What all needs to be done to the olds diesle block to covt. it to a gas block? From what i have heard it is fairly easy. I have the top end from a 79 gas moter that i was wondering if it would work. I have heads,intake,water pump,fuel pump,oil pan, and carb.I have heard that these make decent street strip engines. This swap will be going into my 1979 delta 88 two door. i was also wondering if any parts from a g body will fit on my car? Modification really is not an issue.any comments will be appreciated  

yes but why...   350 diesel blocks were modified for all out drag racing... (prostock)  as they were really tough...  

it can still be done...

as i recall it is mainly a block off of the additional drive gear bearing ...

joe mondello might be of help...  

The reason i want the stronger block is the fact that i blew up the last one and i dont want to change them every 3 months like my friend has to because i blow it up. The engine that im looking is complete and there are three to choose from. The best part is that there on $80.00 a piece.  

Mondello would be your best source.  Its not terribly complicated from what I've gathered.  

ok.... lets step back and see  what happend to blow the motor....

the blocks really dont make much differnce...  when a motor blows...

engine bearings... ..  tri metal ones... "77"s work much better than aluminum  bearings./..

aftermarket rod bolts...    arp, milodon, ect...  not stock replacement ones...

putting it together with moly graphite assy lube...   not the clear stuff that drips out..

priming the oil pump... and system... several ways to do this...    cranking the motor with the spark plugs out does not put any pressure on the bearings...  

i usually if i dont prime the motor with a drill and a priming tool through the dizzy hole... (tools are rentable for some models at chain parts stores)

with the spark plugs out... i usually use a remote starter switch... and crawll under the car... take the brand new empty oil filter off. and crank the motor till i get  a shot of oil out the filter mounting area... then screw on the filter...  watch the dash gauge and crank the motor again till the oil light goes out... or the gauge starts to climb..

i also on HEI and other dizzys... set the balancer to the base timing mark... and line up the reluctor and pickup coil tips and lock it there...     this will let you start the motor and break in the cam without needed to do much more than check the timing with a light....


you also might want to think about a set of H beam rods...  if the ones in the motor are not forged...  
thin parting line.. cast rod...
thick parting line  forged...

it all truly depends on what broke in the motor...      

and is your torque wrench accurate??????  test it agenst a beam type torque wrench with a 15mm 12 point socket beween them... setting at 35 and then 60 ft pounds... see if it is close... do not ajust it...  send it in for calibration/ repair if it is off...  

Well in the last motor 4 main bearings and the number 1&6 piston left some knarley gashes in the cylinder bores that couldn't be bored out and im really short on cash so sleevs and lots of machining are out of the quetion were guessing that excesssive high rpm use killed the motor  

TheFuzzBaiter:
Well in the last motor 4 main bearings and the number 1&6 piston left some knarley gashes in the cylinder bores that couldn't be bored out and im really short on cash so sleevs and lots of machining are out of the quetion were guessing that excesssive high rpm use killed the motor

Did you modify the oiling system at all?  Olds motors are designed to send a ton of oil to the top end to keep valvetrain noise to a minimum...great for casual driving...not great for high RPM usage.  If you didn't put in any oil restrictors, or made the mistake of installing a high volume oil pump without oil restrictors...you starved the bottom end for oil...as a ton of oil gets sent up, and the return system can't handle that much oil...

I believe you'll have the same issue with the diesel block.  You MUST modify the oiling system if you plan to run high RPM.