Engine swaps,compatibility s.....88 buick

Parking the electra for the winter,pulling out my winter driver. Just mulling over a potential engine swap. What are my options other than a 305/307? What would be the easiest( lol) switch, and pros and cons of various options.

What would be considered a high mile engine for a swap?

What else should I be asking/ looking for? Oh, approx. how long would a swap take for a experienced mechanic to do, providing there were no ( major) hiccups.

Thanks!

 

There is no such thing as an easy swap, unless you are swapping identical engine, that mate up to the identical transmission. Once you throw a different engine into the mix, there will always be "challenges" that need to be changed, fixed, moved, or worked around. If you are the experienced mechanic, then you would know this. Anyone that would tackle a job of making a change of power plant and quotes an exact price, is either inexperienced, or giving you a price that is out in the stratosphere, to protect himself from any problems that will arise. Before computer controlled everything, swaps were relatively simple, and the challenges were minimal. Today, all bets are off.

 

what engine do u have now?

 

If I remember right, you have the Oldsmobile 307 in there now. That means an Oldsmobile 350 will be a simple swap, as it is the same block. I would have the transmission rebuilt and upgraded at the same time, since the 350 has quite a bit more torque than the 307. The other option, and my favorite, is to get a BUICK 350 and have it done up for torque. Again, the transmission will need upgrading too and it is a lot easier to remove the transmission attached to the engine that doing it twice; once when you do the engine swap, and again when the transmission dies from too much torque. If you do go with the Buick engine, you will likely need new engine mounts, but they are worth thinking about anyway. Just choose your engine before investing in the mounts.

 

Thanks mike. And junk, I do realize that there is no such thing as an easy engine swap but I think my point was to just do a basic change over without any sort of extensive modding for performance purposes.

I chuckled when I read fat Teddy's quote of " lesuirly acceleration" of the 307....how true.

Boy, I love how that car rides and looks though.

 

Good looking cars are like good looking women. They are great to look at, but can give you lots of aggravation, and problems when you try to change them.

 

I still say for what your driving if it ain't broken, don't fix it (I thought your car ran good, I thought you gave it to your son and you were looking for another wagon?)....

Yes a Buick 350 would be the "eazy" for a drop in swap, but finding a good one may be another story. 350 Chevy's are still a dime a dozen engine, at least where I live.

 

So many things could be added.
Yesterday my wife celebrated 56 years of happy marriage. She's been trying to change me for over 57 years so far. I just celebrated being alive and having a cook, maid, waitress, and companion.
We ate dead fish and stared at the Gulf of Mexco.
Good luck Shnizzle whatever you do to your engine.
Like me, if it ain't broke don't fix it.

 

Diagnosis is rather alarming oil consumption with blowback in air cleaner. Like....alarming oil consumption. Car is also idling rough. But...starts easy and drives smoothly. I think fuel consumption is more than it should be as well.

My son gave back the wagon..." Mom, I can't afford school AND gas for the wagon"!!

Anyway....hesitates at around the 60/70 k mark but then smoothes out when given some gas. I wonder if its a tranny issue then? Struggling to get itself into the correct gear?

Oh,what to do,what to do.....I just thought a engine swap and tranny would be the simplest and most economical solution. As opposed to doing this....:banghead3:.....

I DO have another wagon......it's this.....:banghead3::banghead3::banghead3::banghead3::banghead3:

 

OK, then I will say if your 307 is gulping oil, blow back etc, it's not worth the $ for repairs IMO as they are not worth it. I have the same engine, still runs fine but if and when it decides to crap out..... it will be 350 time, a Chevy in my case as I have one.



By the way, what is "this"?


I DO have another wagon......it's this.....:banghead3::banghead3::banghead3::banghead3::banghead3:[/QUOTE]

 

The easiest switch would be with the same engine, or one offered as optional for your body series. It would have the starter and fuel pump on the same sides so you don't have to re-route your fuel lines or battery cables and the alternator, PS pump, and AC in the same place. If not the same engine, the replacement would include everything from the fan to the flywheel, including all the brackets to mount your accessories.

Now, what does that leave you?

 

That leaves only a Olds 307, there was no other option for those years...... it's not worth it $ wise. If your 80 Catalina had a Olds 307, you would understand.

 

My multiple bang heads was the OTHER wagon I picked up. 94 roadie. Every single brake line needs replacing. It's been a bitch of a job.....according to my long suffering BF.

There is a lot of curse words in the queens English and a scattering of German ones as well. And he is NOT one to curse at all so that's how I gauge the frustration level of any given automotive project.

So it looks like I need to buy a parts car OR an engine/tranny combo from......somewhere.....

 

No, Dude. You don't understand.......it's got a Pontiac 301 in it.

 

So you should understand:confused:? Drive it as long as it works, but when costly repairs come up.....