The Oldsmobile Connection

Brianritchie21787 · Joined: 08 Feb 2004 Posts: 266 Location: Tolland, CT, USA

I've decided to buy my step dads pick up truck for my new daily driver this winter but im keeping my olds around to work on next summer. Now i know my stock 307 isnt race worthy, but im looking to make the best of it... i really love this car the way it is, i would like to do this without swapping the motor

But anyway, im wondering if theres anything i could do to squeeze a little extra power out of it..

im thinking ignition/coil, intake manifold, possibly headers, removing the cat and increasing exhaust from 2.25" to 2.5" true duels and maybe new gears and tranny next summer if i can save enough

also does anyone know how much increase i would get from swapping vin "9" parts onto it? I have access to 2 vin "9" motors, each with around 100K on them so stripping these wont be a problem

if anyone has any other ideas on what combination of modifications will benefit in horsepower let me know, im open to any wild ideas you come up with, my budget for now is around $1000... :idea:

Brianritchie21787 · Joined: 08 Feb 2004 Posts: 266 Location: Tolland, CT, USA

by the way im doing this all on my lonesome, maybe with the help of a few drinking buddies.. but i dont plan on going to a garage for anything exept maybe the transmission swap because i have limited access to a hoist and garage.. thanks again -Brian-

88 Coupe · Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 5:39 pm Post subject:

Hi Brianritchie21787, hello everyone,

Quote: ........ I know my stock 307 isn’t race worthy ...........
Why not?

Quote: ........ im wondering if there’s anything i could do to squeeze a little extra power out of it .........
There's more there than most people know. It depends how much you want to spend to get it.

Quote: .......... thinking ignition/coil, intake manifold ……..
Waste of money.

Quote: .......... possibly headers, removing the cat and increasing exhaust from 2.25" to 2.5".........
Wait on the headers, until they can actually help. Muffler shop will have 2" or 2.5", not 2.25". Manifolds, with 2 machine bent 2.5" or mandrel bent 2.0" will be more than enough. Your choice for mufflers.

Another option might be a hi-po cat back system, which would include a second "Y", and would act as an "X" pipe.

Quote: ......... true duels .......
You mean dual exhaust, as opposed to a “Y” pipe? The phrase is redundant, all duals are true duals.

Quote: ......... new gears .........
Yes. Your choice of ratios will depend on your planned use

Quote: ........ and tranny ..........
Assuming you mean trans, not transsexual, why change it?

Quote: ......... does anyone know how much increase i would get from swapping vin "9" parts onto it ..........
Don't know what "VIN 9” means, but if you have 5A heads, forget it.

Quote: .......... any other ideas on what combination of modifications will benefit in horsepower .......... my budget for now is around $1000.........
Exhaust work and gears will be more than your present budget, but will make it act like a different car.

Regards, Norm

88delta88 · Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 2400 Location: Canada

Gears make a HUGE difference! My friend had an old 60's Pontiac Acadian with a stock 305 out of an imapala. He had a custom air cleaner, and custom exhaust, stock everything else, but the gears he had made the car jump like a banshee. If I remember the ratio correctly he claimed it was 5:13 gears. He couldnt take the car on the highway, but around town it just ripped.

88 Coupe · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 11:50 pm Post subject:

Hi 88delta88, hello everyone,

Quote: ......... 60's Pontiac Acadian with a stock 305 .......... it was 5:13 gears .........
Quick look at my dream wheel, and guessing a 26" or so tire, top speed would be about 60 MPH.

Rrgards, Norm

88delta88 · Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 2400 Location: Canada

:-) Thats about it!!! Top speed was not suitable for everyday driving... Plus, weather you wanted to or not, it would squak the tires everytime it shifted!!! :-) It was a hell of a fun car to cruise the strip in though...

BigBlockOlds · Joined: 04 Jan 2004 Posts: 171 Location: Ohio

88 Coupe wrote:
Don't know what "VIN 9” means, but if you have 5A heads, forget it.

Regards, Norm

Vin 9 were the 307 HO engines in the 442 and H/O. Putting those parts on your 307 would get you from a base VIN Y 140-150HP to an earth shattering 170-180HP depending on what year VIN 9 your talking about.

The later roller cammed 307 VIN 9 engines had the 170HP vs. the earlier (pre-85) VIN 9 engines with 180HP.

88 Coupe · Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2005 1:53 am Post subject:

Hi BigBlockOlds, all,

If those HP ratings were achieved by head changes only, the numbers you've given are a valid answer to his question.

Regards, Norm

BigBlockOlds · Joined: 04 Jan 2004 Posts: 171 Location: Ohio

88 Coupe wrote: Hi BigBlockOlds, all,

If those HP ratings were achieved by head changes only, the numbers you've given are a valid answer to his question.

Regards, Norm

The changes were due primarily to the heads. Those 7A heads are absolutely terribile when it comes to performance. Take a "regular" Olds head and then cut the ports in half. You get the 7A's.

I do believe the roller cammed engines had a bit more torque than the earlier engines but its not much.