Bad boy gas SBO

Kennybill

Active member
Oct 3, 2018
208
130
43
Braceville Ohio
I was surprised to read this engine was a gas block and not a diesel block Olds.
The Batten heads don't surprise me. Jmo, but I always felt Battens were/are the best aftermarket heads. They were pricey back in the day because you had to buy the matching intake and exhaust flanges then fabricate your own headers. Average guy already had an Edelbrock or Port-o-sonic intakes and headers for iron heads so that made going to Battens a big ticket item for a "pork and beans" guy. I know I couldn't justify the initial expense. I "read"(not saying it's true) that when Oldsmobile was going down, they scrapped pallets of Batten heads.

https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/realoldspower/race-engine-challenge-350-stroker-490-585-t16157.html
 

Olds 307 and 403

Well-known member
Oct 4, 2018
996
265
63
Melville, Saskatchewan
Impressive. Look what Cutlassefi is doing with the 350 gas block. His new 4" stroker crank, modern pistons and hydraulic roller cams are making 400 to 500 hp and all over 500 ft/lbs. That used to be 455 territory only. I guarantee with the parts being much lighter, I would rather take one of the stroker 350's through serious rpms before any 455 block, short of the Rocket Racing block, another game changer.
 

Eightupman

Moderator
Oct 3, 2018
43
27
8
Ladson, SC
Until Olds part prices come out of the clouds, guys will still be tempted to go off brand. While I applaud the engineering and dedication to making Olds go fast parts, I have a hard time shelling out for a $700 set of pistons for a car that will rarely see track time, yet have miles of smiles behind the wheel. I will pay it like a crack fix though... I'll have my LS killer 403 under the hood of my 85. Some year. lol
 

Olds 307 and 403

Well-known member
Oct 4, 2018
996
265
63
Melville, Saskatchewan
I know the Mahle pistons are $600+ but come with rings and pins for that price. The 5140 billet steel crank at $1400 isn't cheap but look the power the extra stroke has. I plan on getting my 403 stroker, only a offset 330 crank machined and together next year, no matter what.
 

Kennybill

Active member
Thread starter
Oct 3, 2018
208
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Braceville Ohio
I did buy a set of Mahle pistons from Mark (cutlassefi). They are the upgrade for an early 400 (B &E block, 400/425 crankshaft engine) and 350 Oldsmobile engines. One can use a std 350 piston in the early 400. Mark got them to make a "run" of these pistons for the early 400 & 350 engines. Prices was fair for the quality/weight/ring package etc. I have two 1967, 442's, a sport coupe (post) and a convertible. The convertible will be a putt putt car, so I won't be using the $$pistons in that. I plan on doing some drag racing with the post coupe but being afraid of hurting the E-block, I'm putting together a 30 over 425, that I have everything for with all the machine work done. It won't be "numbers correct" but I'll still have the original engine to go with it if I sell it. The engine I'm going to use is a 1965 A-block 425 (45 degree) engine. Lot of "Olds" guys don't even know the A-blocks.
I'm just glad their are some "heavy hitters" still out there building these engines. Decent Aluminum heads are cheap, it doesn't even pay to port/do a set of iron heads. Jmo.
 

Kennybill

Active member
Thread starter
Oct 3, 2018
208
130
43
Braceville Ohio
They usually use the 350 pistons in the E-block 400's. You can use std bore 4.125" (425) pistons in a 350 Olds (std.bore is 4.057). Putting std 425 pistons in a 350 would probably 12 cubic inches to a 350. Jmo
 

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