OT, getting a free "1977 Olds V-8", what is it?

Free is free but I was wondering what sort of engines came in 77 Olds? I'm assuming it's a 305 but given my vast knowledge of 77 Olds, does anyone know what the options were then? Donor didn't identify what it came out of, just that it was abandoned in a storage locker.

Comes with the transmission too, which I know even less about.

As always, knowledgeable comments appreciated, "boat anchor" comments expected.

 

Could be a 350, don't think 307 came out until 1980. Either way allot of parts availalble for these. Nice alternative to SBC. Internals where very durable if not abused. Check out this forum for more help.
http://classicoldsmobile.com/
Similiar navigation layout like the HAMB.
Also:
http://oldsjunction.classicoldsmobile.com/index.html

JT

 

403

 

Either way its a boat anchor,
Been there tried that.Mine was the 350
Lots of torque I guess, install it in an old pick up and pull stumps with it all day.HA

 

Probably a 403.

They came in plenty of GM stuff in the late 70's. If you ordered an automatic Trans-Am in '77, you got the Olds 403 station wagon engine.

Plenty of torque, not a bad engine and pretty reasonable weight considering the displacement.

Go here: http://www.442.com/oldsfaq/ofe403.htm

Guys who've actually built and run this engine, not second-hand, "boat anchor" comments.

Shawn

 

What body style did it come out of?
What type of induction is on it?

 

What kind of Olds? It could be a number of different engines. I have one about that vintage with a 301 Pontiac in it. My brother pulled a 350 Chevy out of another one. But I also have a 77 Pontiac with a 305 Chevy in it and 77 and 78 Buick LeSabres with 301 Pontiacs in them. A 403 Olds is a good bet if its a 98.

 

how could you forget the 260? Came in some Pontiac Venturas, the Omegas and I saw one in a low mileage Cutlass the other day...backed by a five-speed!

 

PM Lux Blue. He can answer all things OLDS........

 

I had a 77 Delta 88 with an Olds 350 in it. As mentioned, lot's of torque, and decent mpg. Not a particularly attractive engine, but I liked the torque curve.

 

Post pictures of it when you get it and we'll go from there. Olds made a 455 from '69-'76. But in '77 with the corporate GM motors it could be almost anything from junk to decent.

Trans will most certainly be either a TH350 or TH400. Depends what kind of car it was in, the biggest cars got the 400, the midsize and smaller got the 350.

 

My 77 Buick LeSabre with the 301 had a TH200 (they say "METRIC" on the pan).

 

Any car is only as fast as the total package. The 350 Olds can be made to be a respectable street performance engine and they dress up pretty nice. I knew of two back in the 70's in '68 Cutlass S hardtops owned by close friends. One was a factory stock 350 4 bbl., 4 speed and 3.90 posi and the other was originally a 350 2 bbl., Super Turbine 300 with a 2.73. My friend with the 4 speed car slipped a factory performance cam in it, yes, they made a Hi Perf Olds 350, and a set of headers. The other with the 2 bbl. bored his .030" with 10.5 to 1 pistons, installed a Crane Fireball cam and valvetrain, Edelbrock high rise, Holley 600 4 Bbl., Accel Dual Point and headers. He put a shift kit in the stock 2 speed auto and swapped in a 3.90 posi from a '69 442. Either one could more than hold their own against any similar small block powered Chevelle or Malibu.

I would love to duplicate the automatic car today with a 200-4R in place of the 2 speed. It was a real pale gold, Autumn Beige Metallic I think Chevy called it, with a white vinyl top and white interior. It was so clean it was ridiculous.

 

I ran a 403 Olds in my 75 camaro roundy dirt car. The Chevy guys did NOT like me one bit....LOL Huge pistons and a short crank= Instant RPM. Gear it to wind up tight and you"ll not regret it.

 

Engine and tranny for my 49 Chevy pickup came from a 77 Omega. Chevy 305 with a turbo 200 metric trans.

 

Have built many of these. It is probably a 350, like is said, but it could be a 403. If the donor was a 98 Regency it is likely a 403, any other body style and it could be either. Both have lots of bottom torque and will live a long life if treated with respect. The trans is probably a turbo 350. Don't think the 200 4r was available in 77. Both can be built to give respectable street performance. I am building a 330 +.030 for my 46 Ford coupe street rod. Will be a four speed.

 

Displacement is cast right into the side of the block, just under the exhaust manifold. Numbers are about 2 inches high and positive.

The exception is the "355" block which is actually a 260, not a factory .030 over 350.

 

Thanks guys, I'll post what it is once I get it. Haven't seen it or anything, ad said free so I raised my hand.

 

Only if it is a 403, 350's do not have this.

 

I had a 403 in a Regency 98 and it was a great motor. Not super powerful but reliable. I'm sure you can get it to perform for you.

 

Thats not true my 350 had "350" cast on the side of the block

 

If I was you I'd hope it was a 403. Go to www.mondellotwister.com where the master of Olds performance, Joe Mondello calls the 403 one of the most overlooked performance engines of all time. There are several build articles on the 403 there. I think you'll be impressed with the potential of the 403. Boat anchor my ASS !!!!! Good luck.

 

My brother and I both had 77 delta 88s back in the college days -- 1986- I had a Custom Cruiser Wagon with the 350.. was bullet proof.. My dad bought the car new.. when I got it it had 250,000 miles on it. I drove it another 30k .. but the car literally fell apart with rust. My Brother had a sedan with the 403.. that SOB was a dog! If you didn't fill her with premium she knocked up a storm on the highway.. We hated that car! I remember getting good mileage with the Cruiser with the 350 4V.. Loaded with friends and our stuff it would loaf along on the highway at 70 with ease. I kind of miss it .. haven't seen one around here in many years.. good times

 

hard to call a 350 olds a boat anchor if i recall my old hot rod memory in the late 60s a cutless was the c class record holder for quite a while,the factory rated it at 325 hp but it made a lot more then that

 

what he said

 

I should'nt have classified all Olds Engines as boat anchors just the later Smog engines.Like the 77 in question.
Mine was a real dog anyway(77 Cutlass) , maybe I just had a bad experience.Nice cruiser, but it rarely broke the tires loose.And it had Headers, bigger Cam, Carb ect.

 

350s also have the cast in ID. Along with 455, 307, 403, and 260. It was era specific and in this era, they cast the displacement in unless it's a "355" 260.

 

I had 77 Gutless had 350 olds motor... in 77 they also installed sbc motors in some of the olds. The olds motor I had was JUNK. sbc in olds disguise, on the other hand was okay (at least that is what I was told every time I went to the parts store for new rocker arm bearings).

 

This is right on, also some later 307s had 5L cast into them.

 

I had a 78 Olds Omega with a 350. It sure sounded good. Didn't have enough power to get out of its own way. But did I say it sounded good?