Rocket is just a word, no different 350 was available afaik.

 

Haha, as much as I love Oldsmobile v8's everytime I hear the term "rocket" all I can think about is what DV always says. As willowbilly said above, all oldsmobile 350's are "rocket" 350's. It's just a name. Chevy used to have a ton too. Thriftmaster, Turbofire, etc. Ford did this recently with Triton and InTech. All just a Ford Modular.

 

engine

so mine is the rocket 350 and i thought the rocket engine had a diff. crank and better flowing heads and a diff. intake so ur saying that mine is a rocket 350 and how much horsepower and torque does my engine put out

 

Nope. Up until about 1972 there was a W-31 option on the 350 that got better heads and a hotter cam but it was long gone by 76. I think they dropped the rocket moniker not long after 76. They are still a good engine, heads flow decent but they are not a high revving engine in stock form, keep your redline below 5000, say about 4800. The engine will need some serious valve train mods and oiling mods to twist it up.

 

I don't know when GM went to the generic 350, but the earlier 350 Olds Rocket were a different and better motor. I know they were around until at least 72.

Trees

 

350 Oldsmobile engines

The 1968 - 1976 Olds 350 engines are more desirable for high performance modifications. The blocks are heavier castings, the heads are better flowing and the crank is heavy duty cast nodular iron. The "Rocket" moniker was dropped after 1975.

The 1977-1980 Olds 350 engines were lightweight castings and the heads were more prone to cracking. The heads have a "PMD" casting because they were made by the Pontiac Motor Division.

 

engine mods

so how could i get a little more power outa my 76 model 350 with just a little money. like shaveing the heads, diff intake, diff cam what would be the most effective way if i could only do one or two of those things and what name brand would yall go with and thank you all for the info

 

Wow, lots of incorrect info in this thread!

First, EVERY Olds V8 since 1949 has been called "rocket". The marketing guy who came up with that should get a big bonus. Second, the W31 was made from 1968-70 only and used exactly the same head castings as any other Olds 350 from the same year. Only the valves were bigger. All 1968-76 350s were solid main web, later ones used lightweight blocks with windowed mains. For a street motor, you'll never see the difference.

 

engine mods

so what ur saying is that i can but bigger valves in the heads that i have and i wouldnt have to change anything else on my engine to compinsate for the bigger valves except maybe the cam and lifters so what kind of mods can i do to my engine to give it more torque with out spending a ton of money on building the engine.

 

so what ur saying is that i can but bigger valves in the heads that i have and i wouldnt have to change anything else on my engine to compinsate for the bigger valves except maybe the cam and lifters so what kind of mods can i do to my engine to give it more torque with out spending a ton of money on building the engine.

You'll need to verify your heads by casting number. You'll want 350 heads off a 68-70 350 as Joe said above. You likely have #8 heads which have something like a 80cc open chamber and makes for a low compression ratio. The preferable head castings will be #5, #6, #7 and #7a. These have a 64cc chamber. Adding a mild cam and free-flowing exhaust system with a good set of heads will make for a torquey ride as long as you have a decent rear differential ratio in the vehicle it's going in.

If you're going to do anything other than keep the motor running with preventative maintenance, it will likely seem expensive. Such is our hobby.

 

Yes. Unfortunately, your #8 heads have large chambers. Your best bet would be to get a set of heads from a 1968-71 350 (casting #5, 6, or 7) with small chambers and install the larger valves. The cam and timing will need to be changed to take advantage of this, and you'll want a freer-flowing exhaust.

Of course, the cheapest way to get more torque is to find a rusted out Olds full size car with a 455 and swap that motor in. This is nearly a bolt-in swap.

 

Wow, lots of incorrect info in this thread!

First, EVERY Olds V8 since 1949 has been called "rocket". The marketing guy who came up with that should get a big bonus. Second, the W31 was made from 1968-70 only and used exactly the same head castings as any other Olds 350 from the same year. Only the valves were bigger. All 1968-76 350s were solid main web, later ones used lightweight blocks with windowed mains. For a street motor, you'll never see the difference.

Right you are that 70 was the last W31. Maybe my memory is clouded but I thought the W31 head castings had a different number. One thing I am pretty sure of is that Olds discontinued the used of the Rocket moniker long before production ended on the engines.

 

Since you are money limited, the best choices would be to install a true dual exhaust system, and a lower gear ratio out back. Nice thing about these upgrades is they will still work for you later if you get more money and decide to tear into the motor.

 

mods

so ur saying get a set of headers and change the rear end gears what would u go with 373 or 410 ect... what gear would u go with for a stock 350 olds.

 

I wouldn't go lower than a 3.73, depending on the tire diameter of course.

 

heads

and were can i find the number on the heads that tells me what they are

 

mods

the wheels are the stock wheels there 15s

 

and were can i find the number on the heads that tells me what they are

To the left of the #1 spark plug there will be a number

 

so ur saying get a set of headers and change the rear end gears what would u go with 373 or 410 ect... what gear would u go with for a stock 350 olds.

3.08 or 3.23 would be the max Id go with a stock engine,(you probably have 2.56-2.73 stock) you'll still retain your ability to drive on the highway, but deffinitely gain some acceleration.

If you want to include a set of headers with a full dual exhaust, that will add some power, but make sure you buy a quality set, and you will need to re-tune the engine(timing and carb adjustment) to take full advantage of the headers.
Cheap headers fit and perform just like the price.

 

Personally I would be looking for a 455 Olds engine. For the added couple hundred that it will cost to start out w/a 455 instead of the 350 will be more than compensated for by the better performance of the 455.

 

455

so a stock 455 olds. would be way better then the 350 stock. and everything should just bolt rite up like motor mounts and bellhouseing ect... will there be anything that i would have to change b/c i know a guy wanting 400bucks for a 455 its bone stock but still runs and what gear would u go with on the 455

 

headers

what brand of headers would u go with if i stayed with the 350olds. and what kinda of adjustments would i have to do to the carb. and the timing

 

cobalt327

i think ive seen ur green truck in sparta and at the brag strip i happen to live in sparta u have a really cool truck thank u for the info im goin to talk to the guy today bout the 455 and see if i can work out sumkinda deal with him on the 455

 

455 buick

i found out that the 455 is a buick 455 will that work its a 1970 model engine

 

It will not be easy to make the Buick work but can be done. A 350 Olds can be a strong engine. Better breathing and they are no slouch. I do love the 455 Olds though.