Traditional? Engine Swap? I'm old enough to have actually been a car guy in the 50's. If we could get ahold of a 303 or any other early Olds engine to put in a hot rod it was nirvana. You couldn't get any more traditional than an Olds V-8 or a Buick nailhead and those 50 Fastbacks were a coveted car in those days.
To the OP I would say, "If you haven't bought the car yet - DON'T". The Olds motor will always be cooler in that car than any SBC, BBC or LS, especially with some vintage speed goodies on it. To the Chevy in a Chevy, Ford in a Ford guys I have to say, B.S. Hot rodding, especially traditional hot rodding, has always embraced inter-make swaps like Studillacs, Fordillacs, Hemis in Mercs, Buicks in Chevys, etc. IMHO small block Fords don't look very traditional in any pre-62 Ford, no matter how many finned items you put on 'em. But, swaps are usually driven by the desire for better performance, or by what parts and budget one has to work with. Oh yeah....... Atta Boy '******!!
Good stuff here > http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/rocket-oldsmobile-v8-information-compiled.715390/
I'm a huge 50s Olds fan, and it was kind of a post to stick it to the modern Rodders same brand mentality weirdos. Hot Rodding used to be putting any drivetrain in, whatever worked, and where as I'd leave an Olds engine in, due to the fact that they are desirable engines. Putting a sbc in this car would be a shame, but if the OP brought it, then it's his car to do what he wants. Of course it's always good to educate and spread the Hamb gospel, but this same brand mentality bores and annoys me.
This is a very simple question. Answer..... Ban anyone from the Hamb that would replace a 303 Rocket with a SBC in a 50 Olds Fastback! End of question, next question please.
have seen a lot of strange and unusual rides displayed, or talked about, here. some of them I could not be polite about and accept, and others are what the Hell rides? the strangest motors stuffed into the most unlikely rides. being a traditional site is supposed to support the way things were done back in the early days of car modifications. Flatheads were King, until the small block Chevy came along along and rocked the racing/Hot Rod world. lots of people were in disbelief that people were running away from the flathead. but, reality is that they are traditional. guess what I am saying, is when did we become the group that dictates what another does? where did dare to be different go? I have strange thoughts on what is right and wrong car wise and do not expect you to agree with me - but, do not automatically expect me to agree with you. bottom line - your ride is your ride to do with as you please.
I tried to stay out of drama posts, But you are SO out of touch with reality. SBC was a late comer, The Kettering designed OHV8's took the rodding world right by the balls. Kettering meaning introduction of the 1949 Olds and Cad. Olds was king of the pile way before SBC came out, and the 49-64 "design" Olds was still kicking SBC *** into the mid 60s...but to be fair the Olds had the displacement advantage Rewriting history happens a lot, but does not change the facts .
i myself would leave that motor in that custom. but if the owner of the car preferred a sbc, i get it......but only if the olds motor gets used in another hot rod and not s****ped.
Let us not forget the brief period when a loaded GMC was the bad*** in the crowd. It was right between the flaphead Ford & the guys that finally figured out how to build an OHV 8.
It is not a brand conciseness that spurned my original post. The SBC has its place between those frame horns as much as any motor including the olds. It depends on the situation more then anything else. Hot rodding is not all about changing the engine and transmission, it is about hopping up the car. If there is a viable engine in place and it is already a good engine and transmission combo there is no reason to change it out for another brand. There are exceptions always to that rule but the basics is still the same make it perform better. A common thing is to hop up the existing engine. it always has been. I got this whatever brand and it has a whatever motor in it already. There are hop up parts for it available and I am going to hop it up. Now it is a hot rod. Let us step away from the olds for a moment, ***uming that I just purchased a '64 Galaxie and it is a 390 automatic car. It makes perfect sense to chase down a 4 speed top loader because I just don't like the slush box. I could also chase down a 428 CJ or I could go a completely different route and chase down a 426 max wedge and corresponding transmission but the 390 is not a bad motor to start with and can be made very presentable with a little work. So now my stock 335 horse motor is backed by the 4 speed and all I really need to do is change the cam shaft. Now I got a little lope but it could use a little better intake to go with it, I am a paycheck and a Saturday night away from an intake, now maybe a set of headers would help and another paycheck and I am there. That is hot rodding in its purest form, not brand consciousness it is just pure hot rodding. I could have swapped in something different but there was no need I already had good material to work with.
Well, I'll be the contrarian here... While I'll agree that the Olds motor would definitely be the 'traditional' choice, it should be pointed out that parts and machine shops for these aren't on every corner anymore. Or as inexpensive as they once were. Not knowing how deep the OPs pockets are (or how good the OE motor/trans is), a SBC may be the fastest/cheapest path to getting the car on the road and enjoying his purchase rather than it becoming a garage ornament while working all this out, if it's even within his budget. With that said, if the OE motor/trans is in good running condition, swapping it out probably won't be much of an improvement in terms of performance.
Well Steve I know that you are thick skinned so I can say anything and it'll be like water off a ducks back. Finding someone who can actually build the engine from pieces would be a little rough (although I can't imagine why) the machine work should be easy as pie. Any automotive machine shop should be able to handle any machining process, turning a crank or boring a block, and etc. is just normal and pretty much common to any motor. You are correct finding a machinist that is an Olds guru and capable of building he motor is another story all together.
Buy my new 324 short block. You have no idea what a good engine the Rocket is, and how good and reliable the hydro is. Save the work and money for the paint and interior.
Still waiting on where you need me to bring a small block and 700 to swap ya for that Olds and hydro....
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