Hot Rods 1950 Olds fastback..

50 Olds with all original drive line 303 automatic. Will a small block Chevy motor and trans bolt in place of the original or is some fabrication necessary. Have opportunity to purchase the car and not sure if I'd be happy with low power driveline..want to know what I'm in for.

 

One thing that's on your side is that that Old's has an open drive line. This means you don't have to swap the rear end. As far as engine and trans. Not hard to do.

 

I'm a fan of early olds v8s. I would drive it the way it is, and see if you like it. I drove my 49 for 8 years with the original six and hydromatic and loved it. It was slow off the start but would cruise down the highway fine. The motor went a few years ago so I'm swapping to a worked over 55 324 and 200r overdrive trans. You could also swap to a 57-58 371 pretty easy and have decent power.

 

Yes, it'll fit. Just watch an old episode of Fast and Loud. LOL.



Sorry....Couldn't find the English version.....

Myself, I'd look for another early Olds V8, such as a 371 or 394. The early Olds V8's are great engine. Lots of new parts are available, including aluminum engine blocks and heads.

https://rossracingengines.oursafeserver.com/c/2/oldsmobile-rocket-engines-speed-parts-early-catalog/

 

I'd keep the Olds, only reason I have a SBC in my 46 Olds is because Olds V8s are hard to come by down here. Had a friend with a fresh 303 Olds and hydro in his 46 Olds project. He sold the car before I had the chance to make an offer.

 

Low power driveline ???? Appears you've never been around a half decent running '50 88.

 

SBC? If the 303 is in half-way decent shape, don't even think about it.

I watched some of the "Gas Monkey" stuff, and I feel they ruined that car. I kinda liked the show when it first came out. but lately, they are waaaay out in left field.

 

Early olds motor is more than capable of carrying you around, and it's got quite a following a**** people who know and care about these old cars.

If you haven't bought the car yet, skip it and leave it for someone else who likes Oldsmobile and would appreciate an original driveline car.

If you want something you can put a SBC in with no fab work, you're stuck to Chevy cars and trucks '55 and later

 

Dan Griffin, a HAMB member who built a very quick '50 Olds fastback called "Wasted Childhood" using '57 and older parts might disagree with you on the low power thing. Do a search here on the HAMB

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

I'll swap ya a 350 and 700 r4 for the olds motor and trans. I might even bring it to you. Seriously...I'll do that no problem.

 

I agree. The Gas Monkey Olds was ruined, with the small block Chevy. An Olds definitely should have an Olds engine......Especially an early 50's Rocket 88.

 

Spend a little $ on that olds engine and you'll have plenty of power or go overboard with Ross and you'll have all kinds of power. There were lots of Olds powered drag cars back in the day including my '34 ford.

 

That Olds 303 is a great engine....swapping in a Chevy..though I'm a fan...would be a shame..

 

I knew you Old's guy's would jump in soon enough. I only answered the OP's question as he asked it. I had the opportunity to work on and drive a 56 Old's with 324. Even in original stock form it was awesome !

 

50 years ago, I had this '49 Fastback, it was a 76 model with the 6cyl. I installed a '54- 4 barrel 324 $ Hydro, what a fun car it was ! Notice the for sale sign in the window ? I sold it for $175.00.

 

Is this still a Hot Rod site?
Throw that Chevy in there, Hot Rod that 50, and leave the Olds V8s for the Trad Rodders, and their Model As.

 

This whole trend of Ford in a Ford and Chevy in a Chevy, Olds in a Olds for this site is just wrong when taken purely at face value. Hot Rodding was always been about engine swaps to some degree. To just dismiss that part of Hot Rodding just out of hand is sorta lame.

Now with that said I love doing engine swaps. But there needs to be a purpose and a reason behind that swap. The SBC is a great little engine, there cheap to buy and to build. They make decent HP as they are and are capable of a lot of power. However I am a little tired of seeing them in every damn car you can imagine. The Olds 303 is also a fine little motor, parts certainly speed equipment is hard to find and pricey when you do. Not hard to see why a guy might think about a SBC. However I that 50 Olds ( I have had two of them a 49 as well) I would be hard pressed to swap it out if there was something I could do with the Olds motor, Now that's just me.

 

There is a 324 complete on Ebay that has low miles that would drop right in and would keep that Olds all Olds. Lots of other Olds choices. I would vote for keeping it Olds powered....just my 2 cents.

 

Hombre is right 100%, swapping has to have a reason and you already have the swap in engine in the car already. JMO

 

Hard to beat the good looks of the Olds Rocket rocker covers. Bob

 

My thoughts,exactly...its slowly becoming a 'catch-all"....RYAN,Please set us back on track

 

It's a Hot
Rod site, so keep an Olds in it.

If you want a Chevy powered Street Rod, find a Street Rod site

 

Not if their on a Green SBC.

 

By the phrasing of the question..." low power " "is this a bolt in" the OP needs our input and HAMB wisdom. No gender change swap is a bolt in. A "retired fabricator" should be able to handle it. But unless the engine is shot keeping the quite capable Olds 303 would be way more practical. And cooler.

 

Here is the description of that '56 324 FWIW

This is the 324 motor for a 56 oldsmobile. Its in a 4 dr holiday. 2 BBL carb Engine turns free. Engine was full of antifreeze. Engine is full of oil. Was told by previous owner 33000 original miles that it ran great. I have not had it running but like i said it turns free so at this point that is all i will guarantee. Motor is complete except for the following parts. Power steering pump and brackets, Generator, Harmonic balancer. water pump pulley. You do not get the starter , flywheel or transmission. FOR PICK UP ONLY.

 

OR, keep it Olds if you want a real hot rod, like this one
http://customrodder.forumactif.org/t464-1950-s-car-dragster

 

I am a fan of small blocks but would stick with an Olds if it were mine--just an opinion. Had two 50 Olds coupes many years ago. One was stock with a 303/hydro and was a better road car than my new Impala. The other had a 57 Olds 371 with a hydro and a 4 bbl and layed waste to many small blocks-damn fast car for the time-this was in 65-wish I had it back. Now I gotta go look for pictures of it.

 

Kiwi, rarely do I disagree with you.
But my oh my. How could one argue about running an olds rocket engine in any Olds Hotrod. That would be the ****s.

 

It won't be a better with a Chevy in it. Not for performance or resale value. I'd advise against it.

 

Let me throw my $.02 at this. Please pay specific attention to the fact that I am Mr SBC.

Are you ****ing nutz? Does it echo when you talk? The olds has a 303 and a 4 sped hydro and you want to stuff an SBC in it? Give me a break.

in answer to the original question yes an SBC will fit, it will not be a bolt in you will have to use some skills to make it fit but it will fit no problem.

if go fast is what you are after I got a 394"olds here and a B&M hydro that will also fit, I can have it ***embled and ready to ship by the end of next week (I am busy this week). It will be less work to go in there although it will not be a total bolt in either and you will **** yourself every time to stab the loud peddle.