I'm looking to build a 350 gold valve cover 2-barrel 350 for a street car. Looking to get around 350 to 400 horses out of it. I am new to the olds market and noticed that olds heads are harder to find than chevy and ford. I was wondering if I should have the heads on the motor worked and re valved or what aftermarket heads I should look at.

 

Nothing as far as a bolt on and go aftermarket head. You can buy the bbo heads and mill them down, but you would need to use an electric fuel pump.

Used heads i would look for any 5,6,7, or 7a head. Even earlier heads are ok.

Im sure others will have more info than me.
Keep us informes with the build

 

If he has a gold 2 bbl 350, it is an early 350 and already has the good heads. Yes, you can get there with those, probably looking at a little less than a grand for a complete rebuild with larger valves and a little port work. Cheaper and easier than E-brocks for that goal, IMO. Flat top pistons put you right around 10 to 1 Cr, get the right cam and you should have a fun ride.

 

We really don't know what kind of engine he has.

As usual, we need more information.

They made plenty of 8.5:1 350s with 2 barrel carbs.

- Eric

 

Nice ride Eric, do you work for Mary Kay? LOL!

Just kiddin ya!

 

Thanks, Mark! Glad you like it !

I learned years ago in college that there's no car more fun than a pink convertible.
I couldn't resist checking to see if it was still true, and you know what? - It is!

Under normal circumstances, when girls see my face, they look all sympathetic, or turn their heads and scream, but when I drive this, they wave and smile.

- Eric

ps: some time in the next few months, I'm gonna PM you with questions about a 425 cam for this beast, but I've got to poke around the motor I've got for it a bit more before I do.

 

The motor is out of a 72 or 73 delta 88 if that helps.

 

The only 2 bbl SBO 350s were 68-72, after that all were 4 bbl Q-jets. So, if the engine is "gold" and has a 2 bbl on it, almost certainly is a 68-72 350 which had decent hjeads.

 

But its compression may be as low as 8.5:1 because of the pistons.

 

Agreed, I guess I misunderstood, I thought he would be rebuilding the engine. I am not seeing 400 ponies out of a 40 year old engine, head work or not.

 

I still don't think we're clear on exactly what he wants to do with it, aside from the 350-400 HP, which I agree sounds a bit "optimistic."

- Eric

 

Well I plan on putting a slightly domed piston, boring 30 over with a 292 lift cam not sure on the intake and carb yet.

 

Just curious, where are you getting those? And you're sure it's a 292 lift cam? You might want to take a step back and gather some better info first before you potentially waste your money.

Jmo.

 

there are no commonly available domed pistons available for the olds, there are however a good selection of forged flat tops available. have you taken gearing, car weight and intended use into account for your cam selection? nobody here is trying to be a hardass or anything butyour post shows that youre not up to speed on the olds engines, no disrestect intended but they are a different animal than a chebbie...

 

Yeah, I don't really know a lot about building olds motors. I already have the cam I bought new for a 72 442 I had but never got into the motor. I haven't found a rear end yet but I would like to run 323 gears. And I don't plan on any weight reduction. Its mainly a restoration car that I just want to move a little quicker.

 

I have a 1972 Cutlass, 350 Rocket V8, originally 2 Barrel, Now 4 Barrel with Performer intake.

I think it's a really easy swap that anyone can do, better drivability, and all around performance, heck if i can do it, anyone can.

 

Oh yeah, and 7A heads.

 

What are the specs?

 

http://www.cranecams.com/272-273.pdf It's an crane cams h-292-2

 

In a 350 you'll need the better part of 10.0:1 and a decent gear as well.

 

If this is your goal you do not need 400 HP. I ran high 13s in a 3800 lb wagon with a 9 to 1 355 that was very responsive and fun to drive. Do you want to do a complete rebuild or work with what you have? What condition is the engine in? What vehicle? Pump gas?

 

It's definitely going to be a complete rebuild, I really not sure of the condition of the motor. When I got the motor it was already out of the car so I couldn't hear it run so I am planning for the worst as far as this rebuild is concerned but the guy I got it from said that it should only have about 60,000 miles. But naturally I am taking that lightly. And the motor is going in an 86 Cutlass Supreme. Planning on running pump gas.

 

Not to mention another goal of this build is to put as many ricers and rich kids to shame as I can. A buddy of mine is working on emptying his bank account into a 2002 Saleen mustang, I'm not asking to leave him in the dust, but giving him a run for his money. Trying to teach the age old lesson that making horsepower is more fun than buying horsepower.

 

If that's your goal, find a Procharger to put on it. Otherwise you may not reach that goal without a dumping a whole lot more in to it.

Or put a BBO in it, that'll help as well.

 

The gold engines are leaded fuel engines and they stopped making them in 72, if your engine is a 73, it would be blue.

I'm willing to bet that you have 7a heads on that block. Good heads and so are the 5 heads (5 heads are believed to be the best SBO heads)

You're not getting 350 HP out of a low CR Olds 350 from the 70's in stock fourm, however, rebuild it with better pistions and a cam, and you'll be up there no problem.

Ditch that 2 barrel and get a 4 barrel edelbrock or holley. Get a edelbrock 7111 manifold, which is a damn good mani and throw that on. Get yourself a set of headers but be sure it's for an Olds engine. Since you have a "G" body Cutlass and you look up headers, it will give you a list for either a SBC and Olds V8 in that car.

"X" pipe duals.

With that combo, you should be around 270-280 or so HP which isn't bad. Get a good rear with a posi in that car and save up for a rebuild

 

They were gold until 76'

Blue started in 1977

 

True, but there were no 2 bbl 350s after 72.

HP costs money, there is no way around it. A 400 HP N/A 350 SBO engine will cost you around $5,000 if you assemble it.

Cheapest way to go fast is niitrous. Best of both worlds, good manners as a driver, flip a switch and let it eat. I ran 12.7 shifting at 4800 with a >100 shot. Built it stout, spray it, run 11s. Next cheapest is cubic inches. A mild 455/468 or 496 stroker with 3.73s will put you in the mid-high 12s pretty easy.

 

Do a little weight reduction (not a lot, just remove stuff that is hidden and retain the stock look), put a 455 in it with 9 or 10 compression, a lumpy cam, 3.70 or more gears, and you should be able to give him a decent run. That is, if you can hook the tires as well as he can xD Im willing to bet your saving grace would be in weight reduction if anything. Those Saleens are some baaaaad *****, if you wanted to run with it id recommend either rebuilding the bottom end with high strenth material and rev that small block to the moon, or build a stout big block that can pull a freight train a quarter mile, let alone a Cutlass haha. Build the small block and you'll have loads of fun for cheap (since you have basically all you need already), but if you wanna run with a Saleen id recommend a big block

 

This always comes into play:

How fast you want to go?...........How deep are your pockets?

 

Blue started in 75, I believe. My 76 Cutlass 350 was corporate blue and pretty sure the beast was blue, it was a 75 350. Get the 2" and 1.625" W-31 valves, proper transitioning and bowl work done to your heads and forged flat top pistons for a good start. That cam is pretty big for a 350.