Thread: 350 N Deisel

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OK, i know I havent been on much lately. I have been having Oldsmobile troubles. It seems the frame on my Cutlass is beyond repair. 22 years of NY Salt will do that. Anyway, there is a local Cutlass Supreme brougham I was looking at. Same year, but it has a vinyl top and SURPRISE! a deisel. Now I know that a lot of the deisel blocks have been converted to gas, and it seems that there was a lot of headaches with the 78-80 engines. Now, I know that in 81 the head studs were increased in size, the low end were drilled for longer bolts(connecting rods) and they are supposed to be OK engines. However, I havent seen many around. Can anyone give me a bit of info as to if this car is worth driving? Its 200$, I heard it run and the body is in really, really good shape.

If it's only $200 and the body is straight it's well worth it. Just think what a new set of fenders or rockers would cost for another car with a better engine.

Hell, just an alternator for my driver costs $200.

Abe

Yeah, but this car needs a bit of work. Its been setting for 4 years. As far as I can tell, the tank will probably need to be flushed,the fuel filter changed, at least 1 glow plug and an oil change, and someone diddnt know how to get a power window switch. The biggest cool factor is that 85% of my parts are swappable with this car. So I need to know the stories with the 350N and if the motor is gonna blow up 5K miles down the road.

Buy it and put your gas burner in it, in the states I know of that require inspections, diesels are exempt from them so those cars titled as diesels are well sought after by hot rodders

That's essentially what I'm trying to convey. Buy the car if only for the body. If you swap in a gasoline powertrain it will make a great starter.

Abe

The Olds Deisel blocks are very stout. An ideal starting place for a high performance Olds motor. There is a market for the blocks. So don't pitch it if you pull it. Recycle the heads, intake, and other deisel stuff. Advertise the block on one of the Olds performnce bulliten boards. It should draw a hundred bucks.

Thanks for the advice, but i was thinking about actually driving the deisel for a while. @ 1.91 a gallon vs 2.15 for gasoline, and a average 30MPG highway, its seems like a good alternative untill i get some money in my wallet. However, I know that a 350N is a good HP gas block, and have no fear, If I go to chuck the motor, you will all have first bids on it.

I worked at a Chevy dealer and a Cadillac dealer back between '83 and '85. As drivers, these engines were and are JUNK! Beware before sinking ANY money into making it drivable as these suffered from all kinds of problems. The biggest and most expense is the injector pump at the front of the engine. These were constantly being sent out for rebuilds (at $600 each in 1985 dollars). I saw camshafts go, blown pistons, etc.

I'd swap the mounts and put the gas engine in. It will be far more reliable.

Thanks streets. Oh, and BTW swiftster, those diesels you were talking about were made before the 1981 modifications. The timing pump was re designed in 80, and the crank had a bad run in 79 due to porus metals. The camshaft is a valid concern, but this engine has already been converted to roller lifters. Little Old Guy car-isnt it great??

Originally posted by Streets
them Ricer's will be a chokin' on the diesel fumes back there.. Hehehe

And this is a problem WHY?

Originally posted by drg84
Thanks streets. Oh, and BTW swiftster, those diesels you were talking about were made before the 1981 modifications. The timing pump was re designed in 80, and the crank had a bad run in 79 due to porus metals. The camshaft is a valid concern, but this engine has already been converted to roller lifters. Little Old Guy car-isnt it great??

Don't say you weren't warned! These engines were ALL bad. The dealers were replacing engines left and right. This wasn't a '78-'80 only issue. If this beast will run, drive until it doesn't, but don't sink any money into it. If you do you'll be .

Drive it til it blowz' then......... BBC.

Thanks again swifster. I appreciate the warning. Oh, and ProZ, wrong letters. BBO. After all, its still a Cutlass

Originally posted by drg84
Thanks again swifster. I appreciate the warning. Oh, and ProZ, wrong letters. BBO. After all, its still a Cutlass

A BBC iz' universal. He He He

Speaking of Gutlass, i finally got my logos made! Yay!