Difference between a GM 350 and a Oldsmobile 350?

[sawtooth4x4]

What is the difference between the engines. I found a Caddy / Oldsmobile 350 CI gas motor with TH350 for cheap to slam into my Mercedes project.

Are theses easy to upgrade with a cam?

 

[rholbrook]

Everything. Parts are more money too. A chevy transmission won't bolt up to it either. I think the top of the motor is wider too if I remember right.

 

[Tacoma]

yeah, that. Unless it's after like '78 or something, then they're all the same.

The differences are pretty clear though, so don't stress. If it's an older one, some of the non-Chevy trannies had "switch-pitch" torque converters, which are a pain, and there's no parts for the motors. Avoid unless you're restoring something.

I'd go further and say "avoid old motors when you can get LS stuff for cheap now."

 

[sawtooth4x4]

Its a 68-80 350.

I can get the motor and tranny now for $300

 

[rockdog]

Its a 68-80 350.

I can get the motor and tranny now for $300

If I remember right. The starter was on the drivers side on these. Been a long time, so I could be wrong.

 

[sawtooth4x4]

well, ha ha

deal of the century.

GM350 with a th400 transmission for $250. ha ha ha

 

[4554x4]

The Olds 350 will be more powerfull than the Chevy, comparing stock to stock of course. The Olds is very expensive to build. Trans will have a different bellhousing bolt pattern. Adapters are inexpensive though. Olds motors have a non adjustable valve train. If you have more than a mild cam, you will need to purchace adjustable rockers.

 

[Zombie]

Heads are spaced differently, intake manifold is wider, everything is on the opposite side from Chevy, meaning starter, oil filter... the distributor sits on the wrong side fo the cam and spins backward from chevy (made for a REALLY confusing evening before I noticed that) Exhaust manifolds and headers aren't cross compatible.

I had a 431 CID Olds motor that came in a 79 trans am I owned... I stuffed it in a blazer after the TA got wrecked. Way more money and time than the result was worth... I should have sold it and bought a chevy motor for my swap. They can make a ton of power, but everything costs more, and it's enough more that it will likely bother you.

 

[mbryson]

The thermostats might interchange between the two? Other than that, I doubt anything will cross over?

 

[Tacoma]

I'll make it simple:



WALK AWAY

 

[sawtooth4x4]

It's a 400 CI Chevy

 

[mbryson]

400 Chevy is pretty cool. Big cube small block that can make good power. They just look like any other 350 or 307 or 305 or ..... (well, aside from the harmonic dampner and externally balanced flywheel/flexplate)