my plans are to swap my 235 for the rocket motor. i already adapted the 51 olds dash to my 54 chevy belair. that dash is a lot better looking. has anybody used an adapter for mounting a 350 chevy trans to a 303 rocket engine? is it worth the effort or best to leave the stock hydro trans in? also has anybody tried to install a rocket motor in a 54 chevy? was it difficult and how where you able to mount it between the frame rails? did you have to cut the firewall due to the bellhousing? one more question has anybody used the starter mount relocation adapter? moving the starter from left to right the side and where can i locate one at. thanks in advance for your input. i'm also working on a 35 olds buisness coupe.
never done it (not YET) but it seems that adapting your old mill to a newer more reliable trans would be the thing to do. transmission technology took a while to catch up to engine power and performance. i plan to adapt a Tremec 6 speed manual trans to a Nailhead and a TH350 to a 371 Olds Rocket. good luck with yours...
There was a thread about this on Chevytalk... consensus was it was hard, but could be done. It will cost $$$$ tho, them adapters aren't cheap. It would prolly help to locate a similar vintage olds to get the mounts and little pieces that'll drive ya crazy from... don't forget, you'll have ta change the rear end too, cause olds was open drive. Good Luck! Jay
I did several 303-324 Olds swaps into 49-53 Fords. Did it about three different ways in different 50 Fords. Had a friend down the street swap a Rocket into a 50 Chevy and here's what I remember about it - which ain't much. The two forward body mounts that come off the firewall and are on either side of the original six cylinder have to be notched to clear the Olds V8. Far as I know, the starter changeover and oil filter bypass/remote piece do not have to be used in the Chevy. There's room for the Olds starter on the left in the Chevies. The Ford is the one that requires the starter changeover and even that has starter conflict problems in the Ford depending on how the engine is mounted. Other than the notched body mounts in the Chevy, the swap isn't too big a deal.
Put one in a 52 chevy conv. about 45 years ago. So you know what I can remember about that. I do remember that it loved to eat the chevy transmissions (about 14).
[ QUOTE ] one more question has anybody used the starter mount relocation adapter? moving the starter from left to right the side and where can i locate one at. [/ QUOTE ] first off, I can quote you but, don't quote me a few years ago I used one on my 394, you must match the starter with the flywheel, tooth count changes through the years. In my case I used the ring gear from a 371? and had a custom stick flywheel made by McCleod. I think I used a starter from a 324? starter bolt patterns vary slightly, location and orientation changes through the years. the starter gets mounted upside down, with seleniod on bottom, where it's more vulnerable to dirt, water and road crap. must use early pan, shouldn't be a problem with yours. must use a remote oil filter setup. they are getting harder to find, there are only so many out there, nobody makes them anymore, and now it seems the early Olds is more popular then ever. my advice, if you don't need one don't use one. here's a picture of my old setup, (I must have posted it a dozen times by now ) you can see the selenoid on the bottom and the remote Ford spin-on oil filter Paul
From what I remember about the remote oil filter setup, it should be a piece of cake to make one out of 1/2" or so aluminum.
just last night i was in the garage working on converting the stock oil filter mount to a remote style,in a way that it could be done by anyone with a hacksaw,a file,and a 1/4"NPT tap.i don't really need one myself,but i might want to run a remote filter so i can use spin-on elements which are cheaper and more readily available,also there would be more oil in the system,which is always a good thing.as far as trannies go,lots of guys are looking for all the same manual trans parts you would be,they are like hen's teeth and priced accordingly.use the hydra-matic,if you adjust the bands and the linkage they work damn good.for more hydro info check out www.rodnkustom.com/rocketeers/hydramatic/index.html they were very popular with gasser guys who got tired of exploding clutches-george
thank for the replys. 60's style where did you get the adapter for the oil filter? also i can see from the pic that your motor mounts are on the side up front. did you make those or can they still be purchased? would a 60's or 70's Olds trans mount right up to it with no problems or any other trans for that matter. i just want a trans thats more accessable for parts. trasmission shops now a days don't know how to work on the older trannys. i'm new to the olds rocket motors. i got this motor and trans in trade for doing body work on a truck. i have a SBC 350 and trans ready to drop right in but everybodys uses a SBC.
C9 the Olds starter didn't mess with the steering box or how about the oil pan for the steering linkage? what kind of an exhaust system did he use stock manifolds or headers? how did he mount it in there did he make up some brackets or purchase some? thanks
I can see "Starter Switch-over Adapter " with sterter, is it hard to get them? What's a starter? I need too.I cannot get it, yet.
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