1969 Olds Rocket Block
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 708
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From: somewhere south of normal
1969 Olds Rocket Block
Has anyone ever used one of these blocks as a foundation for their engine build up? I believe these blocks will accept standard sbc internals and heads. These blocks are supposed to be bullit proof, if this is correct what do I need to know?
Thanks, Phillip :cool:
Thanks, Phillip :cool:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,865
Likes: 1
From: I may be getting old but I refuse to grow up
Re: 1969 Olds Rocket Block (HDIronman)
If I remember right the 1969 Olds has more in common with the Buick than the Chev and all the pieces don't interchange betwen Olds and Chev. others with more knowledge may chime in.
Steve :steering:
Steve :steering:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,842
Likes: 99
From: Orrtanna Pa.
Re: 1969 Olds Rocket Block (HDIronman)
I've run the 350 Olds block but never even dreamed Chevy parts would fit.Best advice I would give is stick with a Chevy.Parts are way cheaper and the ground has been tested by many before you. :yesnod:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,330
Likes: 6
From: Long Island NY
Re: 1969 Olds Rocket Block (The Money Pit)
If you want to run an Olds block, the 350 diesel block is the way to go (but with Olds internals). It's much thicker then a stock 350...good luck finding one...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,062
Likes: 1,361
From: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Re: 1969 Olds Rocket Block (HDIronman)
The Olds bell housing bolt pattern is completely different. Olds, Buick, Pontiac share the same bolt pattern.
SB/BB & inline six Chevy share the same bolt pattern.
Olds 350 is a completely different engine from the Chevy 350.
In the late '70s or '80s, Olds did use the Chevy 350 in some of their cars.
Perhaps these 350's were cast with a different steel than the Chevy 350s.
Cadillac in the '60s used a high nickel content block. These things would wear for ever.
SB/BB & inline six Chevy share the same bolt pattern.
Olds 350 is a completely different engine from the Chevy 350.
In the late '70s or '80s, Olds did use the Chevy 350 in some of their cars.
Perhaps these 350's were cast with a different steel than the Chevy 350s.
Cadillac in the '60s used a high nickel content block. These things would wear for ever.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,711
Likes: 43
From: San Antonio TX
Re: 1969 Olds Rocket Block (Barry's70LT1)
A "Rocket" block is not from your father's Oldsmobile. It is a block developed for drag racing and had no production line application and it certainly wasn't around in 1969.
If you have no intention of installing custom-machined racing components it would be best to abandone your quest for one of these.
Imagine, an Olds Rocket block, spinning some SBC internals with Buick 15-degree heads. Yeah, that's the ticket.
If you have no intention of installing custom-machined racing components it would be best to abandone your quest for one of these.
Imagine, an Olds Rocket block, spinning some SBC internals with Buick 15-degree heads. Yeah, that's the ticket.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,941
Likes: 281
From: Was New Orleans but swam to Baton Rouge LA
Cruise-In IX Veteran
Re: 1969 Olds Rocket Block (gerry72)
Olds had a series of engines they called the "Rocket". My friends dad had an old Olds Delta 88 with a 350 Rocket in it. Olds used the "Rocket" name to denote its high compression performance engines in the cars. The Rocket blocks you speak of are newer production stuff, but the Olds cars back in the day did have engines called "Rockets" in them.
Here is a link I have found with some Rocket info: http://www.drivingtoday.com/greatest...olds_rocket88/
[Modified by Sigforty, 4:24 PM 3/31/2004]
Here is a link I have found with some Rocket info: http://www.drivingtoday.com/greatest...olds_rocket88/
[Modified by Sigforty, 4:24 PM 3/31/2004]
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,500
Likes: 0
From: N.Y
Re: 1969 Olds Rocket Block (gerry72)
A "Rocket" block is not from your father's Oldsmobile. It is a block developed for drag racing and had no production line application and it certainly wasn't around in 1969.
If you have no intention of installing custom-machined racing components it would be best to abandone your quest for one of these.
Imagine, an Olds Rocket block, spinning some SBC internals with Buick 15-degree heads. Yeah, that's the ticket.
If you have no intention of installing custom-machined racing components it would be best to abandone your quest for one of these.
Imagine, an Olds Rocket block, spinning some SBC internals with Buick 15-degree heads. Yeah, that's the ticket.
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Racer
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
Re: 1969 Olds Rocket Block (HDIronman)
I believe the "Rocket Block" was originally the Olds 350 diesel engine. However Chevy heads will not fit the Olds diesel block. You would have to build it using Olds parts. When the Olds diesel died, G.M. had the tooling for the engine, so they changed it to fit S.B. Chevy pieces and marketed it through G.M. Performance Parts as the Rocket Block. I think it has since been discontinued. If you want something similar, you could get a Dart block.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,727
Likes: 38
From: Fremont CA
Re: 1969 Olds Rocket Block (Russ Bellinis)
The "Rocket Block" refers to a small block cast iron Chevy type block with a raised cam bore (0.400"), wide oil pan rails for big stroker cranks (wer'e talking a custom oil pan here!) and they can be std or tall deck. These are the castings they use for 450 cu/in small block motors, but many details are unique. There are cheaper aftermarket alternatives like the World Motown and Dart blocks.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 708
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From: somewhere south of normal
Re: 1969 Olds Rocket Block (Solid LT1)
Thanks everyone for your knowledge and answers. I passed on the deal and will soon have my 355 back in the car. Hope to be driving by end of May.
:cool:
:cool:
