Reference Manual

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Chapter 1: Engines: Oldsmobile V8s

It all started with Charles Kettering's Rocket engine back in 1949. From there, the OHV V8 craze was on, with Ford, Chevrolet, and Dodge getting their OHV V8 engine programs in order a few years later. Certainly, the most popular Oldsmobile V8 engine platform had its start in 1964 with the 330 cid V8. From there, Olds created many small blocks of varying displacements (260 cid up to 403 cid) and by raising the deck two inches and adding a longer stroke, big blocks displacing between 400 and 455 cubic inches -- the big gas guzzlers of the '60s and '70s.

Three gasoline-fed Olds V8s were offered in A/G-body cars, the 260, 307, and 350; the latter only available in 1978-1980 Hurst/Olds and 442 models. By far, the most common Olds V8 in this chassis (and a few others as well) is the 307. Most Cutlasses got the Y code engine; 'Y' is the VIN code for this engine. The 9 code 307 was standard, and only available in, the 1983 and 1984 Hurst/Olds and the 1985-1987 442.