350 diesel??

oddrod · May 20, 2005

Did the 350 smallblock come in diesel versions.??
If they did is it possible to use the block ,and use a gasoline crank,pistons etc,and build a ordinary 350.?
Im building a motor and my machinist told my my block was no good.
therefor im looking for another block, and its hard to get a bare 350 block around here.
I tought GM used Olds blocks only in the 350 diesels,but someone told me they used chevy smallblock.
Can get one for free. i have not seen it,but you can save me the ride to pick it up.

Thanks

Ok

gmranch · May 20, 2005

Yes, from what I've read. it is possible to convert them to gas. I'm not sure of the of the production years that are suitable; you may want to check out some Oldsmobile websites for more details (the Olds block is the same as Chev).

oddrod · May 20, 2005

Thanks for the quick reply

I better take a look at it then.

OK

Vintage 68 · May 20, 2005

oddrod said:
Did the 350 smallblock come in diesel versions.?

If they did is it possible to use the block ,and use a gasoline crank,pistons etc,and build a ordinary 350.?

I tought GM used Olds blocks only in the 350 diesels,but someone told me they used chevy smallblock.

Thanks

Ok

Odd:

Hopefully I can save you a trip...

Yes, the 5.7/350 Diesel is a 'small block' - but, an OLDS small block, not our venerable Chevy design...

Yes, you can use 'a gas crank, rods, pistons' and heads to build a gas version - the Olds people do this with the "DX" blocks (we have our "DZ"'s they have their 'DX's...) to get the stronger non-windowed webs and increase bottom-end strength.
But, you have to use Olds parts... Chevy stuff doesn't fit without major work.

Yes, they used Chevy small blocks in Olds and other BOP offerings - gas consuming small blocks. No diesels were based on Chevy small blocks from the factory.

Hope this helps;
John

ps: there is a real good Olds site that has lots of info on the engines - I can't find it in my 'favorites' right now but, I'll check my files and see if I can post it for you.
(edit) Found it - http://www.442.com/oldsfaq/ofbsb.htm :waving:

pdq67 · May 20, 2005

Did you know Olds made a 260" Diesel small block motor too???

And I have heard of stories that the old Olds diesels ran so cold that on the I-80 Toll Road up by Southbend, IN that their rad's would sometimes freeze while driving down the Toll Road at speed but don't know if this is true or not??

I do know AP Green's old LN-7000 Ford 6-wheeler with the Cat 3408 or whatever it was was sure a cold heatered sucker!!

pdq67

69Project · May 20, 2005

You may have a bit of a time finding an Olds 350 Diesel as they tended to scatter themselves all over the road somewhere between 20,000 and 50,000 miles and if they didn't they quickly became scrap yard material. Another great GM experiment that was a dismal failure.

67CAMAROSS · May 20, 2005

they where very crapy motors bad about cracking heads and lowerend problems

pdq67 · May 21, 2005

But if you can find a good 350 Olds Diesel block grab it quick, b/c it can bore out to like 1/4" or so!! (The cylinder walls ARE THAT THICK!!!)...

I think they make 440" motors out of them by dropping reworked 425" Olds cranks in them...

pdq67

gmranch · May 21, 2005

But....... the block is thick walled and strong! Sorry I wasn't clear on the Olds/Chev diesel thing :>(. Thanks for the clarification Vintage 68. BTW, Cadillac did use Olds diesels for a few years.

350 diesel??

oddrod

gmranch

oddrod

Vintage 68

pdq67

69Project

67CAMAROSS

pdq67

gmranch

Top Contributors this Month

Recommended Communities