Olds 307 to Olds 403 engine swap info please?

So Neil, who is working on my Cutlass now, called me on Saturday and said the distributor I pulled from the salvage yard '77 403 Electra is no good. Weights are frozen and needs new bushings. He said he could rebuild it or I could go get a replacement.

I got on Craigslist and found this ad: http://killeen.craigslist.org/pts/3067712872.html


Called the guy, and he is in Lorena, close to Waco. He's closing down a speed shop and had 200 distributors he's trying to sell. Has them all at $40 each. Brand name is Wiseco from California. Nice guy, he offered to meet me in Temple, which is half-way between Waco and Austin.

Drove up yesterday and met him. Distributor was still new in it's box...no paperwork, but looks good. We'll see! Also went yarding at Belton Wrench-A-Part, but sorry, nothing of note wagon-wise.

Dropped the new distributor off at Neil's yesterday afternoon. We'll update when I know more!

Oh and posted pics of the burned 71 Cutlass up a few posts back. SAD!

-Mike

 

Neil called and said the car runs MUCH better. He's still tinkering with it, and is about to road test it, but he said it starts easy and the idle is much better, the timing is now right and it advances just like it should when revved.

He did say he noticed a coolant leak at the t-state housing...I guess I'm not even a good parts-changer. Doh.

He's still messing with it but it was a good update!!

-Mike

 

Sounds like we're on the home stretch!

 

Good to hear from you 81. Miss your family travel epics - they are always entertaining.

Glad your car is just about ready for some summer fun. It has been a long haul getting it to this point.

Any word on the culprits that did your buddies car in?

 

Wiseco.....same folks that make the pistons? Glad your car is running better. Post up how much better power it has when you get it back.

 

No news on the 71 Cutlass fire. Neil has the car now and is going to part it out.

-Mike

 

Just a question: Will that distributor work on my '77 Olds 350?
The cap. rotor, and coil are worth $40.
It looks the same....

 

It should work fine on all Olds up to 1979-80, without the computer.

 

I called, he's really a nice guy.
But they're all gone.
81X11, I'm glad that someone like you who really NEEDED one got it at the 'steal this part' price.
I hope you're driving soon!:icon_drive:

 

I think I can help. Had a Camaro buddy send me this link. Said this is the same stuff, at nearly the same price, but with a warranty. Free shipping too!

http://www.skipwhiteperformance.com/detail.aspx?Item=6503-R

He also has them with black caps if you want a more stock look.

-Mike

 

Latest Update:

I'm sitting here flabbergasted. Neil just called. He's had the car two days, and in those two days has it almost all sorted out. I'm really amazed...it's all in getting someone that knows what they are doing!!

Engine Work:
- Installed the new aftermarket distributor, set the correct timing
- Adjusted the new Edelbrock carb
- Found a vaccum hose that was leaking, replaced, idles smooth now.
- Found coolant leaks at the t-stat housing and lower hose. Fixed.
- Put a notch in the Edelbrock intake manifold and made up a new rod for the cruise control from the diaphram to the carb.

Electrical Work:
- He cut the ECM harness off and totally removed it from under the hood. Says it's great to SEE the engine.
- Pulled rest of ECM harness out through the firewall and removed ECM altogether from the under dash kick panel. Welcome to 1971 again!
- Ran new power line from stock dashboard ECM wiring through the firewall grommit for the electric choke
- Removed the circuit board out of the 'remote lamp driver' and now the Check Engine light is out.
- Jumped the wires under the dash on the ECM wiring to ground the a/c compressor
- Did the wire mod for the cruise control so it reads the speedo speed sensor again

He said the car runs great now. Hahahaha! Starts easy, good idle, good power. Wow! I can't wait to drive it! Said he hit the cruise control at 45mph and it came right one and held fine...that's NEVER worked!! Hahaha!

He gave me a great price for all that work too. Worth every penny!

He DID say I need to put a Monte SS/442/Grand National rear in the car, as the current 2.56 or 2.73 rear is silly. He says I HAVE to replace that single exhaust. Haha, I know, as time and money allows that WILL be done. He thinks the older aftermarket cat may be clogged. With the exhaust and rear he said it'll be quick. For now, he said I'll like it a lot better regardless.

He also said the a/c compressor is coming on now, but is cycling. Car is still R-12, and he's not set up for that, so will take it to my a/c friend to top it off. I didn't discharge it when we did the motor swap, just layed it to the side. I'm sure it's just a tad low. I'm just tickled it's coming on now!

Car is going to Ricky at Aamco Transmissions next for the TCI overdrive mod for the 200R4. That'll be in two weeks. For now I'm going to just use 3rd gear to get the car home, and planning to do a big clean-up and detail under the hood. Pics soon.

I WILL be sending Neil business. Just can't say enough about his work and his speed!

Getting excited now. :banana:

-Mike

 

WHOO HOO!!!

 

Well it's payday and I was supposed to pick up my Cutlass from Neil this morning, but as usual, had an issue. Neil said he went to start it up this morning to pull it out of the shop, and he heard a pop that sounded like a fuse blowing in the dash, and the blower stopped working. Doh!

He checked the fuse block and all the fuses are good. Now he's pulling out the radio and climate control head to see if something back there burned up.

It never fails! Hope he sorts it out today....I was hoping to take it to the cruise-in tomorrow night. Been over a year since I've had it at the cruise-in.

-Mike

 

Bummer, hope it all gets sorted and it's a eazy fix.