what's the biggest engine i can put in my car?

[Guest]

I have a 1983 Hurst/Olds 15th Anniv. and i wanna replace the 307 i have with a much bigger engine, i was wondering what is the biggest i could put in, i had my mind set on a chevy 496 stroker, but i dunno if it would fit, but anyway let me know, thanks

Jim

[Guest]

Ditch the chevy big-block idea. It'd be more trouble and aggravation than it would ever be worth and would absolutely kill the value of the car, which, having a Hurst/Olds you need to keep in mind. Up to a 403 Olds will drop in with no modifications, and if you play with motor mount spacer combinations a bit you can stuff a 455 in there.

RR at work in the land of high voltage <img src="/ubbthreads/images/icons/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/icons/crazy.gif" alt="" />

[Guest]

And I assume handling is irrelevant - the weight distribution will give perpetual understeer

[Guest]

Well the reason i wanna throw a different engine in there is because the original motor for the car is gone, it got all messed up and had to be taken out, but trust me, if that was the original motor still i wouldn't touch it, but since it's not ane that brings down the value of the car, i figure what the heck, why not give it some balls. But yeah i wanna fit the biggest engine possible in there.

Jim

[another old car]

lightningrod OK you want to swap engines - you got a olds use a olds engine NOT a chevy - yet I'll heard it before got one laying around - go by a olds motor <img src="/ubbthreads/images/icons/confused.gif" alt="" />

[Guest]

yeah i think i'm gonan go with the 403, but my question is where can i buy one? i've searched and searched, but come up empty handed, anyone know a good olds site for motors?????

Jim

[rocketraider]

You might find that a built 350 will do closer to what you want than a 403. You're really limited to head choices on a 403 unless you're ready to pay the machine shop to open up 350 head bolt holes to work on a 403 block. May have trouble finding high compression pistons for it too, though you could always go the blower route with low comp slugs. The 403 is a little torquier and has the 50+ extra cubes.

Think I'd told you earlier- 260-307-330-350-403 are the Olds small-block engine family. Meaning- all those engines fit in the car the same, use the same accessory brackets, exhaust etc. It would be the simplest way to do this and most people couldn't tell the original engine was no longer in there.

You can get a stock rebuilt 403 thru most chain auto parts stores which would be a good start. Very mild cam of course, but that's easily fixed. You may even be able to find a rebuilder who'll put a little hotter stick in it. The advantage of these engines over one you do yourself or one your buddy or uncle or whoever builds is that it has a warranty. If it quits, you come out ahead. If you build it and it quits, well, you might get some cash back on parts but you're totally out your labor and time.

Also- key to remember here. A 200-4R transmission will keel over dead soon behind a big-block or built SBO. You'll need to beef up the tranny or convert to a Turbo 350, which won't work too well with Lightning Rods.