LS3 1968 Oldsmobile F85 Swap
06-09-2010, 10:00 PM
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LS3 1968 Oldsmobile F85 Swap So, here we gone embarking on a little engine swap into my 1968 Olds F85 Post Coupe. I've had this car since I was 15, 33 now...a few extra bucks in my pocket so it's time for paint and a serious engine swap.
Car was an original a 1 owner 2 bbl 350 2 speed car. During H.S it was swapped over to a 355 Olds with a TH350, swapped gears out to 3:90's.....tons of fun, but college came calling and real life hit. No time to messin' with the car for a few years, but times have changed and it's time to make the car what I've always wanted it to be.
This site has been a huge help during the swap. I hope you enjoy the pics and if you have questions, just ask. I'll be posting pics as I can. Thanks for stopping in to see my Sick F85.
Attached is a pic of the car back in HS in basically stock form less the olds engine mods and gears
Car was an original a 1 owner 2 bbl 350 2 speed car. During H.S it was swapped over to a 355 Olds with a TH350, swapped gears out to 3:90's.....tons of fun, but college came calling and real life hit. No time to messin' with the car for a few years, but times have changed and it's time to make the car what I've always wanted it to be.
This site has been a huge help during the swap. I hope you enjoy the pics and if you have questions, just ask. I'll be posting pics as I can. Thanks for stopping in to see my Sick F85.
Attached is a pic of the car back in HS in basically stock form less the olds engine mods and gears
06-09-2010, 10:47 PM
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The paint begins..... So, we go from 40+ year old decent looking paint to a new high tech two stage base coat, clear coat with wayyyyyy to much sanding in between. lets just say i barely have a shoulder left and I truly have a new appreciation for body and paint guys. Thanks again to my Buddy Tyler for the killer prep and paint work....you're right, it was all worth it!
06-12-2010, 11:11 PM
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Engine install pics of the LS3 and trans getting dropped in for the first time....Edelbrock mounts fit very well in addition to the poly engine mounts. I used chevy small block frame mounts in place of the factory Olds units.
Plenty of transmission clearance next to the fire wall, no need for hacking anything. Transmission is a TH400. Fit like a glove on the stock cross-member in the stock TH400 frame hole locations.
The Edelbrock headers look very nice. The passenger side #8 header tube is going to need some slight modification to fit without rubbing on the frame....so much for drop in! The is the only small modification that has been needed thus far with the swap.
Plenty of transmission clearance next to the fire wall, no need for hacking anything. Transmission is a TH400. Fit like a glove on the stock cross-member in the stock TH400 frame hole locations.
The Edelbrock headers look very nice. The passenger side #8 header tube is going to need some slight modification to fit without rubbing on the frame....so much for drop in! The is the only small modification that has been needed thus far with the swap.
06-12-2010, 11:30 PM
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So, some slight mods are needed to the Muscle car style or HUmmer H3 oil pan as noted in the stickys...the right hand sight steering interferes with one of the cast tabs on the pan. Not a big deal, nothing the Dremel cant handle. Some quick shots of the engine mounts and oil pan tab thats needs to be removed.
The pan does hang a bit under the frame crossmember, I'll be using this pan for a while, then looking for an alternative.
The swap to this point has been pretty easy and has required nothing beyond basic mechanical ability and some light fabrication and grinding.
The pan does hang a bit under the frame crossmember, I'll be using this pan for a while, then looking for an alternative.
The swap to this point has been pretty easy and has required nothing beyond basic mechanical ability and some light fabrication and grinding.
06-12-2010, 11:37 PM
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Accessories arrived and are installed. Pace performance has a pretty reasonable price for the Non-AC kit at just under $500 with the alternator and all the brackets. New Power brake booster installed as well.....new parts come in and watching my wallet shrink daily!
I'm told the power steering box sometimes has some interference with the drive pulley, we'll have to see what happens.
I'm told the power steering box sometimes has some interference with the drive pulley, we'll have to see what happens.
06-13-2010, 12:04 AM
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The Harness arrived today from Speartech. After much deliberation, I decided to go with them after hearing nothing but good things about their work.
The kit comes with everything you need with pretty clear directions on the hook up. Fuses, pedal and other items are included with the kit. I had mine set up for the LS2 mass air per their suggestions.
I also had the harness with 5 ft of lead from the fire wall to the inside of the car. This gave me plenty of room to get the ECU into the glove box for a clean install. After the initial install I quite happy, the harness fit like it was painted to the engine.
I had some interesting time at CSk and other autoparts store looking through their coolant hose sections to find the right bends and diameters to fit the swap. I have two thoughts after this: 1) You can spend a lot of time trying to make something work or 2) invest the cash and have some custom aluminum hose bent up for you to keep things looking nice, this is what i plan on doing after everything is up and running.
No big issues on power steering pulley clearance against the PS box. However I was not able to use the Russell fittings that many other seem to have success with. I was able to find some great info on here about using existing GM car PS lines cutting and brazing fittings on them to adapt the hoses to work.
The kit comes with everything you need with pretty clear directions on the hook up. Fuses, pedal and other items are included with the kit. I had mine set up for the LS2 mass air per their suggestions.
I also had the harness with 5 ft of lead from the fire wall to the inside of the car. This gave me plenty of room to get the ECU into the glove box for a clean install. After the initial install I quite happy, the harness fit like it was painted to the engine.
I had some interesting time at CSk and other autoparts store looking through their coolant hose sections to find the right bends and diameters to fit the swap. I have two thoughts after this: 1) You can spend a lot of time trying to make something work or 2) invest the cash and have some custom aluminum hose bent up for you to keep things looking nice, this is what i plan on doing after everything is up and running.
No big issues on power steering pulley clearance against the PS box. However I was not able to use the Russell fittings that many other seem to have success with. I was able to find some great info on here about using existing GM car PS lines cutting and brazing fittings on them to adapt the hoses to work.
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01-28-2012, 09:03 PM
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1968 Olds F-85 Love your car! I also have one however yours now has much more under the hood. I have kept mine all original with the original V6 engine. Love the changes you made keep it up. Added a couple of pictures of mine.
03-14-2012, 10:12 PM
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Some new pics Some pics of the car from over last summer, just about done, grill and emblems to go before she's finished off. New customer offset SST III wheels from Specialty Wheel....15x8 in front with 235-50's and 15x10 in rear with 295-50's. These things fit like a glove and really help the look while keeping it looking like it should.
Last edited by SickF85; 03-14-2012 at 10:22 PM.
