DarkFox wrote:
My father tells me Jasper is reputable for great quality rebuilds, at a very affordable price.
Anything that is mass produced can have flaws. As a general service engine, it should be fine.
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What motors did Oldsmobile offer in the 1979 Cutlass?
You have found all the available options, except the diesel-
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3.8 liter - Guess this is a 230 cubic inch? Didn't know they made that small.
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That would be the Buick 231 V6-
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4.3 liter - (I'm pretty sure this is what I have, and that it's the 260 cubic inch)
That would be correct.
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5.0 liter - I'm going to assume this is 300 cubic inches??
307, actually.
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5.7 liter - And that this is the Rocket 350 cubic inch?
Yes. A word about the "rocket" terminology... Rocket was a marketing term, used for all Olds V8s. There is no "regular" 350 from Olds, and the term "rocket" does not imply a greater performing engine.
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Does the 3 speed automatic transmission bolt up to 5.7 liter engine?
It probably does, but the transmission might not last long under the load from the 350. I think your car has the metric 200 transmission, which was known for weaknesses when driven hard, at least in my neck of the woods.
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The engine itself costs roughly $2500. How much does (should) an installation normally run for?
Most places will probably do it by the hour for an older car- How much depends on labor rates in your area, and how long it takes them.
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Whomever has owned a 350 Rocket, how are they on power?
Depends on the total configuration, but they are much more "fun" than a 260 or 307.
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How bad are they on gas mileage?
I had mine in a 84 Cutlass, TH-350 transmission, 3.23 gears and could manage 15-19 on the highway if I kept my foot out of it. It got about 11 in town, but I was 16 at the time, and was in the throttle a lot. However mine wasn't close to stock either.
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If you took the time to read all that, I really appreciate your time.
Hope this helps you out.
A couple questions I would ask are:
What are your expectations out of this swap? Any specific intended purpose? Are you looking for a specific performance level, or do you just want a faster car? Does fuel economy matter to you?
A better engine recommendation could be made depending on the answers to your questions. If you have that metric 200 transmission, I would hesitate putting a 350 in the car, unless you want to do transmission work too.
Also, most of these rebuilt engines are long-blocks, meaning they don't come with an intake, carb, distributor, etc- so if you go to a larger engine, you will need the corresponding components. It could get to be a more complicated and more expensive venture than you bargained for.
Anyway, hope this helps, and I am sure others will chime in too.
Andrew
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Andrew
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