I am thinking about dropping a chevy 350 i have into an 80's regal with a olds 307. 1st question is do i need new motor mounts or will the part that fits on the frame bolt up to the part thats goes on a chevy small block. if i need different mounts would the ones from a chevy caprice fit the g body frame. also is anything salvage able from the 307. if it has roller lifters i would like to save them if they would fit in a chevy. anything else needed that is not obvious. i am ditching the emissions and computer controls so no worries there.  

You need both new motor mounts and new frame mounts for the Chevy engine. What transmission do you have? If it has an Overdrive then it will bolt to the Chevy engine, if you don't have an overdrive you will need a new transmission or an adapterplate for the bellhousing.  The Caprice ones I doubt fit, you would need them from a Monte Carlo.  The internals of the Olds 307 are completely different from the Chevy engine. You can swap over the alternator and powersteering pump....You will need a distributor, carb(or modify the Olds one), accessory brackets, the mentioned motor mounts and a Chevy engine.  

Thanks for the reply. i found out about the new mounts soon after i posted by searching an online parts store and comparing part numbers. 7 bucks a pop for the frame mounts seems reasonable considering the old ones were probably worn even if they would fit. The motor i am swapping in already has a carb, distributor, ect. so i am good there.

Another question is one of radiators. does anyone know of a nice big copper one i could find in the junkyard that will fit the g body and still wear the stock fan shroud. the stock ones are wimpy. i would also entertain swapping in a aluminum one if it could be found cheap in a junkyard. the radiator i used in the caprice i am taking the 350 out of was a huge van radiator that cooled well but sat higher then the rad support and needed to be zip tied in. plus the shroud would not fit.

also i want to keep the ac housing in as it is part of the rain tray. does anyone know of full length headers interfering with it. i have flowtech full lengths that fit 60's and 70s fullsize chevys in my caprice but the housing was ripped out so i dont know about the fit with the housing in place.  

Hey I have my radidator in my Caprice Ziptied in too!  

The trans behind your 307 will bolt up to the 350, doesn't matter if it has overdrive or not. All the GM divisions were using turbo hydramatic transmissions by the late 70s, and they all had the same bellhousing pattern. If your car doesn't have overdrive, then it's a TH350, with overdrive either a 700R4 or a 200-4R.

You'll need to get the front accessory brackets and pulleys from a 305 equipped G-body of similiar year, because the front accessory mounts for the Olds motor are different.

As for long tube headers, something for a Monte Carlo SS should work, it's the same engine compartment.  

That is incorrect,there are 4 TH bellhousings by GM.The Olds-Buick,the Chevy,the Pontiac, and the Corperate bell which has two sets of holes and mounts to Olds-Buick and Chevy patterns. The A/C housing wont be an issue.The Chevy brackets you will need up front.  

The how do you explain taking the TH400 out my '69 Pontiac Firebird and swapping it into my friend's '69 Oldsmobile 442 because his TH400 was failing?  I've never seen a Pontiac only Turbo Hydramatic.  The TH200, TH200-r4 and after some looking up I agree some TH350's did have dual bellhousings (should cover your year), so in any case I agree you shouldn't have to change out your transmission because it's either a dual pattern TH350 or a TH200-R4 (which are all dual pattern).  

You are absolutely right - 2004R transmissions had the dual patterns.  I ran accross them when ordering a crate tranny for my sons '72 Cutlass.  I asked the supplier if they needed a core and they said no.  When I asked them how they could be sure of proper application that's when he told me about the bellhousing.  It absolutely does not exist for the 700R4 which requires an adaptor plate and spacers for the BOP pattern.  I also agree that I have never heard of a Pontiac only automatic.

Good to be back..Bowser    

Glad to see you back    

An Olds 350 or 403 will be a direct drop in and probably be easier and cheaper to swap than a Chevy.  Just something to think about as Olds engines can make nice torque and power numbers and can be found cheap if you look a little.  

-Joe  

Agreed.  Also, '68 or '69 vintage 350s have some of the best engine geometry that GM ever did.  I had one in a '69 Cutlass when my wife and I were first married and it was a screamer.  It only had the 2bbl carb on it and it would still smoke the tires.  It also had a factory 12 bolt in it.  I kick myself daily for selling that thing.

Another consideration would be a '66 or'67 330 CID.  They have forged cranks and rods, and are strong runners with fairly high (10.5:1) compression.  They still can be made to run on pump gas OK.  I have a couple sitting around just in case I want to build one for a future project.

Just a little food for thought.  Bowser  

TheSilverBuick:
Glad to see you back  

Ditto...welcome back Bowser!  

I have a 86 cutlass and I am trying to swap out a 307 to a chevy 350. Could you tell me what type of mounts did you use?