04-18-2017, 10:50 AM | #1 | |
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Lloydminster Saskatchewan
Posts: 1,008
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Stayin alive! 1978 Olds Omega SX
Figured since Weld did bring up the era the car was from...the so called disco era i might as well have a disco song title as part of the thread title
Anyways..on to the details of this project. I picked up this car in January and have not had much chance to get more then a few minutes to look it over since then since it was extremely cold the day it was delivered. But what i know so far is this. The Omega SX was the Oldsmobile equivalent to the same year Chevy Nova Rally. The Rally itself a replacement for the Super Sport in '76. So in a way i am saying it is basically an Oldsmobile version of the SS in its own way. What i know about it so far in terms of specs: 305 LG3 V8 170 HP @4400 255 Ft lbs@2400 Not sure if it has a TH200 or TH350 transmission yet as both are listed for that model year and engine setup. Already have a lead on an Edelbrock Performer RPM intake and possibly a few qjet carbs to do the 4 barrel upgrade. Which would bump the engine up to LG4 spec. The same friend has a cam that will work in it as well. Currently on the hunt for some heads from an LE9 or L69 305. The LE9 is the High Output 305 found in trucks and vans. My red '86 Sierra has an LE9 and my blue '84 Chevy Custom Deluxe used to have one. The L69 was found in the Monte Carlo SS, Camaro Z28 and Trans Am. The only difference between the LE9 and L69 is the cam. They both use the same carb, heads and have same compression. As the LE9 is the more common one due to being used in all trucks and vans from 81-87 i will more then likely end up with LE9 heads. I have already kicked around the thought of taking advantage of the LG3s lower compression ratio and adding boost in the form of a Turbo or Supercharger. Scary part being the fact that it would be cheaper to add the boost via ebay kits then it would be to rebuild the LG3 to LE9 or L69 spec with higher compression. It remains to be seen what way i go there as i also have a lead on a 4 bolt main 350 block that i could easily build into a 383 for the car later. Enough rambling..here are the pics!
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Past bikes: '10 Gio X33 '85 Honda VF750F Interceptor '80 Honda XL185S '76 Yamaha DT250C dual sport Baja Wilderness Trail 250 '07 Honda Shadow 750 Areo Trike '01 Harley Davidson Softail Deuce Polaris Magnum 425 4x4 Quote:
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04-18-2017, 02:16 PM | #2 |
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,335
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The Oldsmobile Nova.
My father had a lipstick red '73 Nova drag car with a 396 and four speed. Those Olds kind of remind me of Novas from the 70's. |
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04-18-2017, 02:45 PM | #3 | ||
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Lloydminster Saskatchewan
Posts: 1,008
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Past bikes: '10 Gio X33 '85 Honda VF750F Interceptor '80 Honda XL185S '76 Yamaha DT250C dual sport Baja Wilderness Trail 250 '07 Honda Shadow 750 Areo Trike '01 Harley Davidson Softail Deuce Polaris Magnum 425 4x4 Quote:
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04-18-2017, 08:06 PM | #4 |
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Houston area
Posts: 1,902
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The Olds looks like more fun than a Nova.
Pontiac actually produced a GTO based on that Nova body for a year or two.
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"Its not WHAT you ride; its THAT you ride" |
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04-18-2017, 10:25 PM | #5 | |
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Lloydminster Saskatchewan
Posts: 1,008
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Yea i remember seeing a few of them actually. One thing i may do to the Olds is use the big ass air cleaner like what is on my '86 GMC to build a cowl induction set up. The filter in the truck looks like it has gotta be close to 5-6" tall. Granted in a truck it clears the hood fine but it looks pretty close going by its height in relation to the firewall. Now if i am right on this it should be above the hood of the Olds by a good 2", Which puts it in a good position to be a functional cowl induction after adding a cowl scoop to the hood of the car. Gain a bit of power from getting fresh cold air from outside the engine bay.
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Past bikes: '10 Gio X33 '85 Honda VF750F Interceptor '80 Honda XL185S '76 Yamaha DT250C dual sport Baja Wilderness Trail 250 '07 Honda Shadow 750 Areo Trike '01 Harley Davidson Softail Deuce Polaris Magnum 425 4x4 Quote:
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04-19-2017, 05:25 PM | #6 |
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: NW Arkansas
Posts: 454
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Great cars. I had a faded yellow 1973 Omega 4 door with the inline 6. It wasn't particularly fast but it was a really cool daily driver. I traded it for a bronco, and a buddy who loved the omega later saw it on craigslist for sale; he worked out a deal with the new owner and the night before he was supposed to pick it up it was totaled in a wreck!
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2013 SSR XF-250 |
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04-19-2017, 07:13 PM | #7 |
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Location: Elburn, IL
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With my past experience with new 1978 GM products, my first reaction would be "Kill it! Kill it with fire!". But as that was almost forty years ago, I wish you luck.
(As he slowly turns and walks away, he mutters "Sucker" with a slow and quiet chuckle under his breath)
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Cheesy ______________________________________ 07 Hi Bird Enduro-Flown the Coop 07 Ural Gear Up 79 Honda CX500 77 VeloSolex 4600 V3 73 VeloSolex 3800 I'm making this up as I go.-Indiana Jones Telling me something 'is for my own good', is a fast way to a fat lip.-Me I don't even care about my own problems, why should I care about yours?-Quote on one of my favorite t-shirts |
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04-20-2017, 12:19 PM | #8 |
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sardis, BC, Canada
Posts: 25,977
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Dig it! I love the attempt at a ram-air snorkel.
I spotted the orange and white plates; do you have any issues with dragging a car across 50th avenue? Do you have to do an out-of-Province inspection? I know that Lloyd has some special provisions, like elimination of PST, but I don't know how it works with cars. My question also applies with dragging cars westward across 50th. If I were to do an engine swap, I might be inclined to use an old Rocket, just for nostalgia. Another attractive option is to find a wasted '99 Silverado and use the engine, trans, computer, etc to go LS. Even the 4.8 would stomp on a 305.
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Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer |
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04-20-2017, 12:36 PM | #9 |
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Sudbury ,Ontario
Posts: 855
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I am with Weld on this one ,but would think even just a any of the Chevy fuelly engines would be a huge improvement , the olds engines were awesome ,but they cost so much more than a Chevy to play with it's just not worth it ,although ,I do think I still have an extra 455 w30 from my 442 days in the back of the garage .I would find a good runner truck complete ,and strip it like the Indians did to the buffalo ,and end up with a fairly inexpensive car when finished .
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04-20-2017, 12:37 PM | #10 | |
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,335
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04-20-2017, 05:01 PM | #11 |
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Volcano, Ca
Posts: 7,112
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Look down on the bell housing and see if there's two ears that stick up in the middle that bolt to nothing. If so, it's called a "Detroit case". They're like gold to rebuilders because they bolt to most any GM engine.
I had the Buick equivalent (Skylark) with a (Chevy) 350 4bbl and a t-350. Got it for free because of a bad trans. When I walked the bad trans into the tranny guy as a core, he almost had kittens when he saw it. He discounted the one I bought from him because of it. Thought that was nice of the guy. He could have said nothing and I would have been none the wiser.
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04-20-2017, 09:35 PM | #12 | |
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,335
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04-21-2017, 12:22 PM | #13 |
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: NW Arkansas
Posts: 454
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I also like Weld's 4.8 idea. I was talking to someone recently who was doing a 5.3 swap in a Nova. The 4.8 and 4.2 vortec are two of my favorite motors.
I have had my eye on a 1986 Firebird 5 speed with a 350 vortec swap. The seller says it runs great but he can't figure out how to get it to pass California Smog check, and he says he has 30 years experience as a mechanic.
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2013 SSR XF-250 |
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04-21-2017, 02:00 PM | #14 | |||
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Lloydminster Saskatchewan
Posts: 1,008
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Due to the car being older then 30 years old i can plate it on antique plates. Cost about $23/month unless i have it on autopac then it drops to $13/month. The car does not require an inspection or anything. I could literally take a road trip to your part of the country. Haul a car back from there and plate it on my way through town to the storage yard As for engine swaps...i did bat a few ideas around including the 350 Rocket from my '84 C10 but i kinda realized that engine is what gives that truck its personality. Now if i were to stumble upon a decent one on Kijiji that is an entirely different matter....I have also kicked around the idea of a 454 Big block. Quote:
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Past bikes: '10 Gio X33 '85 Honda VF750F Interceptor '80 Honda XL185S '76 Yamaha DT250C dual sport Baja Wilderness Trail 250 '07 Honda Shadow 750 Areo Trike '01 Harley Davidson Softail Deuce Polaris Magnum 425 4x4 Quote:
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04-21-2017, 10:18 PM | #15 |
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Houston area
Posts: 1,902
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"Give me a good old basic SBC with a QJet or a Holley and i am content."
Same goes for a Ford Windsor and Plymouth wedge. Electronic engine controls can do amazing things, but I don't like to tinker with them.
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"Its not WHAT you ride; its THAT you ride" |
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