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The Oldsmobile Rocket V8 was the first post-war OHV V8 at General Motors. Production started in 1949, with a new generation introduced in 1964. Like Pontiac, Olds continued building its own V8 engine family for decades, finally adopting the corporate Chevrolet 350 small-block and Cadillac Northstar engine only in the 1990s.
All Oldsmobile V8s use a 90° bank angle, and most share a common stroke dimension: 3.4375 in for early Rockets, 3.6875 in for later generation 1 motors, and 3.385 in for generation 2. The engine could be classified as a small-block, but Oldsmobile used a higher deck hight for a 4.25 in stroke to boost displacement to a big-block-like 455 in³.
The Rocket V8 was the subject of many first and lasts in the automotive industry. It was the first mass-produced OHV V8 in 1949; the first use of electronic port fuel injection in 1976; and was the last carbureted engine in 1990.
Generation 1
The first generation of Oldsmobile V8s ranges from 1949 until 1964. Each engine in this generation is quite similar with the same size block and heads. Some of these engines were shared with GMC's trucks, as noted below, from 1957 through 1962.
303
The 303 in³ engine had hydraulic lifters, an oversquare bore:stroke ratio, a counterweighted forged crankshaft, aluminum pistons, floating wristpins, and a dual-plane intake manifold. The 303 was produced from 1949 until 1953. Bore was 3.75 in and stroke was 3.4375 in. Cadillac also used this engine design in the early 1950s.
Rocket 88
The original Oldsmobile V8 was originally to be advertised as "Kettering Power" after chief engineer Charles Kettering, but company policy disallowed the use of his name. So the engine was sold as the Rocket 88. It won 8 out of 10 NASCAR races in 1950.
303 Rocket 88s were available from 1949 through 1953. 1949 through 1951 303 Rocket 88s came with a 2-barrel carburetor for 135 hp and 253 ft.lbf. 1952 88 and Super 88 V8s used a 4-barrel carb for 160 hp and 265 ft.lbf, while 1953 versions upped the compression from 7.5:1 to 8.0:1 for 165 hp and 275 ft.lbf. For comparison, a 1949 Ford Flathead V8 produced just 100 hp.
Applications:
324
The 324 in³ version was also produced from 1954 until 1956. Bore was increased to 3.875 in and stroke remained the same at 3.4375 in. All 324s came with 4-barrel carburetors. The 324 was shared with GMC trucks.
1954 88 and Super 88 V8s used an 8.25:1 compression ratio for 170 and 185 hp and 295 and 300 ft.lbf respectively. 1955 upped the compression to 8.5:1 for 185 hp and 320 ft.lbf in the 88 and 202 hp and 332 ft.lbf in the Super 88 and 98. Compression was up again in 1956 for 230 hp and 340 ft.lbf in the 88 and 240 hp and 350 ft.lbf in the Super 88 and 98.
Applications:
370
A special variant called the 370 was used in GMC trucks alone.
371
371s were produced from 1957 through 1963. Bore was now 4 in and stroke was increased to 3.6875 in. 1959 and 1960 371s used green painted valve covers. 4-barrel models used 9.25:1 compression in 1957 and 10:1 in 1958 for 277 hp and 400 ft.lbf and 305 hp and 410 ft.lbf respectively. A 1958 2-barrel version was still impressive at 265 hp and 390 ft.lbf, but power nosed downward for the 1959 and 1960 88 model: 270 hp and 390 ft.lbf for 1959 and 240 hp and 375 ft.lbf for 1960.
The 371 was also used in GMC trucks.
Applications:
J-2 Golden Rocket
The 1957 and 1958 J-2 Golden Rocket produced 312 hp and 415 ft.lbf with a tri-power six-barrel carburetor.
394
Bore was up to 4.125 in for the largest first-generation Rocket, the 394 in³. 394s were produced from 1959 through 1964 and were available on many Olds models. All 394s used 4-barrel carburetors.
The 394 replaced the 371 in Super 88 and 98 cars for 1959 and 1960 and a detuned version was used in the 88 for 1961 and the Dynamic 88 for 1962 through 1964.
Applications:
Sky Rocket
The 1961 through 1963 Sky Rocket (and 1964 Rocket) was a 394 in³ engine. The 10:1 compression 1961 model produced 325 hp and 435 ft.lbf, while the 10.25:1 1962-1964 version upped power to 330 hp and 440 ft.lbf. A special 1963 10.5:1 version was also produced with 345 hp.
Applications:
Starfire
The 1964 Starfire produced 345 hp and 440 ft.lbf for the 1964 98 Custom-Sports Coupe. It was optional on 1964 98s and Super 88s.
Aluminum 215
The Oldsmobile/Buick 215 V8 is documented further under Buick V8 engine page.
Turbo Jetfire
For 1962 and 1963, a turbocharged version produced 215 hp and 300 ft.lbf. This was the first turbo car ever offered for sale.
Generation 2
The second generation of Oldsmobile V8s was produced from 1964 through 1990. Most of these engines were very similar, using the same bore centers, although "big-block" versions were produced with a 10.625 in deck height rather than 9.33 in. Big-block and Diesel versions also used a larger (3.0 in instead of 2.5 in) main journal for increased strength. All generation-2 small-block Olds V8s use a stroke of 3.385 in, and all but one big-block use 4.25 in.
330
The first second-generation Olds V8 was the 1964 330 in³. It introduced the standard 3.385 in stroke and used a 3.938 in bore and was produced until 1967. 330s were painted gold.
Jetfire Rocket
For 1967, a 330 in³ Jetfire Rocket was produced.
400
The 400 in³ version was the first tall-deck "big-block" Olds. Two 400 versions were made:
- 1965 through 1967 400s used a nearly square 4 in bore and 3.98 in stroke
- 1968 and 1969 400s shared the Olds big-block standard 4.25 in stroke with the 455 but used a very undersquare 3.87 in bore to reduce emmissions and cost
All 400s were painted bronze.
4-4-2 Rocket
The 1967 4-4-2 Rocket was a 400 in³ V8.
425
The 425 in³ big-block was produced from 1965 through 1967. It used a 4.126 in bore and 3.975 in stroke. Most 425s were painted red.
Super Rocket
The standard 1965-1967 425 in³ was called the Super Rocket.
Starfire
A special 1967 425 in³ V8 was the Starfire.
Tornado Rocket
Another 1967 425 in³ was the Ultra High Compression Tornado Rocket. Unlike most 425s, this version was painted blue.
455
A larger big-block was introduced for 1968 at 455 in³ to replace the 425s. It kept the 425's 4.126 in bore and bumped the stroke to the Olds big-block standard of 4.25 in. 1968-1969 455s were painted red, while 1970-1976 versions were metallic blue. Although production of the 455 ended in 1976, a small number were produced through 1978 for power equipment use. Output ranged from 210 hp to 400 hp.
Applications:
350
Produced from 1968 through 1980, the Olds 350 was entirely different from the famous Chevrolet 350. It used a 4.057 in bore and Oldsmobile small-block standard 3.385 in stroke. 1968-1972 350s were painted gold, while 1973-1974 models were metallic blue. Output ranged from 160 hp to 320 hp.
One notable thing about the Oldsmobile 350 was that the first electronic port fuel injection system was introduced on this engine in a Cadillac Seville in 1976.
Applications:
L34
Oldsmobile's own L34 350 in³ (5.7 L) V8 was used in the 1976-1980 Hurst 442 models. The L34 used a 4-barrel carburetor.
LF9
The LF9 was a Diesel version of the 350 in³ (5.7 L) V8. It was produced from 1978 to 1985 and was used by most domestic GM marques. 1980-1985 versions used roller lifters.
403
The 455 big-block Olds V8 was replaced in 1977 with the 403 in³. It used a wide 4.351 in bore with the Olds small-block standard deck and 3.385 in stroke. The bore was so wide that it was "siamesed" - there was no space for coolant flow between the cylinders. This led to overheating problems. Like the 455, it was painted metallic blue.
The Olds 455 was used by Buick, Cadillac, and Pontiac in addition to Oldsmobile. The engine was only produced until 1979. Output was 185 hp and 320 ft.lbf.
Applications:
260
A smaller V8 was produced for the 1970s by decreasing the bore to just 3.5 in.
265
Another small second-generation engine was the 265.
LV8
The LV8 was a 260 in³ (4.3 L) version produced from 1975 to 1982. It produced just 105 hp and 195 ft.lbf.
LF7
The LF7 was a Diesel version of the 260 in³ (4.3 L) V8 produced in 1979 and 1980. Output was just 90 hp and 170 ft.lbf.
307
A slightly larger 307 in³ version was introduced in 1980. It uses the Oldsmobile 3.385 in stroke and a 3800-like 3.8 in bore. All 307s were painted black. It was used in most Oldsmobile models, as well as those from Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and Pontiac. Every 307 was carbureted, and all used 4-barrel carbs. In fact, the 1990 5.0 L Olds V8 was the last carbureted engine on the market in the United States!
Applications:
LV2
Oldsmobile used the popular LV2, a 307 in³ (5.0 L) engine, from 1980 to 1990. It was used by every domestic GM automobile marque. Roller lifters were added in 1985.
There were two versions, the standard Y version produced just 140 hp to 150 hp. The high-output 9 version was available in the 1983 and 1984 Hurst/Olds. All LV2s feature a 4-barrel carburetor.
Y-version applications:
9-version applications:
LG8
The LG8 was a modern 5.0 L High-Output derivative of the LV2 produced from 1985 to 1987. Performance modifications included improved intake and a "hot" camshaft. It was offered in the 442 version of the Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. Output for the first year was 180 hp and 235 ft.lbf, but the addition of roller lifters for 1986 tweaked that to 170 hp and 245 ft.lbf.
Applications:
305
The 305 used in Oldsmobiles was actually a Chevrolet V8 engine.
Generation 3
Oldsmobile stopped producing Rocket V8s in 1990. The company later introduced a new vehicle, the Oldsmobile Aurora, with a new generation of V8 power. Based on the Cadillac Northstar engine, the Oldsmobile Aurora engine was a DOHC design.
See also
From the 1950s through the 1970s, each GM division had its own V8 engine family. Many were shared among other divisions, but each design is most-closely associated with its own division:
GM later standardized on the later generations of the Chevrolet design:
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