The Oldsmobile Connection

sosincere021988 · Joined: 04 Apr 2008 Posts: 14

hey guyz,quick question...can a chevy 305ci be used as a replacement for and olds 307ci? I have an 85 olds delta 88 royale with a rod thrown (from overheatin i guess).I want to kno if my spare chevy 305ci would fit and what would need to be changed.the chevy motor has none of the accesories so would i be able to use the ones off the olds or......? :D :D thanks fellas

andrewk · Joined: 18 May 2005 Posts: 1236 Location: Ames, IA

Hi, and welcome to TOC.

There are quite a few differences between the Chevy and the Olds. The bellhousing bolt patterns are different, and so are the accessory brackets.

Assuming that your transmission has the BOP pattern (That stands for Buick, Olds, Pontiac) You will need to either buy an adapter plate, or change the transmission so that it will bolt up to the engine. There is a possibility that the transmission has both patterns in its bell housing, but we can't know that without knowing what transmission is in the car.

Motor mounts are different, so you would need to find the applicable B-Body chev mounts and platforms. The starter will be on the other side of the car (passenger instead of driver) so you may need to have a long battery cable made if you don't want to change the battery box and put it on the other side of the car.

You can probably use the accessories (sans water pump) from the olds, but you will need the proper brackets for them, as the Olds ones do not fit the chevy block.

Depending on your location, you may find it easier to find another 307,350, or even a 403. Any one of these would be a "bolt-in".

However, if you are set on Chev power, the easiest thing to do is find a Chev powered B-body car in the junk yard, and get all the needed pieces from it, and transfer them over to the Olds.

91parkave · Joined: 29 May 2007 Posts: 518

and if you need the acc mounts for the 305, I have a full set just pay shipping.

sosincere021988 · Joined: 04 Apr 2008 Posts: 14

well.....i would like it to be bolt on,not to mention striaght olds.so that bein said.....i guess a olds 350 is more up my alley.i live in baltimore maryland....can anyone suggest anything as far as where to get the motor.we are known for Crazy Ray's and i kno my way around rather well. Thanks for the help fellas!!!

91parkave · Joined: 29 May 2007 Posts: 518

It might be a little hard finding olds 307motors or 350 as stated above, if you kind find one in any kind of decent shape more power to you, but imo swapping to a 305 gives you more parts for cheap and they are more plentiful, modding the stuff andrew mentioned above is no big deal for the avearge shadetree, but if youre set on the "olds" motor then more power to you, just keep the big picture in mind.

andrewk · Joined: 18 May 2005 Posts: 1236 Location: Ames, IA

91parkave wrote: It might be a little hard finding olds 307motors or 350 as stated above, if you kind find one in any kind of decent shape more power to you,

He shouldn't have much of a problem finding a 307 or a 350 Olds in a junkyard. It will probably need to be rebuilt.

Quote: but imo swapping to a 305 gives you more parts for cheap and they are more plentiful,

This is sort of a half-truth. For a street car, you can build an Olds for about the same price as the Chevorlet. While the Chev is more plentiful, the cost difference really isn't very substantial when it comes to stock replacement parts. Aftermarket performance parts vary in cost, and a lot of times the Chev stuff is cheaper because they make more of them.

You read everywhere that "x is more expensive to build than y", and in certain applications, it is true, but not for the guy that just wants a reliable engine for his car.

Quote: modding the stuff andrew mentioned above is no big deal for the avearge shadetree, but if youre set on the "olds" motor then more power to you, just keep the big picture in mind.

I hope he goes Olds, but I am a little biased.

Andrew

88 Coupe · Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 2:29 am Post subject: Re: 85 delta 88 royale

Hi sosincere021988,

Welcome to TOC.

Quote: ........ with a rod thrown ........
"Thrown" comes from a slang term that can mean anything from "making a little noise" to "it fell out, onto the street".

If the engine can be rebuilt, it's likely your most practical option.

91buickman wrote: ........ imo ........
This is meant to imply that the author actually knows something about the subject.

91buickman wrote: ........ swapping to a 305 gives you more parts for cheap and they are more plentiful ........
And, as this statement shows, he does not.

Bottom line? You get what you pay for.

Norm

sosincere021988 · Joined: 04 Apr 2008 Posts: 14

well it makes a hell of a knockin noise.first it was only when i give it gas,now it's even knocking thru idle?????.if i was to rebuild the 307ci wat would that consist of in this case?

91parkave · Joined: 29 May 2007 Posts: 518

before that i think you might want to get the problem properly diagnosed, have you checked the oil for any discoloration or metal flakes? cooling system for any oil contamination? Tune up? these are things i'd check first before taking the dive towards getting a new motor

88 Coupe · Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 12:27 am Post subject: Re: 85 delta 88 royale

sosincere021988 wrote: ........ now it's even knocking thru idle ........
The more you drive it, the more expensive the repair will be.

Quote: ........ what would that consist of in this case?
Minimum will be a crankshaft kit = $200 - $300. If you cannot do the labor yourself, add another $300 - $600, depending on your geographical area. A complete rebuild can run $1600 and up.

No way to tell what it actually needs, without removing the pan, inspecting the bearings, and measuring the wear on the crankshaft.

Norm

88 Coupe · Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 12:29 am Post subject: Re: 85 delta 88 royale

91buickman wrote: ........ i think you might want to gave the problem properly diagnosed ........
Properly diagnosed? Cannot be much funnier, considering who it came from.

It has already been diagnosed. Here it is, again:

sosincere021988 wrote: ........ first it was only when i give it gas,now it's even knocking thru idle ........
Try to keep up with the rest of us.

Norm

91parkave · Joined: 29 May 2007 Posts: 518

here we go again-

considering you said 88coupe wrote:
No way to tell what it actually needs, without removing the pan, inspecting the bearings, and measuring the wear on the crankshaft

and i said

91parkave wrote:
before that i think you might want to get the problem properly diagnosed, have you checked the oil for any discoloration or metal flakes? cooling system for any oil contamination? Tune up? these are things i'd check first before taking the dive towards getting a new motor

take your own advise and keep up with the rest of us...

88 Coupe · Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 2:53 am Post subject: Re: 85 delta 88 royale

91buickman wrote: here we go again with your ****
Here we go again with your immaturity.

91buickman wrote: considering you said

88coupe wrote:
No way to tell what it actually needs, without removing the pan, inspecting the bearings, and measuring the wear on the crankshaft
and i said

91buickman wrote:
before that i think you might want to get the problem properly diagnosed, have you checked the oil for any discoloration or metal flakes? cooling system for any oil contamination? Tune up? these are things i'd check first before taking the dive towards getting a new motor
Looks like several wild goose chases and no diagnosis.

Here it is, again:

88 Coupe wrote: 91buickman wrote: ........ i think you might want to gave the problem properly diagnosed ........
It has already been diagnosed. Here it is, again:

sosincere021988 wrote: ........ first it was only when i give it gas,now it's even knocking thru idle ........
Try to keep up with the rest of us.
Since we already have an accurate diagnosis, we need to find the extent of the damage so, we can proceed.

88 Coupe wrote: ........ No way to tell what it actually needs, without removing the pan, inspecting the bearings, and measuring the wear on the crankshaft.
There is a big difference between "diagnosis" and "damage assessment".

Again, try to keep up with the rest of us.

Norm

sosincere021988 · Joined: 04 Apr 2008 Posts: 14

fellas calm it down a bit.....well it over heated one night on my way from west virgina (went same day and came back less then an hour later).And i think it was my fault actually because i kept tryin it get it home inch by inch.Finally about 40miles outside of Baltimore (AAFB).I PARKED IT AT 3AM and went home.Luckly my Friend and I were both Driving so I hopped in the 85 Grand Prix. When I came back the next day with a new belt for the water pump,it turned out to be the wrong size.(too big).Once I got it started I drove it to the nearest Advance Auto.So now the belt is on and I fill it up with freeze and start towards home.She overheats again!!!!!!! I continue to drive being that I was now 12miles from home.When I stop to cool down I notice freeze running down the street.The radiator now had a huge hole at the seam.!!!!I got it home,replaced the radiator and everything, and she runns like a champ for the next two days.Im sittin at the light and she just goes up in smoke.Im talkin serious olds 455 burnout smoke. When i checked for the cause it was the damn overflow hose that came off!!! Im replacing a 112,XXXmi motor for a damn hose :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

91parkave · Joined: 29 May 2007 Posts: 518

sorry about the earlier posts, the clown gets on my last nerve, but anyways so youre saying the knock you described earlier is happening after your coolant system nightmere?