In my quest for Oldsmobiles, I usually passed on 350's. Even though I have a few. My Grey 1967 Oldsmobile 98 has a great running 400 E engine, C heads. I need the engine for my 1967 442 convertible. I'm downsizing my fleet, just sold my Turquoise 1967 98 and I plan to sell the Grey one next. I've been bouncing back and forth on using a 350 or the fresh 403+0.040 over. When I replace the engine in the 98, I plan on putting in a rebuilt steering box also. After thinking it over, I know I won't get any more for the car if I put the fresh 403. So back to the 350 Olds engine. This 1975 Olds 350 came in a Delta Royale convertible that was in rough shape. Engine started up/ ran good even though it's got 95 K on the speedometer. Transmission leaked fluid bad, I never moved the car. The previous owner put some cash into the car but then the trans problem. There's bills for new water pump, fuel pump, tune up, rebuild the Quadrajet. I had the engine on a stand to fit some exhaust on it. To put a "small" block into a 1965/1970 B/C body one needs the rare "center" dump drivers side exhaust manifold. These cars are rear steering box so dual exhaust are rare on the big blocked cars and non-existence for small blocks. Very few cars had the small blocks. This manifold has a crossover pipe to the passenger side the single exhaust pipe. Crossover pipe is non-existent also. Luckily I'm 40 miles away from Classic Exhaust of Geneva, Ohio. I had him make me a crossover pipe. It needed a little tweaking fitting it on. Stress relieved with the torch. I put the engine on the test stand. Oil and new filter, pulled the HEI out, primed the engine. Put the HEI and Quadrajet back on, wired it up. I pulled the plugs and ran a compression test. All were around 125 psi. I filled the carb bowl, primed it and it fired right up. Once I plugged a few vacuum leaks, it idled well. I then got to thinking, I wondered what condition is the timing chain. Hmm MAW, might as well check it out. Pulled the fuel pump, put a socket on the balancer and turned a bit. Finger in the hole, seemed a little sloppy. Start unbolting brackets. The neoprene cam timing gear is in great shape, chain is sloppy. In engines drove easily, I've found the neoprene gear in good shape before. I have a couple new Cloyes timing sets in the stash plus gaskets.
