Technical Random early olds questions

So there's a possibility I'll be getting a 53 Oldsmobile 88. Currently has the original 303. Can a 303 block be safely bored to 324 bore? As it sits if I get the car I intend to keep an early olds in it but turned up a bit. And manual trans swap it. For sure getting the air filter ***embly tomorrow and will decide if it's a project I'm up for.

 

Also will a 371 bolt to the 303 motor mounts? Lol sorry like I said random questions

 

@Moriarity that definitely WILL reduce the number of my random questions. Thank you

 

Not entirely sure I'm going to get it. But there's a strong possibility. He seems particularly willing to work with me since he caught I'm not a low baller. And just the other day I talked myself out of buying a running 53 Pontiac ......even said that had it been a same year Chevy or olds I would have bought it. Then this olds popped up that while not as nice it's an 1/8 of the price. And as @Tim pointed out it has a good windshield.

 

I've got a dis***embled 394 I'd let go of for short money. As long as you're planning on machine work might as well add cubes.

 

@Ebbsspeed you're also in my area. I often go to bates city bbq in Shawnee

 

I should know after tomorrow if I'm getting it

 

front engine mount should bolt up but the block is about 5/16" longer
the bigger challenge will be the 371 and 394 are externally balanced and if you intend to use the earlier transmission you will need the crankshaft bored for a pilot bushing for the hydramatic input shaft.
use the 303 lower bell housing and starter, flywheel, torus and transmission.
as for boring the block .125 over for 324 pistons the block will need to be sonic tested to make sure there is enough wall thickness but it has been done many times in the past.

 

Back in the '50's we bored the 303 to way past 324 bores. I have personally gone to 3 15/16. 3.9375.

 

his name was Ransom not Random ...

 

I see what ya did there..

 

Keeping the current hydramatic isn't in the plans at all unless I get the current 303 running. Which ***uming nothing obvious catastrophic happened to It I'm going to try to do

 

Another odd question. Did only the 4 barrel 53 303s come with the famous cad/olds air filter ***embly? Because he also has a 53 4 door with a regular looking oil bath air filter

 

Yes. The 2 bbl engines had a simple round air cleaner, more like a '55 Chevrolet

 

Ok so the other 53 he's selling is a 2 barrel

 

Anyway wasn't able to meet up with the guy. But he's willing to work with me so I'll likely go look at it and at least buy the air filter ***embly. If anything as this is a 2 paycheck week may go ahead and buy it if he's willing to let me leave it there a bit till I figure out how to get it the hour and a half home lol

 

in '53 the hydramatic plant burned down so some engines came with Buick Dynaflows attached, they will have different machining at the crankshaft and take a different flywheel.

 

Ive heard this but in all the Hydramatic threads over the years where some one wants to swap them for something else, I haven’t heard anyone mention “hey, you can put a dynaflow in it!”

 

one I had years ago, like a dumb *** I didn't realize it's potential and let it go

 

That has to weigh at least 100 pounds less than the Hydramatic, it’s tiny! I just watched a video on the dynaflow, no shift points. Pretty neat.

 

Pretty neat until you figured out what the fuel mileage was. Years ago, I had two Buick Specials; a '50 with a manual transmission, and a '51 Dynaflow. The stick car got almost twice the mileage of the Dynaflow car.

 

Just a reminder, he does want to put a manual transmission in it, according to the first post.

 

Yup. If I can get the original 303 running it'll stay auto for awhile. But it'll end up 3 pedal

 

So another random question as I've not found a clear answer searching. I have a good 55 Pontiac third member with 3.7x gearing (believe from a wagon. From what I understand this era Pontiac and olds rear ends are essentially the same. So it the rear in the 53 has a bad third member or just a **** ratio can I swap it in? Can't swap whole rear as it was narrowed for a first generation t bird g***er in the 60s

 

Yes the 3rd members will swap. I put one from a Pontiac he**** in a 53 Olds rear back in the 70's.

 

Thank you