Olds engine in Chevy Caprice - should I be disappointed?

Discussion in 'General Automotive Tech' started by ProudPidonk, Jun 21, 2013.

  1. ProudPidonk

    ProudPidonk pleasantly punk

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2013
    Messages:
    54
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    South Dakota
    I am buying a 1987 Chevy Caprice Wagon (a DREAM own for me, by the way), but found out that it has an original Oldsmobile 307 engine. I know they did this in Canada, and the seller is sure it is an original engine. I'm in love with/obsessed with 1980s Caprice engines; I'm familiar with them, and can't get enough of them. Will I be disappointed in the Oldsmobile trade-out? :confused:
     
  2. awesomee

    awesomee New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2013
    Messages:
    20
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Edmonton
    olds engine

    That should be a roller engine(which is good). The Olds actually outperforms the Chevs as a low speed torquer, but that could have the computer controlled carb which is a dud and hard to fix. A carb swap can help or swap in the Caddy fuel injection. I'm going to do this to mine to get all that injected power and economy! Drive it and enjoy and don't forget they made those engines as big as 403's.....fuel injected 403...hmmmlol
     
  3. ProudPidonk

    ProudPidonk pleasantly punk

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2013
    Messages:
    54
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    South Dakota
    Thanks for the heads up! I'll definitely look into that, and take a look at the carb. I know the Chevy Caprice didn't have fuel injection until '89, but not sure about the Olds. I'm just excited to get my wagon, but less familiar with this engine. Like I said, I just have a lot of history and love connection with the old Chevy V8s. Thanks for the help. I'm sure I'll have more questions once I get that perfect piece of metal in my hot little hands! :)
     
  4. jmt455

    jmt455 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 22, 2009
    Messages:
    2,377
    Likes Received:
    250
    Trophy Points:
    213
    Wagon Garage:
    1
    Location:
    SE Michigan
    A bigger displacement Olds will fit in the same motor mounts and accessory drives, so you could end up with an Olds 350, 403 or 455. They are great torque builders, perfect for wagon duty IMO. I don't know how far back the direct swap will work; check out some Olds performance sites or post specific thread asking for help. You can probably use any block from 1970 and up, but you might be able to go even earlier.

    I wish my Pontiac wagon was originally equipped with a Pontiac engine so the swap I'm planning would be easier...
     
  5. MikeT1961

    MikeT1961 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2010
    Messages:
    5,782
    Likes Received:
    16
    Trophy Points:
    110
    Location:
    , Ontario, Canada
    The Olds engine puts out more torque, and about 10 more horsepower, than the Chev 305. Also, because you have the Olds engine in there, the transmission you have will be the BOP version, not the Chev. It will bolt up directly to any of the Pontiac, Oldsmobile, or Buick engines, but not the Chevy should you want to go all Chev in the future. The bolt pattern is different. My personal favorite of the engines you could get in these cars is the old Buick 350. Sweet engine for the way I use a car. You may well use it differently and prefer the faster revs of the Chev. Either way, maintain the engine you have, and enjoy it! If you ever do decide to rebuild the Olds engine, hunt up a shop that KNOWS the Olds engine. There are tricks to it that a Chevy specialist is not going to know.
     
  6. Fat Tedy

    Fat Tedy Island Red Neck

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2009
    Messages:
    18,099
    Likes Received:
    1,095
    Trophy Points:
    1,108
    Location:
    Victoria BC Canada
    The Olds 307 was good for what it was at the time and if taken care of should last, but don't expect much when it comes to power. I have the same engine in my 87 Buick and I get around the mountains just fine but won't win any speed records. If it runs good, great! BUT if you ever need to spend $ on some what costly repairs don't step over a dollar to save a dime...... Toss the 307, spend a bit more and get as mentioned a Buick swap of a real engine or swap everything and go your Chevy route;). Mine runs good but because of what it is and I've been told they can develop oiling problems, and the fact that they are just a smog engine that you can't really upgrade mainly for the reason of.....whats the point?...............................

    I also own a 305 wagon and although it is smaller than the Buick witch = less weight I'll still swear by, even if the engines were swapped in the wagons, the 305 will still out power the 307 hands down;)
     
  7. 81X11

    81X11 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2011
    Messages:
    4,175
    Likes Received:
    543
    Trophy Points:
    261
    Wagon Garage:
    2
    Location:
    Round Rock Texas
    Almost all the big GM wagons built from 1980-1990 used the 307 Olds (won't mention the diesels). As mentioned it had a higher torque rating that the Chevy 305, so it was the standard wagon spec motor.

    An Olds 350 or 403 will bolt in, and that is a GREAT swap to consider.

    I've had a lot of 307-powered cars, and I think GM was nuts for putting this engine in the wagons. The 305 Caprice sedan I had would flat run-off-and-leave my '86 Buick Estate and '89 Olds OCC, and even my '88 307 Cutlass coupe would lose to that Caprice. 307's are reliable, but dog slow.
     
  8. MikeT1961

    MikeT1961 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2010
    Messages:
    5,782
    Likes Received:
    16
    Trophy Points:
    110
    Location:
    , Ontario, Canada
    I'm trying to figure out what is wrong with everyone's 307s! I had one in my 84 Delta 88 and the ONE thing that was decent about that entire car was the power of the 307. No, it was not the most powerful, but it would cruise from morning until night at 75 to 80, with no problem. The fuel economy was no great shakes, though, at 28 miles to the Imperial gallon. That one was replaced by a 78 Buick Electra coupe with the Buick 350 which was both faster and more fuel efficient, and that was with a Turbo 400 transmission, no overdrive.

    81X11, in Canada the Chev and Pontiac box wagons got the Chev 305 until 86. For 87 through 90 they got the same 307 as the Buick and Oldsmobile wagons had all the way through.
     
  9. Fat Tedy

    Fat Tedy Island Red Neck

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2009
    Messages:
    18,099
    Likes Received:
    1,095
    Trophy Points:
    1,108
    Location:
    Victoria BC Canada
    Nothing wrong with mine, just saying "if" it ever gets a costly problem the 307 will be gone even if it's for just a 305, at least you can do something with it where as what can you do to the 307? It's just not worth it.
     
  10. ProudPidonk

    ProudPidonk pleasantly punk

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2013
    Messages:
    54
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    South Dakota
    There's an 89 Caprice Wagon roughly the same distance in the other direction. I may look and see if it got the Chevy 305. Like Fat Teddy, I'm looking for a little faster, and had the Chevy Caprice sedan that would buzz past dang near anything. It sounds like the 307 just may not be the right way to go for me if I'm looking for a little lower maintenance and better push.
     
  11. MikeT1961

    MikeT1961 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2010
    Messages:
    5,782
    Likes Received:
    16
    Trophy Points:
    110
    Location:
    , Ontario, Canada
    The Chev 305 is not likely to be much, if any better, than the 307, in stock form. It takes work to improve the 305 much. Buy which ever one is in the better shape, and plan on a GOOD engine replacement down the line. The Chev 305 is, to me, down on torque for the weight of the car. That is what my brother had in his 86 Parisienne wagon. It was durable enough, seeing as it was still going as strongly as ever when the floor fell out of the car at 450,000 miles, but it was never a power house, and used a LOT more gas than his 86 Grand Marquis had. My 307 I don't quote much, and the car it was in was such a dud I only owned it for 18 months, but had it for but 12. The other 6 months were spent in the shop having many, many other issues fixed! Other people, though, with the 307, don't seem to have many problems with it. It moves the car down the road, it is just not a barn-burner. The Olds engine does have more horsepower and torque than the Chev, and the torque peak is a little lower in the revs, so it is a bit better, in my opinion, than the 305. It is the reason, in fact, that I got the Delta 88 not the Caprice, back in 1984. The Chev felt sluggish in comparison.
     
  12. sharkbait

    sharkbait New Member

    Joined:
    May 30, 2013
    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Hawaii
    I just got an '89 Caprice with the 307, couldn't be much different than yours. It's my first experience with this, and like most people are saying, it moves the car but it is a bit underwhelming. It's also a bit of a vacuum hose nightmare.
     
  13. Fat Tedy

    Fat Tedy Island Red Neck

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2009
    Messages:
    18,099
    Likes Received:
    1,095
    Trophy Points:
    1,108
    Location:
    Victoria BC Canada

    This is why a man hug luv ya (at arm to shoulder length, personal space eh!?:D) you make me lauph, Mike....You say potato and I say Tomato, I say 15MPG down hill, you say 30MPG uphill.....Lets call the whole thing off.....there's a song in there some where I think?:biglaugh::rofl2::biglaugh:


    :) and :beerchug:
     
  14. 1967 Tempest

    1967 Tempest Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2010
    Messages:
    334
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    52
    Wagon Garage:
    1
    Location:
    NPR, Florida

    Agreed! After you spend all kinds of money, it is still a 307. Tune it up and run it till its dead. Which if you do maintenance will be a long time. (depending on its current condition)

    Reason I agree with Tedy is this right here.

    add some pulleys and and some exhaust and you are done for less $ than rebuilding a 307!!

    http://www.summitracing.com/parts/mll-bp35511ctc1/overview/make/chevrolet


    Or source used parts on this crate engine for a quick and CHEAP swap!!!

    http://www.summitracing.com/parts/nal-10067353/overview/make/chevrolet
     
  15. ProudPidonk

    ProudPidonk pleasantly punk

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2013
    Messages:
    54
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    South Dakota
    You guys are too funny! I can tell I'm going to enjoy this forum at least half as much as the car. :beerchug:

    For the price ($1050) I can't go wrong, and I'm too much in love with the body to worry about it. I'll maintain the hell out of the engine until I've got the time to pull it and put something heavier in, and until then... I'll decorate the hell out of it.
     

Share This Page