Information about Oldsmobile V8 engines

[@chuckmalo8995]

I owned a 1970 Cutlass SX from '71 to' 74. Equipped with a 455 high compression engine, it was one of my favorite cars - comfortable and quick, a great car.

[@chuckmalo8995]

After the 1970 Cutlass SX, I had a '73 Delta 88 Convertible. It too had a 455, 4bbl engine, albeit low compression, it still ran strong. Another outstanding Oldsmobile.

[@lt8590]

We're coming up on 30 years since carb'd engines lost their mojo to the passage of time and technology improvements, but each of the examples still on the road today defy that fact every time they turn over and refuse to die. They're pieces of the past, and I think they deserve a little respect and care for the accomplishment. Thanks for the info and history lesson!

[@duaneobrien8500]

Got a 73 toronado 455 with 66k original miles. Runs perfect..love this engine

[@speeedskater]

455 in a GMC, runs great

[@everyhome9936]

455 in a very original '72 Vista Cruiser....190k miles, only changed the timing set in 2010 at 175k. Really moves this big heavy car!

[@gregbenwell6173]

I put a hotter cam in a 1974 Olds Rocket 350!! Had a buddy of mine "tweak" the carb (slightly larger metering rods on the Rochester), then had the machine shop port and polish the exhaust side of the heads (matched for the Hooker headers I was running) and had them install hardened valves and seats in the heads as well for unleaded gas!! I put in a double roller timing chain for strength and installed a 1/8" thick washer into the oil pump relief spring (to boost the oil pressure to something realistic, because Oldsmobiles are FAMOUS for low oil pressure) and last but not least I installed lifters that had a slightly higher profile in them as well!! The results to all my work was a motor that got near 400 horsepower, that would literally twist the leaf springs in the 1974 Oldsmobile Omega I owned (that I stuffed it in)!! I put in ladder bars a month after I installed the motor in the car!! The damn thing would do burn outs at 55 miles per hour, by kicking it back into second, and off the line it would literally lift the nose in the air!! Truth is I could have easily broken that 400HP limit had I had the money to buy the adjustable valve train kit (Kenne Bell used to make) and had I changed the pistons for flat tops!! The stock pistons in them have a pretty deep dish and only have about 9.5 to 1 compression ratio, and the Kenne Bell adjustable valve train kit meant I could have tinkered with the valves a bit more, BUT in 1983 the kit cost $3500 and it was out of my price range with a part time job working at a department store!! The only other things I could have done to the car was to install a shift kit which I regret now NOT doing!! BUT the car was fast as hell to start with! The Omega after all is the Oldsmobiles' "sister" to the Chevy Nova and they don't weigh a whole lot to start with!! But all this in mind I miss the hell out of that car, which my second wife FORCED ME TO SELL, then 10 years later we got a divorce.....should have done like my first wife (who I was with when I bought the car) and kept the car and got rid of her!!

[@denvermason2467]

Just got my hands on a beautiful 67" Cutlass with a rebuilt 68" rebuilt 350. It's a 3 speed and its like driving a boat. I absolutly love this car and I'm looking forward to evenings in the garage with it this summer. Thanks for making this video I've learned a lot today. 👍

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

Olds are awesome cars.

[@jondoes7836]

When I was a teenager, I had a 1978 Cutlass with the dog 260 engine in it. I replaced that engine with a 350 from a 1968 Cutlass. Car was a screamer & fun to drive. I eventually wrecked the car but I saved that engine. It’s been sitting in my dad’s garage for over 20 years.

[@1400IntruderVS]

One may argue there is no Oldsmobile Big block and Small black. The designs are essentially the same except for the deck height. The W31 used #5 or #6 heads with the bigger valves installed. It seems the 5, 6, and 7 castings have the better flow characteristics and can be machined to fit big block valves. Up to 2.07" intake and 1.71" exhaust, as I have done to my #6 heads. The earlier blocks are stronger because they are not windowed and supposedly they have a higher nickle content. The machinist I used did say metal was much stronger than a comparable Chevy small block. he complained about it eating stones during the bore and honing process. Contrary to what many believe, the Oldsmobile 350 like to rev. They have a favorable over square bore and stroke. They will make torque early and and continue to make torque through out most of the rev range. It can be a very nice usable power-band. Properly modified it makes a great street/strip engine in a light car. Cons: I could have built two 383 Chevy small blocks for the price of one 355 Olds engine. There just aren't a whole lot of choices for internal parts. The factory nodular iron crank is strong but the Rods aren't. 403 Rods are a little better but they ad reciprocating weight. The heads must be set up for and adjustable valve train and not many available rocker arms will work for more 0.480 lift (I recommend Harland Sharp #5016). On the other hand the 455 is a great way to get a lot of cubic inches with out all the weight as it is much lighter than a Chevy 454.

[@mason5540]

Nice breakdown! Thanks for that. I have a 70 cutlass with a 350 in it and have been tinkering with it and have already unlocked some noticeable power with basic bolt ons. Next big step is to do a minor rebuild with a mild cam and upgraded valve train

[@puppykicker6701]

Been driving the same 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass 4 door sedan since 1995. Best car I have ever had. It's two years older than me. I hope I die before it does.

[@myleslong5584]

I know it’s old but,first I’ve seen of it. THANK YOU for pointing out that “Rocket” was only a marketing technique. Owned a ‘69 442 with a transplanted 455 for several years and used to get that question about the “rocket” engines quite often. Along with the almost unnerving question of, “ Is that a real FOUR-FORTY-TWO?”

[@davidpowell3347]

The first "Rocket" V8 appeared in 1949 models and I think was made in various displacements until being phased out I think in the early 1960s

[@johnglynn5986]

Great discussion. I've been an Olds guy for 30+ years. You can get great torque out of these motors and you can easily double power output from stock if you're willing to spend the dough and have some skills. The last one I built, a 350, came from a rusted out 72 wagon. It's been in two cars and is waiting for number three patiently in my garage. A word of advice: if you uncork it so it can really breath, pay some attention to the bottom end. When they're stock, you'll run them out of oil above 6000 RPM and they *will* let go.

[@frederickhoward5598]

Unless you change the oil pan to (8qts) and go with a high volume high pressure oil pump

[@Marc816]

I have owned 88s, Cutlasses, 442s and now a 2001 Aurora 4.0. All great!

[@bonnie_n_clyde8901]

Was hoping to hear more about the hi compression 330 that makes 310hp at the crank factory with 10:1 compression! Also the only olds small block with steel forged crank. Its like the forgotten step child of the olds engines. I have 65 cutty drop top with one in it, a few bolt ons switched to true dual exhaust. This winter I'm pulling the #2 heads, porting them, doing bigger valves and upgrading to adjustable roller rockers plus a bigger cam. 110 lobe, 223/236 @ .050, .510/.523. After that I'll get it dyno'd and post a vid to show people what these things can do!

[@glennmanchester1568]

Did the 330 really have all that I had one in my 67 cutlass w a powerglide it didnt last long but th'at was all me and being young and w ell You know but anyway it ran. Good when I got it but it was no real power house the 350 rocket I replaced it with and I was able to get the turbo. 350 in and. The shifter linkage so you could pull it down into first was way more peppy and I dont just mean cuz of the extra gear either like I said before young and .... I Wksh I was smart enough to keep it

[@peterrivney552]

The 67 motor 330 if it is a high compression 4barrel carb ant two exhausts was 320 H.p.

[@therealtech833]

I have a set of heads from a 64' 330. Been waiting to use them on a rebuild of a 350 or 403 to get better compression. 330's were beast of motors, coming with factory 4-volt main and steel crank, unfortunately I don't have the block or crank they came with.

[@thisisyourcaptainspeaking2259]

403 had a steel crank as far as I know.

[@craigmanthie8134]

I just bought olds 403 for my 66 olds 88 2 door coupe. I love Oldsmobile moters

[@wcurtin1962]

The Olds "Rocket" engine was the first massed produced overhead valve V8. In it's day it was the fastest production engine in America.

[@louisandrus8532]

A

[@johnkufeldt3564]

thanks for the info Tyler, I'm a Mopar guy but also a fan of BOP V-8s, , Rockets, nailheads, etc, old Caddys(pre Northstar),some Chevs, small block Fords even, Cheers from Calgary, Alberta, in Canada

[@kennethcohagen3539]

I love them. They are another unsung powerhouse. They weren’t particularly high Rpm, but they made massive amounts of low end torque. Oldsmobile’s motto was, “Horsepower sells cars while Torque wins races.” A good engine to build is the Olds 5.7 they are race tough, durable, and easily converted to run gas by changing cylinder heads. They have thick walls that allow for boring them out, and accept big engine crankshafts. the only downside is that ALL olds V8’s have oiling problems. Research will provide the answer to fix that. Then, if you build correctly, they live forever compared to Stock SmallBlock Chevy’s factory blocks made of cheaper cast iron.

[@luifreeze6063]

Whats up Tyler. You make some amazing videos. I rebuilt my 1979 olds carburetor from watching your video. Saved 220 bucks. Appreciate it. I have a 1979 olds 350 bored out 30 over with an edelbrock performance plus cam and performer intake. Having trouble finding a better set of heads; the 3A heads are garbage. Once I find a better set of heads and a nice rear end, it will get nice gains. It won't beat mustangs or camaros but it will be fun to drive. Later oldsmobile 350 blocks are hard to beef up. The 1970 350 rated at 320 horses is probably only pushing out 260 horses net; power was measured in gross horses in 1970.

[@edzelford4717]

My experience with v-8 Olds engines. I have never blown one up, I have owned numerous 260-307-350-403-400-455, maybe 30 total olds v-8s. My very first choice for MPG and power is the 400, it was in a '68 Vista Cruiser and later I put it in a '70 Cutlass averaged 15MPG and amazing power at any RPM. even better than all the 455s including the '71 factory boat engine that I put in a '72 GMC pickup. Olds made two versions of the 400CI engine, first was '65-'67 and later '68-'69

[@silvianogarcia4417]

Edzel Ford where is the fuel pump located on a 307 5.0 located for a 1997 Oldsmobile?

[@chillkootmarkowee8738]

front passenger side, and 1997 I didn't know they still made 307 V-8s in 1997, I thought it was 1987.

[@davidcollis4758]

In the fuel tank

[@chillkootmarkowee8738]

+David Collis | I think he was talking about a Olds 307 V-8, I thought all carbureted engines have mechanical fuel pumps (stock) from the factory.

[@davidcollis4758]

He said a 1997 Olds. After 1988 all GM vehicles were fuel injected. The Cadillac Seville with an Olds 350 was fuel injected even in the late 70's. If it is carbureted then yes it will be a mechanical fuel pump. In 1997 there weren't any carbureted Olds engines.

[@wrongwayray76]

You are so right! My 81 Cutlass with the 260 has been a daily driver since new. Its a beater, and the body and interior are not pretty, but the damn thing still gets me to work every day lol. 344,000 miles now. Ive had lots of external repairs but internally still stock. Even outlasted the 350 transmission.

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

That engine has roller cam which does NOT have to be broken in. Just douse it well with fresh oil, slide it in and button it up. DON'T use assembly lube because the lifters won't The heads you want off the earlier 307 are number 5A. They HAVE to come from a 307 because the valves on 350/403 heads might hit the cylinder sides. You in a good position to do this stuff, hope you decide to.

[@RaymondHaley-bi8lx]

Those were the most innovated V8 engine GM ever made, they innovated nearly all the electronic senses used on today's GM engines were first tested on Oldsmobile engines in the late 70,s and it was the most durable V8 engine GM ever made.

[@fastrace011]

I've got an 81 Olds 98 4 dr Diesel. It's underpowered, but I get 18 mpg in town and 28 mpg on the hwy. great video.

[@tmsek8155]

I have a 350 out of a 72 delta 88 that was cannibalized except for the engine, it was all that was left. I pulled out the dipstick and it was clean so I traded a wrecked s10 for it. that was 17 years ago and I still have the engine. I put it in an Olds I had before we even knew if it ran. 1st crank it started right up and after getting the timing right I've never had to do anything but routine stuff. they are bulletproof as I've drove this car like I stole it! sadly the car itself isn't doing so well, time and rust has taken its toll and it's time to take it out and put it in a better car. I will keep my engine until I die!

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

Awesome man, I'm glad to hear you've stuck it out.

[@slimjim119]

i love the 455 rocket engines had a 1969 cutlass 455 4 speed it was sweet

[@ghovatigilliardvatimanelaf5463]

68 442 455

[@ScarlettFire341]

LOL I have a 69 Cutlass vert now with a 70 455 4speed

[@wrotenwasp]

Cutty? Man, that name really burns my ass too. I'd rather hear the word "gutless" than cutty. As if the Olds engine being called the Rocket isn't cool enough, they also go and paint it gold ! Been an Olds junkie since 1979. I've had a 86 442 since 1987, put a 68 Olds 350 in it back in 1988. .030 forged flat tops, #6 heads, Crane hyd flat tappet cam with 230/234 deg dur @.050, Perf RPM intake , Holley 650 DP, HEI, mechanical fuel pump/ 18" mechanical flex fan, 10" TCI converter and the only good thing that came from the factory, the 8.5" 10 bolt 3.73. Didnt do a standard rebuilt (rings/bearings/rod bolts/oil pump/ timing chain) until 2008. Still runs like a raped ape. With slicks/ open headers, 12.60s at 106. At only 3500 pounds, it's about as quick as a 68-72 moderately built 455 442. Love those 350 Olds engines.

[@lukenellermoe6266]

Love your video, I have been Oldsmobile life long I watched the video all through and I was impressed by how much you actually know! That said I am able to tell you a little about what I know, rocket mfg ran casting for olds until 1977 and then olds took over casting and replace the 455 with a huge bore small block (4.351") and windows in the main Webb (why?!) Sadly not enough bore space for 360 deg. Cool so th Siamese bore and windows in the main webb would be the killer

[@robdoggerful]

love my olds! 307 y. had it for years. developed a coolant leak at intake flange. read up a little, fixed leak and port matched and cut the atomizer under the carb about 50 percent and polished it, then set 26 btdc. and got good gains in throttle and rpms. it is a 307 y but it acts like a chevy 350 with all the reliability. also opened up the breather and put in a low temp thermostat. only thing is it doesnt like to sit in traffic, it burps a little coolant.

[@philwright2881]

Back the timing back 10 to 12 degrees. You are running way too much timing

[@fposmith]

What year was that ? In the mid 70's, GM got caught using 307 and 350 Chevy engines in place of the 350 Olds rocket engine due to a shortage of Olds engine blocks. All hell broke loose over that one. There were recalls, engine swaps and in a lot of cases whole cars were returned. Then to top all that, they found out they were doing the same thing at Buick and Pontiac They were sued for fraud and false advertising ! The class action lawsuits cost GM a fortune !

[@thisisyourcaptainspeaking2259]

Thanks for the Oldsmobile video, I have an eliminator jet boat with the 455 Olds motor, 1973 model.

[@richardfoster9499]

I built up a Oldsmobile 307 V8, I used a early 80s block with the better flowing 5A cylinder heads, a mild comp cams camshaft, aluminum high rise intake manifold, long tube headers, holley 750 cfm carburetor, stock crank, rods, pistons, stock bore. That engine was very reliable.

[@macchinastella2307]

How many horsey's do you think you were making, just out of curiosity?

[@rodneyhopper22]

You actually built up a three o seven block what a piece of shit

[@richardfoster9499]

@Rodney Hopper I looked all over for a 350 chevy, but I couldn't find one at any of the salvage yards. That 307 olds was the V8 I could find at the time

[@metalbob3335]

I only had two engines a 307 and a smog era 350 from the rocket corporation, both were not prime performance prepared engines but both I miss them dearly for they always run when I needed them. My best friend has a fun 394 hi comp that is unrestored and takes lead-sub to run. That lives up to the rocket name.

[@Cody6210]

My dad got a 455 Olds out of a Toranado and put it in his 80' Trans Am, He said it used to shred tires at 110km/h in third. 15 years ago he ripped it out and built it up to a level that i'm unsure of(It has the big heads and some other things from what I can remember), clearly the stock trans wasnt going to hold so he got a muncie 4 speed and had an adapter built so it would bolt up. Sad to say that life got in the way and the engine sits in my shop on a stand, it has never even been flashed. I told him that one day we will build something out of it(the car is pretty rotten afters sitting bare frame on lawn for 15 years).

[@shaunthompson8405]

I agree with this statement.. The 400 i had in my 69 w-30 was indestructible. Only thing you could do to these monsters was spin a bearing. 12.8 was the best i ran in the 1/4 and that with only mild head work done to the D heads.

[@Richard-vu7kh]

Shaun Thompson you may not see this comment....a bit late I’m afraid.....I’ve been looking for actual et’s on the ‘68 / ‘69 W-30’s for YEARS ! I’ve owned two 442’s ‘68 and ‘69....LOVED both cars !...fantastic engines, great performers and reliable too. I never had a chance to quarter mile either of them, but in street bashing they were a blast. The ‘68 had a 3.91posi rear-end....launched like a bat out of hell ! I had a compression check done on the ‘68 after 180,000 miles - still tight and holding it’s compression. Call me crazy, but I would take the long-stroke 400 over a 455. I’ve driven a 1970 W-30 - honestly couldn’t feel much difference in engine response. The long-stroke 400 has gotten a lot of bad press - unfairly judging by my own experience.

[@marlobreding7402]

I've swapped many 350 or 455 engine in 79 and on Olds Diesel V8's. Made happy own of former diesel powered GM cars. The gas engine loved the diesel transmission gearing and shift points.

[@jwing1478]

I've been running the same 260 in my cutlass for over 15 years now. Got it low mileage but lost a rod bearing at elevated rpm 6 months later. Engine was rebuild by an older guy and have not had it apart since. Must have over 200k hard miles on it now and has probably been over heated 10-15 times for one reason or another. It is a strong engine for cruising. Gets 22mpg highway with a 2bbl and 2.48 gear. I've also got a Trans am 6.6 and 1970 E head 455. Just running this 260 forever i guess.

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

You can't kill those things.

[@kylereif4357]

Oldsmobile V8s have a non-adjustable valve train so when you change the heads you have to check your push rod length making sure that they are the proper length to get the correct valve train geometry. Otherwise you will have valve train issues. If the heads were milled you can either place shims under the rocker arm bridges or have custom length push rods made to get the valve train geometry correct.

[@michaelcuff5780]

I had a olds f85 cutlass convertible with a 330 cid with a Q jet carb on it. It was a helluva lotta fun and women loved it!

[@davidwellman7080]

Dad had a 63 Starfire with a 330 ultra compression four barrel four speed. I love that car I've had a 71 Cutlass 350 car and a 87 Cutlass that was swapped for a 350. I loved all of them!!

[@prairiegold6870]

330 came out in '64.

[@davidwellman7080]

@@prairiegold6870 yeah but it was a 63 and a half

[@CarManiac125]

I agree, I call mine cutlass or Black Betty cause I hear that ram jam song in my head when I get in it🤣

[@sherpa056]

not sure that exhaust manifolds will mix match with bigger headed small block Olds motors. If memory serves me correctly, the 307 has smaller exhaust ports than the 350/403 heads, so they might fit the head, but they wont flow very well. Other than that, this is great info for anybody interested in the SBO/BBO engine swaps. thanks for making it!

[@kpds8n]

Had a 79 ninety eight with a 403 - what a great engine. Had a 80 delta 88 with a 307 -beautiful. But the craziest was a 69 two door delta 88 with a 455 two barrel. That thing never lost a race in the year I owned in high school back in 77. I could lay a strip of rubber almost as long as I wanted and it was stock. Dual-pitch stator I guess?

[@jeffbean2409]

Very nicely done with lots of great info! Thank you for posting!

[@utahrides2903]

Nice info! I have a 1973 delta 88 with 33000 miles!

[@robdoggerful]

any more tips from the old timers are greatly appreciated. thanks

[@James-lb3jo]

In 1970 I think if I remember correctly Olds added rotating valves on the Tornado engines.

[@w41duvernay]

No discussion on Olds 425 engine? Or bolting in Big block in place of small block?

[@craig1974]

Yeah i do agree that the Oldsmobile 307 was a reliable engine, but not a powerhouse. I test drove several 307 cars in my time, and i was never impressed by the power compared to the Chevy 305 which i liked the power much better on.

[@beaner2907]

I had a 76 Cutlass with a 260 about 27 years ago. Now I've got a 71 Cutlass with a 455. What a difference lol

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

LOL I bet you didn't go anywhere fast with that 260. They were slowwww slow even in the downsized '78's. Did you remember that a '76 Cutlass could be had with a Borg-Warner (light duty) 5-speed with the 260? You couldn't get it with a 350 or 455 even though they were both detuned.

[@kylereif4357]

If the motor still had its original steel shim head gaskets when you pulled the original heads and replaced them with new fel pro's that threw off the valve train geometry because the factory head gaskets i think are around 0.015 in thickness and the fel pro's are 0.040 thick. plus if the heads were milled for resurfacing or to gain a little compression custom length push rods would be in order.

[@TheWolfMatt]

Always did love my olds 403 w/72 350 olds heads. Ran great when I had her running. Now she needs a little work to get her back up and running, been sitting since 09 or so. Ran in a 78 Firebird Formula L/E, yes, she had the tow package and yes, she does have the solid mains. What would it go for these days? That's the big question I have right now. Or who would want an old school engine like this? Trying to go to a LS3 style engine w/T56 trans. Doing an update on her.

[@scmxrider613]

remember POBC. Pontiac, olds, buick, cadilac. almost everything is interchangable

[@ChevyFan079]

My father had a '85 Buick LeSabre Limited Edition with a Olds 307. Indestructible engine. He put nearly 500,000 miles on it before the car was wrecked in an accident.

[@S-MCGARAGE2024]

this video helped a lot thanks!! ive got an 81 307. I'm trying to make a 307hp 307ci

[@JayScott7172]

The 78-82 260 intake is unique to that engine and cannot be swapped with the 307-up models. The 75-76 260 *would* accept an intake from a larger car, though. From what I know, the 75-76 260 heads can be used on a 78-82 260 which would allow the installation of a 4V intake---for whatever good that would do...

[@rodneyhopper22]

Use it for a boat anchor

[@yakfizzle]

awesome video, very informative, please don't disable to comments...at the least just make the comments on approval only, thanks!

[@techmaven5900]

Aluminum 215 V8 was named "Rockette" 330 were Jetfire Rocket . 425's are Super Rocket. I agree on the "Cutty" shit. lol.

[@Oldsfunguy]

Here's a bit of trivia. That Olds 215 was in production up until 1989 and used on the Range Rovers. They switched in 1989 to something else.

[@soulfultenor]

@@Oldsfunguy that was not the Olds, it was a Buick 215, yes Buick had a 215 also

[@Oldsfunguy]

I stand corrected.

[@soulfultenor]

@@Oldsfunguy not only did they sale it to Rover, which The Rover Company, build and refined that engine, Buick wanted to buy it back and Rover wouldn't sale it back to them, Buick also sold the 231 to Kaiser-Jeep, in 1967 they were able to buy the patents back 10 years later. look it up about the 215 it's an interesting read.

[@JohnW1711stock]

My brother purchased a 68 W30, new. My first race/street car was a 70 W30. My current Olds is an 84 Cutlass, with a factory (OMG don't kill me!) 305 Chevy! It is an NHRA Stock class car. Thanks for posting.

[@terrymantle2711]

Had several cutlasses in the 80S they offered cams and 4brl intakes and headers aftermarket that helped but the aframes had multiple motor mount holes so a 350 chevy with a chevy 350 or 400 turbo trans would drop in in a weekend. sadly most of the 260' s got junked.

[@handgunner1911]

the olds 350 diesel block is one of my favorites for street building

[@dougbillings2046]

How do u do it?

[@billiot425olds]

The DX diesel block is solid I mean really solid foundation for a high HP build the diesel blocks are way thicker way better foundation the olds diesel got a bad rep because not necessarily because of reliability on the actual design but the injector pump would go haywire and do some funky stuff

[@76629online]

The olds 350 actually had a 4.057" bore....the 403s were 4.351". With some serious machine work and the use of some custom parts, you could install a 455 crank in a 403 block and get 505 cubic inches. The only problem is that most 403 blocks were windowed and really aren't very strong.

[@raymondhaley8156]

The truth about oldsmobile engines is that the oldsmobile engine was the most advanced V8 engine general motors ever made, prior to 1978, oldsmobile was already making diesel blocks, any engine built from 1964-76 were all heavy duty, after 1977 only the diesel block was heavy duty, further more an oldsmobile engine would perform far better than a chevrolet engine, using the same modern equipment, the reason for that being short block engines perform better with fuel injection than tall block engines , 350-455 oldsmobile engines would produce the kind of torque that would fry a set of tires on a vette, camaro, or a surburban.

[@davidpowell3347]

Should show and compare the bottom ends of the 330 vs. the 307 (where the main bearing caps bolt on)

[@wcurtin1962]

I believe the 330 engine had tube mounted rockers, and the heads had bosses for mounting the rocker tubes.

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

Thanks for the info :-)

[@erikguerrero9218]

Do you happen to know what all I would need to swap from a FWD 307 to a RWD 307 so I can use it in a FWD 1982 Buick Riviera? I bought a convertible and it did not come with an engine. There are a lot of RWD 307 cars but i'm haviing trouble finding a RWD 307 car to use as a doner.I've heard that the exhaust manifolds and oil pan. Thanks in advance.

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

The small-port 307 still has a lot of torque and that's what moves the car around. I think if you ever decided to upgrade the engine to a big-block Olds or even a Cadillac engine(they are similar) you would be pleasantly surprised.

[@rodneyklewis]

Thank you. I have a 7A 307 MOTOR in a 1984 custom cruiser. Clearly not the original motor. I am having some fun correcting vaccum hose lines. Your video helped me identify my motor. We don't need more then 140 hp to go to the supermarket or the beach with our 3 children. The satin black paint used in our olds motors seperates it from the typical rocket but... It is a rocket. Thank you for sharing. Do you have a clean video display of where the vaccum hoses should be?

[@paulthomas8989]

Thank you thank you thank you

[@Texassince1836]

Was just going through youtube with my phone on fullscreen, not even really paying attention to who made the videos....then i came to this one and after a few seconds was like "hey its that guy from the Qjet videos, who said tyler."

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

Texassince1836 :-)

[@motodon5686]

Great information thanks

[@yetiandrade1088]

I have a 70 delta 88 that has the 455 with "e" heads and im wanting to put it in my 88 suburban. Any help from you guys out there would be appreciated. My first speeding ticket was for 125 mph and I had LOTS of throttle left when he flew past me with the cherries on! What a motor!!!

[@camgnilpe9300]

bull fucking shit

[@tickytuckdog3660]

I also have a tapping sound in the engine on passenger side, the guy I bought it from said he thought it was a bad lifter, I hope it's not the crank

[@samuelperry982]

How true! my '86 Cutlass would NOT DIE...

[@InsomniaPictureWorks]

Thanks for the great info, its appreciated. I'm doing a 307 to 350 swap soon, and I probably will be bugging you, if you dont mind.

[@mason5540]

They stopped calling them "Rocket" around 73-74

[@craiganthony9735]

My dad had an old oldsmobile... 330 cubic in.

[@biglon62]

I've had the 260 and 307 and 350 loved them all! Doesn't the 350.have a 6 inch rod?

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

No, the rod ratio on the big-block is pretty bad, like a big-block chevy. They are undersquare and just don't like the revs. Plus, the oiling system pushes too much oil up top and drains the pan at high rpm. As far as big-block GMs go my favorite is a Buick. Huge bore, short stroke. Has it's own oiling problems but they are solvable.

[@dronedbr]

I have an Olds 350 from 76. Does that year have hardened valve seats? Do you know the comp ratio and is it worth rebuilding?

[@raymondhaley8156]

It,s nice you love oldsmobile engines as much as I do, but trying to convince some people that from a design stand point that oldsmobiles head and block design was more advanced than chevrolets bow tie block won,t be easy even as a mechanic of 48 years but it,strue

[@tickytuckdog3660]

I'm trying to get the most horsepower out of my engine, I bought a fuel ejection throttle body, and I'm getting a better spark ignition possibly DUI , ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS

[@classiccars1152]

Hi Tyler is talking about the code on the Pad .... says the first digit is a 3 on the pad and means year 73 this is not correct.... It means 3 for Oldsmobile Division. The second number on the pad is the Year 0 for 70...1 for 71 and up.

[@kingcharles2624]

Good Info..! Question, I have a 77-80 olds 350 with a few performance parts (intake, carb., headers.) I have 3A heads; are these heads worth keeping with these upgrades or should I go with different ones if any?

[@foreverendeavors6210]

Not to mention you can put big block olds heads on a small block.

[@reginald3874]

Got myself a 1978 Oldsmobile Delta 88 with the original 350 V8 in it (right after they stopped calling it the "Rocket 350"), was one-owner and has only 112K miles. Runs good and I've tuned it up (timing was off, PCV valve wasn't doing its job and spark plugs were fouled), but I still need to rebuild the Rochester 4BBL Quadrajet carburetor on it since sometimes it doesn't fire up right away, idles a bit too low and stumbles once in a while. Also does a weird thing where I'll hear a faint knocking sound coming from the motor but only when the engine is fully warmed up. Its been doing it for months and hasn't gotten any louder or worse. I just baby it hoping nothing goes awry. Previous owner told me he used 15w40 motor oil meant for diesel engines, even though this one's a regular gasoline engine. Could that be hurting the motor at all? I know the additives are ending up on a couple of the spark plugs as ash.

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

The diesel oil is fine.The PO was probably using the diesel oil because it still contains zinc, which most gasoline-engine oils removed. Zinc helps avoid excessive cam and lifter wear, so keep on using it. You might look on your cylinder heads and see if they have PMD cast into them. Pontiac cast some of the 350 cylinder heads around that timeframe.

[@reginald3874]

Thanks for the advice, I'll keep on using that oil then. PO had mentioned the same thing about the cam and lifters as well but I wasn't completely sure. Great video! :)

[@mattt1670]

So dumb question to the olds guys? Years ago I swapped a 350 from an 80' Delta, into a 81' Pontiac Lemans. I was under the impimpression that this block was no good? Had thought about a head, and cam swap. Is this block a turd?? Are the stock heads any good to massage, or would I be better off to get an older casting? Just looking to build a mild street motor that will spin some decent revs.

[@toguro1009]

Matt T . It is 2017 just get an LS

[@thedogefather]

Olds 307 has driven me three hundred thousand miles in my two 1983 regency 98 brougham

[@Capricious9C1]

I have a 1989 Chevy Caprice wagon has a factory Olds 307 in it with the TH2004R overdrive transmission in it. It has 262,775 miles on it still running great. Eventually I want to put a 350 in it. Now the 400 is a big block? I am pretty much going to build one fairly stock I do want a roller cam and lifters and the roller rocker arms maybe a high volume oil pump Not sure if I want a Holley 600 cfm carb or go with the Holley TBI set up on it. I am 46 past the drag racing stage. but would like low end torque and fairly good mpg like 15 mpg.

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

A 400 Oldsmobile is a big-block. They weren't produced after the 1960's and you probably would be hard pressed to even find one now. The most common version had a pretty small bore and nobody really fools with them. What you MIGHT be thinking of is a 403, which was the largest small-block Olds V8 made. It's externally the same size as the others(260-307-330-350) so it's a really nice drop-in upgrade. You can still find good-running engines pretty easily...slap in a new timing chain, oil pump, drop it in and go.

[@Oldsfunguy]

You can put in a roller cam in an Olds. Dick Miller racing and Mondello sell them but they are really really expensive. The 400 Big blocks came in two flavors so know what you are getting into. Parts do not interchange. All the Olds small blocks with the exception of the 330 interchange. (Different crank bolt pattern on the 330). The 307 also has different lifter angles and thus lifter/valve train differences keep it from the rest of the small block. The 350DX (diesel) is totally different. 350-403 have completely interchangeable parts including all internals and externals. 307 rotating parts can interchange with 350-403 but you'll need to mix and match in the heads depending on what you want to do. 330 has the forged crank that you want but I think the 350-403-307-260 heads won't work on it. Oddly enough you can bolt 455 & 400 heads on a 350-403. You need to machine the intake manifold due to the minor angle change to the face of the head to intake mating surface and bore out the holes for the head bolts to 1/2 inch. Olds 455 with 500HP is relatively easy but it's the torque you want. Mondello has a set up that is 493HP and 580LbFt of torque. They have a motor home set up that is 400HP but in the 600LbFt torque range. Regardless they are all set up to turn

[@215jami]

Guy Faucher The early 442 400 blocks came with two different cranks also ,one was drilled for a pilot bearing the other wasn't The stick engines were hard to find in the seventies, imagine now. I had to drill a crank, then eventualy went to Pontiac for a bolt in.

[@NCLUSA]

Jesse Haddicks And a reliable engine gets you to work so you can keep making the car payments, and the weak engines get better gas mileage so you can buy the important things in life, like fried chicken and beer on a Friday night ( :

[@RobertSmith-nx6tw]

350 rocket also had 10 valve cover bolts.

[@randybehrmann5454]

All modern Olds V8 engines (260 - 455 from 1964 to 1990) are "rocket" engines. It was the moniker placed on the design by Oldsmobile in the heat of the space race and they just kept it through the production run. They dropped 5 of the valve cover bolts when they redesigned the heads to shave weight in 1977 and losing 10 bolts saved a small amount of weight and money without sacrificing the seals on the valve cover gaskets. All modern Olds V8 valve covers from any displacement will fit any other displacement engine, no matter the year.

[@Thevinylking69]

Most if not all of the big block Cadillac engines (472ci & 500ci) were Pontiac PMD castings I believe

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

+Thevinylking69 You sure about that? Pontiac DID cast some late 70's Oldsmobile heads.

[@billiot425olds]

Yeah those Pontiac casted heads for Oldsmobile were crap they had a lot of cracking and warping issues

[@seandieger3317]

I would like to here more about the big blocks, 400, 425, 455 olds. I am building a 69 455 for 68 cutlass s.

[@leroy89930666]

Still learning my way around my 83 oldsmobile regency 98... can someone tell me where the oil dipstick is located? Thought I found it but its the transmission fluid.

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

Driver side of the engine about 3/4 way back.

[@steelbeltsdrumming]

10:05 I feel the pain, I own a 1985 Buick Le Sabre with a 307 and the 7A heads. Although the torque and HP numbers are almost the same on paper, the 1984 and older 307 is like a rocket (pun there) compared to the 1985 and later versions. Its a shame Olds couldn't do a little more with the 260 and 307, with as durable as they are, with a short stroke and relatively large bore, a good fuel injection system could have made either engine a real powerhouse in its time.

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

+Willem Van Herwijnen Yeah, the late 307 heads are so restrictive you almost can't rev it high enough to blow it up. As everyone knows the 350 and 403 drop right in but those are starting to get somewhat scarce and they are all tired by now.

[@robertstembridgejr7532]

Olds 260 is junk...it had major oiling problems! Don’t believe me...just pull the valve cover off one of them! The Rocket 350 on the other hand is a really good motor and I’ve heard good things about the 455!

[@markpedid8825]

Oh and great refresher video.....

[@madjack58]

I have a bit of a stupid question-- I understand the Olds small blocks are virtually identical, but I daily an '83 Electra with a 307, and I want to replace the beat-up old oil pan on it.. Would an oil pan from an Old 350 bolt up properly? The 307 pan seems to have been discontinued a few years back.

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

It should work fine.

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

Well, honestly? Don't put those heads and intake back on it. You have the 7A heads with the small, half-size intake and exhaust ports. The intake and exhaust manifolds are just as puny. Easy thing to do is hit the junkyard and pull the top end off an '80-'84 307, have the heads checked and tanked, and put it together with that stuff. If you have a little extra coin you can slide in an HO 307 cam..all that ought to get you 190hp at least.

[@andrewoplinger4759]

I definitely wouldn't call a 307 a "rocket". I'm stuck with the 7A 307 in my Supreme. Whatta dog! I would love to build some power out of it, but performance parts seem to be almost non-existent for it.

[@herbertblackburn4165]

68 cutlass 350 set timing gears . Oldsmobile Book says crank at 12 and cam at 6 (dot to dot ) or others say crank at 12 and cam at 12 . When I took it apart tdc was 12 and 12 . Is this correct.

[@rodneyhopper22]

Yo dude add the 455 c casting head's and the other thing is also the w30 4speed 328 duration Cam shaft with the 108 lobe separation and if you're gonna be able to make something else get a chance to get a 350 diesel block and look up the modifications that are available for that conversion kit

[@RobertSmith-nx6tw]

and the deep valley intake on the 455 and a 455 rocket gold!

[@RobertSmith-nx6tw]

i had a 79 Delta 88 with 403 and 400 vacuum only 400 short tail trans!