The 31 olds

[DCIV]

Okay bawc….if you haven’t noticed…I really can’t turn off my brain. It will go from vehicle to vehicle and even vehicles that I don’t have (like I would love to put a ecoboost 2.0 in an old school ford ranger splash). But I have been thinking about the olds a lot lately. The model A is cool but not my thing, but the olds is actually cool. Plus the model a is like a test, the olds is mine to do whatever I want.

I have friends that make rat rods, I have purist friends, and almost all of them are telling me to keep this olds as stock as I can. I want to go through it with you all and get some honest thoughts.

First, he told me he quit driving it because the Babbitt bearings were going out. He also said the rear snd is out (but he talked about some sort of belt in the rear end…never heard of such a thing). It also use to be an amazing blue that he repainted to brown. It’s a good paint job but it’s not original.

Here is a good example of the car on BaT. https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1931- ... ile-f31-3/

These are the pics I have, also all not seen parts seem to be there just not on.






The last one you can see the blue if use to be.

Now my mind has thought about getting it running as is. Put some thicker oil in it, figure out or fix the rear snd and go with it.

I also don’t know if the front hood is wide enough for a V8, with the steering gear and what not. But obviously LS has been thought about.

I have even thought about S10 frame, and cutting it as need, reweld, and so forth. Yes I have a welder buddy who welds for a living that can do such a thing.

But also if it’s not wide enough. Do I go with something like a 1jz? Do I go with a jeep 4.0 carb motor? Something inline that would obviously work. Do I rework the flat head 6 to get some more power?

Honestly, I want to be able to drive it. So while you can redo it and make it driveable, hydro brakes, automatic, correct sized tires would all be HUGE to actually drive it.

Soooo….what does bawc say?


Coop

[Jeff V.]

The number one question I have for anything not carbed.

Who will do the wiring?

[DCIV]

[quote=""Jeff V.""]The number one question I have for anything not carbed.

Who will do the wiring?[/quote]

That is such an amazing question!!! I believe they make harness just for putting LS in and making it turn key with an ecu. I’m sure it would be cheaper to do the wiring and flash the ecu. But we all know that’s not me.


Coop

[Jeff V.]

I don't think those are as plug and play as you imagine they are.

Here's a very, very basic example. A modern engine has a check engine light. Where does that go and how do you hook it up?

Another basic example. The wiring to the throttle-by-wire pedal is too short. Now what?

What are you going to do for a speedometer?

[DCIV]

[quote=""Jeff V.""]I don't think those are as plug and play as you imagine they are.

Here's a very, very basic example. A modern engine has a check engine light. Where does that go and how do you hook it up?

Another basic example. The wiring to the throttle-by-wire pedal is too short. Now what?

What are you going to do for a speedometer?[/quote]

I just looked at some of these harnesses. Like 140-180 for ones. They plug into a dash. Not sure where or how I would wanna hook up the dash, prefer something pretty hidden minus maybe some warning lights and a speedometer. Can you not just get an extension for the throttle by wire?

The main reason to do an LS swap is so many do it that I feel like there will be plenty of sources for help. Maybe not, I’m sure you know way more about how all that GM stuff works than I do. I don’t pretend not to. But I do know it’s done a lot.


Coop

[Jeff V.]

An LS swap would be really well supported. That's not my point. Do you really want to go consult the internet every time you run into a minor electrical hiccup?

You ended up hotwiring your VR4 wipers because you couldn't troubleshoot the actual problem. You've been talking about a dual battery setup for the Avalanche for over two years with no progress. And now you want to attempt swapping a modern computer controlled engine into something 90 years old?

You need to think long and hard about whether or not you're actually capable of this. I've had to do the same thing myself recently. It really sucks.

[DCIV]

To be fair, I had multiple people look at the wipers and they couldn’t figure it out either.

The avalanche is because so many reviews I read the battery isolator messes up and leaves both batteries dead. I go back and forth between doing that or just hooking up two batteries like one huge one.

I do know I’m not capable of everything. I think I know enough people local that if I do end up with an LS issue I can get it fixed, if it be wiring or not.

That being said, yes a carburetor would be easier. But not what I want. If I did a v8 I might be talked into a flat head v8 because it would be cool. But more likely a LS swap.

You could have made that 3.8 run. You just didn’t want to Hotwire it like I would. If I had to do something like that on the olds I would put a hidden battery kill switch and make it so it starts off a button. That’s the main difference here. You love stuff working the way it could have worked from the factory. Infact you could find a way to have the trans part for the H3 made. I bet you know what you would do. Yeah cutting one down, have one custom one off…there are ways. You just don’t like it because it’s not how it should be. I’m not that picky. What works…what will get me to my end result? A cut off wheel to an OS? Sweet, mark where.

You never told me what you would pick though? Which way would you run it?


Coop

[Jeff V.]

I really like the Toyota inline 6 idea.

[DCIV]

[quote=""Jeff V.""]I really like the Toyota inline 6 idea.[/quote]

You think electrical wise that would be easier?


Coop

[ChargerX3]

You should do a simple project. Don’t get in over your head unless you have support close by.

[DCIV]

[quote=""ChargerX3""]You should do a simple project. Don’t get in over your head unless you have support close by.[/quote]

What good is a simple project if it’s not what you want? Simple is any other engine than factory that is a carb, but that sucks…I’ve had carb vehicles. They do okay. But it’s not really what I want.


Coop

[ChargerX3]

By all means do what you want but doing an engine and efi swap on an older car isn’t a small feat. If you had support nearby I would say go for it.

[DCIV]

[quote=""ChargerX3""]You should do a simple project. Don’t get in over your head unless you have support close by.[/quote]

And what would you do?

Coop

[ChargerX3]

I’m a different case. I used to have a passion and career that involved motor vehicles so I know enough to get into trouble.

I like firefighting but you won’t find me jumping into a blaze prior to having proper PPE and extensive firefighting and medical training.

[DCIV]

[quote=""ChargerX3""]I’m a different case. I used to have a passion and career that involved motor vehicles so I know enough to get into trouble.

I like firefighting but you won’t find me jumping into a blaze prior to having proper PPE and extensive firefighting and medical training.[/quote]

Dude…..this isn’t the question. Lol.

At the end of the day I will be fine. No matter which option I pick. I promise.

So again, what would you do?


Coop