THE oldsmobile rocket 303 324 371 394 post to end all other posts, (lasalle related )

Cool thread. I have a couple of questions I hope someone can help me with. I have both a 57/58 371 with auto, and a 64 394 with auto out of a Starfire. Are either or both of these a bolt in to a 49 88 or anything major have to be done to do it ? What engine would be better considering rebuild costs(budget minded) for the best performance, considering a street with occasional strip application, also keeping in mind as funds become available adding more aftermarket speed components later ?

 

Whats the better hot rod trans ? The Olds Hydro or the Jetaway ?

 

Thanks for the info. Looks like a lot of work.Blaine

 

Bubba67: do not use the word hotrod trans in the same sentance, as Jetaway, hope that answers your question...

57j2: i would go with the 57 + tranny... , or get an early waterpump housing on the 394, but i would personally prefer to use the tranny from th 57 so all in all i belive putting the 57 engine in would be easier... 57 is an much better tranny imho!

 

Hydro.

 

There is also the 3285 for 54-56. Its a 2x4. But I want to know if a 3200 for a 49-53 would fit on a 55? I notice some manifolds such as edelbrock's say they are for 49-56 so I dont know why offenhauser would have two different ones.

 

the intake ports on '54-'56 heads are taller than the ones on '49-'53 heads.
some intakes,like the Edelbrock OL396 3X2,are cast with the shorter ports,but enough meat on the manifold to open'em up for the later taller ports.

 

So the offenhause cannot be made to fit on #8 heads?

 

here are three examples of some of the magnetos that were available

a Ronco in a Cragar 4x2 inducted 324 (mock-up stage)


a Vertex in a Offy 2x4 inducted 394 (also mock-up stage, but a little further along)


and a tach drive Joe Hunt in a 4-71 blown 303 driver

 

I have a question about a 371 3x2 intake.

Who made the coolest looking one, and which one performed the best ?

Thanks Tom

 

beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and "worked the best" at what?

in my opinion, you can't beat the looks of the stock tri-power on a 371.

the only 3x2 Olds I've owned was on an Offy intake on a 394
and it was just about perfect for the 2,000 lb street car it was in

 

Ok, I changed it to performed the best

Tom

 

Does anyone have the intake port dimensions of the 303,324,371,394 ?

Tom

 

measuring some of the heads laying around here,
and these are aproximate numbers,
castings vary slightly and gaskets will be a touch bigger typicaly as may aftermarket intakes

303, 1-1/8 x 1-5/8
324, 1-1/8 x 2
early 371, 1-1/4 x 2
late 371 and 394, 1-3/8 x 2-1/2

 

Thanks Paul, That's what I was looking for.

Sounds like you have at least a pair of each around.

Tom

 

I just bought an engine that is supposedly a 303 bored out to 324, the heads on it have a #3 stamped on it. What's up with these heads? We bought it from Stephen Fields on here. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=346505
Thanks

 

I believe the 3 cast at the center exhaust port makes the heads '53

 

Thanks, I had only heard of #2 7 8 and 10 till I bought these ones. I also have a set of 2's and a set of 8's

 

I am going to purchase a TH400 tranny from Tony at Ross Racing Engines and I want to gather up things that I will need to complete this swap. What I have is a 61 Olds 88 with a slim jim and the flywheel in my car has 166 teeth and the one that come with Tony's set up come with 176 teeth. what flywheel cover do I need and what starter.
Thanks
Pat

 

Hi Pat,
I can supply or advise on everthing you need,Call Me

Tony

 

Okay, Thanks!

 

I've got a set of Gotha adjustable rockers. I've read online that since there is no locknut on these, they have a tendency to loosen. My question is on the side of the adjusting bolt there is a hole, could this be tapped out to accomodate a set screw?

 

If there is no lock nut, then the screws should have interference threads. Many Ford adjustable rocker arms came with interference adjusting screws from the factory, and didn't have a loosening problem. In fact, I used some 223 Ford screws in the rockers on my Chevy 235 and they've worked fine.

 

Saw these on ebay belond headers for the 303. Good pic to add to the list of parts.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280340903438&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&viewitem=

 

Hey guys i bought a 62 four door Olds 88 this winter and i am just now getting a chance to work on it. The car has the 394 in it and I want to put dual exhaust on the car, but the exhaust shop is telling me that with the drivers side exhaust manifold thats on the car its not possible. So my question is to you guys is there an exhaust manifold i could put on the car that will go around the steering and allow me to put on twice pipes (i was thinking maybe something off of a two door, or aftermarket even). I'm sorry if this doesn't fit into this thread but i figured if anyone knew about olds motors they would be on this thread. Thanks in advance.

 

yes, the factory did make one that dumped at the rear.
not common but they are out there.

I sold one not too long ago,

here is a home made version someone made by removing the stock dump, welding some plate over the hole and welding a new dump on at the rear

 

and here's a couple pictures of my old stock one

 

Thanks paul i heard rumors that it would be hard to come by (and a little costly). I think im gonna get a second manifold and try that home made one.

 

tks for the info,when u need it its hard to find,on the later 394s what year did they change the exhaust manifold?im running a 60 394 block and 23 heads and have noticed earlier heads have diff ex manifolds

 

Well i've been hunting all day (ebay, craigs list, HAMB classifieds!!) and i have had no luck even finding a non dual exhaust manifold. If anyone has a drivers side exhaust manifold (dual exhaust or not) for sale please email me at [email protected] or send me a pm please.