Thread: 390 FE in a 58 Olds

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Is this swap at all possible?

Anything is possible if you want to do it enough...Biggest issue on the FE is the front sump oil pan although it might not be an issue on that one..

sure is. if the front sump is an issue, the pan and pickup can be reworked to be a rear sump.....The big Olds engine the car came with was certainly no wider or heavier then the FE's......

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

sure is. if the front sump is an issue, the pan and pickup can be reworked to be a rear sump.....The big Olds engine the car came with was certainly no wider or heavier then the FE's......

I'm pretty sure the 371s were rear sump and they are heavy lest we forget the cast iron hydramatic monster of a transmission that came behind it.

The 371 is around 700-800 lbs. Plus the hydramatic was another 200 or so.

Forgive me for being a newbie, but what is the diff between a front and rear sump pan?

If this can work with easy fabrication and modifications I can get the 390/c6 combo for $300.

That's a great deal on the motor/trans... The sump is the low part of the oil pan and it's in the front on the ford so It will probably hit the K member on the olds unless you can set it back enough to fit...

Sounds Real COOL to Me

I am going to take some measurements and see what can be worked. Thank you guys!

You've got me very curious about your motives for doing this swap. Don't get me wrong, I love engine swaps, but this one is fairly unusual. Is it that you need an engine and just happened to come across the 390 at that good price? What does the rest of the car look like? If it is nice, you are going to reduce the value of it drastically, most people will not understand the Ford in an Olds thing and maybe see it as the cheap way out.

Please don't misunderstand me, I am not being negative about your project, just curious. I would think an Olds into the Olds would be easier and keep it in the family. Years ago I helped a buddy swap a 455 Olds and turbo 400 into a similar '60 Olds convertible. It was a very straight forward swap and the biggest hassle was the exhaust manifold on the drivers side, but we solved that with some industrial type manifolds we scored somewhere. And 350-455 Olds engines are available everywhere pretty cheap............just a thought.

Don

It is a "found it at a good price" option. I have found some Olds 350's but they are all from pick a part yards and they want 300 with no warranties.

Ok, I got it. Just trying to think ahead for you to save you some problems. My reluctance at the 390 swap is sort of motivated by the phyiscal layout of that block. It is big, heavy, and everything is in the way of most engine bay layouts. Have you considered a small block Chevy.........it would go in there like butter, compared to the Ford? They are cheap, and Chevy built 10 zillion of them, so you should be able to score a good one (even a complete running donor) for not much more than your $ 300.

My fear for you is that once you plop that 390 into the engine room you will find lots of obstacles to overcome. If you still want to try it, do lots of tapemeasuring before you buy it, that would be my suggestion. Not trying to be a wet blanket on your idea, but I just like to make life as simple as I can.

Don

If the project is about saving money you may also consider the price of relocating the oil filter which I'm sure will run into trouble on this deal because it hangs straight down on the left front of the engine.

You can always try a few different FE oil filter adapters to see which fits best. You can use a filter relocating kit if need be. No big deal there. Also there are factory rear sump FE oilpans and pickups if needed. If fitment issues might be of concern you can mockup the block and heads and see where you are. I like the idea. The first year for the FE engine was 58. Nothing against the SBC idea but you don't see a FE everyday in a 58 Olds!!!

I am considering this greatly. Can you link me to sites where I can find parts for the 390 fe? Like a rear sump oil pan and oil filter relocating kit.

The stock rear sump truck pans and pickup are a junkyard item. If you have any PYP's in your area try there. If not both Canton and Milodon sell a rear sump FE pan and pickup. The Canton pan is #16-870 and the Milodon #30550. Pricey at $312 and $367 and you still need the matching pickup. Summit, Jegs, PAW etc.... will have better prices. These are off their sites which I find more expensive than the part houses. Canton sells a oil filter adapter as well as Dove and others. I always see these on ebay and there are a few different styles. Cheaper ones are a bolt on plate to the more expensive rotating type. I'll poke around and see what I can find. Been awhile since I've looked at them. Places that sell Cobra parts have them too. Let me see what I can dig up. I do have a new filter relocater kit from my old FFR Cobra kit. It's the same one Ford Motorsport sells (yet another source!). It might fit and work on the FE. But you'd need to still use a stock adapter. You can screw the base onto the adapter and it might work? Never gave it much thought. But I think so? If interested PM me and I'll check it out. Might be more hassle then it's worth tho. I'll see what else I can find. If you need a few good part vendors for FE specific both

www.dscmotorsport.com Dennis C. in Ca

and

www.survivalmotorsports.com Barry R. in Motown.

are both very good vendors.

G.