"Chevy" 307 vs 305 or 350?

Ok, so a 1989 Caprice has recently caught my attention, but I've never had a 307 before. I seem to recall in various other threads here that the 307 (originally and Olds engine?) is thought to be slower/less powerful than the more common 305 or 350. But what I'm curious to know now is its reputation for being reliable and easy (or difficult) to keep running. If I jump on this one, it would be to have it as a daily driver. It already appears to be in turn-key condition. Anyway, thoughts and insights greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!

 

307 was a chevy engine and ran finebutcan easily be replaced with a 350 and noone will know but you and your mechanic

 

The Chevy 307 was built from 68 through 73 so that's probably not what is in the Caprice. Probably an Olds if it is the original engine for the car. Is there an oil fill tube in the block behind the water pump? Then it's an Olds. The Olds 307 is better than the Chevy 305, but the Chevy 350 has more potential than either. The transmission may be an issue. The 200-4R has a universal mount. If it has the Olds, any small block Olds will bolt in, including the 403, and the accessory brackets will all work.

 

There is NO way a 307 olds is better than a 305 chevy. a 403 or 350 olds hell yea there good

 

Matt, All I can give you is my experience with both, 307 Olds in my current '81 Bonneville Safari; and I had a 305 Chevy in a 1983 Chevy G20 van conversion in the mid to late 80's.
- I'm a bit underwhelmed with the performance of the 307 in the Safari. I've NEVER felt any feeling of power out of the engine. I WOULD NOT attempt to tow ANYTHING with it.
- Conversly, with the G 20 van conversion, I was initially disappointed that it only had the 305 and not a 350. Once I was driving it though, I was pleasantly surprised. It pulled this rental trailer to the Grand Canyon and Lake Powell with no problem whatsoever.

 

Thanks 59! Good to know.

 

Thanks Vista! I've not yet seen the car in person, so I don't know the location of the oil fill tube, but thanks for this tip in ID'g the engine! I do believe the engine (and the trans) are original to the car. If I may ask, what do you mean that the "transmission may be an issue"?

 

Hmmmm? Your 34 year old wagon drivetrain doesn't perform as well as you remember your less than 7 year old truck that never had to meet car emissions standards did. Scratching my head on that one.

 

Having both the 307 Olds (87 Buick) and the 305 Chevy (82 Olds) there is no comparison, the 305 Chevy is by far more powerful. Both my engines are daily drivers and reliable and I agree with KK 100%, I would not tow anything with the 307 Olds because of...... it's a slug! I'm not saying the Olds engine is bad, it has proven very reliable but don't expect to get where you are going fast. To be honest, when I first got the Buick I thought something is wrong/out of tune due to the slowness but after having driven several other 80's full size GM's with the Olds mill there is nothing wrong, it's just a true smog era engine made for that time.

 

I agree, the Olds 307 is a good engine, really trouble free, but very lazy and no real power, even compared to a 305 Chevy. Even the later Roller cam versions of the 307 seem to offer no performance advantage over the flat tappet lifter models.
That being said, the late 307 Olds engine is smooth, long lasting, and very boring to drive. They do make it easy to install a 350 or 403 Olds engine though. As for the transmission issue mentioned, I think the poster was referring to a possible engine swap with a SBC. It should not be an issue if you want to do that as every 200R4 I have ever seen have universal bolt patter bellhousing, that would allow you to use any Chevy, Buick, Olds, or Pontiac V-8 you prefer. I have read that a few were made with only BOP bellhousings, But I have never seen one myself.

 

Now you have:



The BOP-only 200-4R was only built in the early years of that transmission's production. A 1989 car will have the unisex case.

 

By the way, I'll point out that a 307 Olds motor makes it nearly a drop-in swap to go to a 455 Olds. Of course, the 200-4R might last to the end of the driveway before it shreds...

 

the 200r has a lot of aftermarket performance parts available

 

I've never driven a car with a 307. My brother had a 76 Camaro with the 305 in the late 70's / early 80's that I had the opportunity to drive. It was not particularly impressive. My guess is that GM rated both engines about the same forgetting hot rod 305's in Corvettes, F-, & G-bodys as well as the hot 307 in the H/O Cutlass.

To illustrate the hazard of seat of the pants performance comparison, I offer the following example. I currently own two 403 powered Oldsmobiles: a 76 Vista Cruiser, and an 84 H/O Cutlass. The 403 in the VC has high compression pistons, ported and milled #5 heads, Performer RPM intake, and what was identified in the papers that came with it as an RV cam. The H/O 403 is factory stock except for a Performer intake which is pretty much an aluminum copy of the factory design. Based on engine alone, the VC's 403 makes way more power with more on tap once I get a cam swap in, but the H/O will beat it every time. The 3.73 gears in the H/O (3.08 in the VC) and nearly 1000 pound weight advantage makes all the difference and then some. Also, I have to run premium in the VC. I can run goat-pi$$ regular in the H/O with 20 degrees of initial timing.