1977 Oddfire 231

I just picked up a 1977 Buick oddfire 231 from a Skylark. It has 34,000 original miles and runs fine, the guy replaced it with a 350 for more power. It is block number 1254083.

Can anyone tell me if this is the last of the oddfires, with the olds v8 connecting rods. I am leaving tomorrow morning and wont be around the engine till next friday or I would just tear it down and find out.

Also, are there any other special features about the last of the oddfires, i have heard a few rumors and legends, but can find no biblical facts.

Thanks in advance.

 

looks like an even fire based on this?

http://www.earlycj5.com/tech/engines/225/castingNumbers.shtml

 

There is no such thing as Olds connecting rods for the buick 231 (thats a myth), they used rods that were changed to cap screws instead of the old style stud and nut design and the beam design was changed along with the balancing pad that was cast on the rod. These became standard on all oddfires once Buick bought the tooling back. Pat Ganahl's v6 performance book will tell you all you need to know about these motors.

 

It says and I quote Olds style rods, not Oldmobile rods. Oldmobile and Buick had already swapped to cap screw style rods by 1970 but the motor was Built by Kaiser then not GM so they never saw the change until they were bought back by GM and updated to run on the same assembly line as the 350 Buick, which was already running this style of rod like all GM engines. GM made this change as soon as they bought the engine back, not as a transition thing. I mentioned this when it was originally posted but it was ignored or forgotten.

 

http://www.earlycj5.com/tech/engines...gNumbers.shtml

This shows my block 1254083 as an oddfire with straight pin crank and the first labeling of even fire must just be a misprint as the rest states oddfire.

I can agree with the Olds "style rods" although olds did run the same rods in the mid to late sixties in some of their v8's, I have some of the old hotrod magazine engine manuals back at the apartment I can verify some info/specs from. I had looked into finding these Olds rods for my super charger buildup on my dauntless :v6: .

I am now considering this oddfire for my blower build especially since it hasnt had nearly as rough a life as some of my other odds.

Anything else anyone knows about the last models would be greatly appreciated.

PS-I have the pat ganahl, buick power source, etc, and my smokey yunick 355 hp buick magazine is in the mail. I read them front to back.

 

I have examined these kind of 1977 odd-fires. and pulled the pans and timing covers in junk yards. These are my personal observations in the field---

This model looks like an even-fire on the outside-- but have double throw cranks. The rods are heavyier than an earlier odd-fire. These have later style oldsmobile pistons. These have single piece cams . These have a lower oil dip-stick casting hole, From what I have gathered ,Only a few were made like this in early 1977 just before the even-fire was issued. Several years ago I came across three engines in a pile in a junk yard that were 1977 odd-fires, next to a Grand National. Someone was a Buick Engine buff and unloaded their junk. I would have salvaged one, but had my own mess at home to clean-up as it was so I let them lay-- and be scrapped.

 

Now what about the heads?
I know that my 225 valve covers dont fit my 75-77 231 of. One corner of each head is slightly angled where as the 225 is the same shape on all 4 corners. Did the 231 of have different heads?

 

I just checked the dist cap, havent pulled the pan yet. plan to this weekend.

I dont know about the heads, certainly have enough lying around, If I remember I'll check to see if there are any differences aside from oiling.