if this is an old question. I have a factory 350 block/4b in my 71 olds cutlass convertible. In lower budget terms what is the best things to do for increased HP

new intake manifold
new ignition system
headers

Thanks for your opinions let me know what some of you have done

 

Many agree that rear end gears of a lower ratio will give you the most noticeable increase in performance from a single modification but there are usage/lifestyle/tolerance considerations to be taken account of.

After that headers & low restriction exhaust in combination with ignition recurve & carb calibration will do a lot for not too huge an expenditure. Relatively that is!

After that - cam, intake manifold and a long list of MAW's would be the next progression IMO.

 

X2.

 

What is your intended use for the car? What is your budget? Since you already have dual exhaust and 4v, and have gotten quite a few answers on your header question in your other post. I see no real increase in performance by adding a different manifold to your stock engine other than losing car and wallet weight. An ignition system is not going to increase performance, just eliminate changing points. I agree with the others go for the gearing.

 

Yep, I agree as well. Been there, done that. I swapped the original 2.56 rear for a 3.08 rear and it felt like I had a more powerful engine. Then I swapped the 3.08 rear for a 3.55 rear and again it felt like I had a more powerful engine.

 

Maybe some basic tuning will help, recurving the distributor, jetting or carb rebuild, compression check, timing chain stretch check, cold air intake, dual exhaust if you don't already. Don't give up driveability, the factory engineers worked hard to give customers performance and reliability. Good luck.

 

Thanks for the advice

 

Appreciate another 71 olds supreme convertible owner that feels the way I do. Love my olds but frustrated that it does not have more of a muscle feel without completely going crazy. An open differential with a factory gear that cannot spin the tires when I put my foot in it, ugh. Ken-Fun 71 pretty much has my list: change rear end gear, limited slip differential, long tube headers, add some Flowmaster Super 44s, boxed lower control arms, rear sway bar . . . someday.

 

sum ting wrong here

I used to take my dads car back in the day bone stock 71 350 open diff vert and i had to make an effort not to light up the tire taking off especially on a corner,

years later my 72 w stock 350 except HEI would not spin the tire either...i just figured it was a tired old motor...all i did was swap it for a mild 455 and 3:42 posi and now i need new tires

point is my dads stock 350 open diff would easily spin the tire back in the day !!

 

I am not saying they do not spin a little just want to speed it up more LOL

 

The difference is tires .
Skinny , bias ply tires have a lot less traction than modern radials .

 

Um, yeah. 8:1 compression, puny cam, and 2.56 or 2.73 gears = reliability, but definitely not performance.

 

A Cutlass was not a performance car, it was transportation with a bit of style.