Turns out I might be putting myself in a yellow 71 Cutlass soon... it has the "rocket 350" as the guy put it. I don't kniow much about Oldsmobile muscle engines, so I figured I'd ask you guys here..

What can you tell me about this engine and car???

Thanks!!!

 

need to know more about the engine. rocket was the trade name for oldsmobile engines at that time just as vortec is now for gm trucks. the rocket part was part of it's sales pitch and isn't anything special. there were higher output 350's available, but not enough info to say if it's what you have there.

 

here's some stuff i found while looking for info on my 72 Cutlass
http://www.oldsmobileracersonline.com/

 

If it is not a 442, it is a stock Olds 350. This is a pretty stout
engine though especially if it has a 4 barrel carb on it.

 

Actually I just looked it up and the 350 was the only engine
available in 1971 for the Cutlass, they were all 4 barrel and it
should be in the 250hp area.

 

Thats a nice car, my uncle had one same setup even the same color. The 350 rocket isnt a rocket at all but is a strong engine. If you can keep that car OG it should be worth some $$$$.


SSC

 

I should say now that that is not the actual car... rather it is the only picture like it that I could find at the time...

I have to gather details from the man, but from what I understand it is a base model Cutlass with a 350 engine. Not the Hurst/Olds model, nor the 442 or "S" model... it's currently painted yellow and it is getting head work done to it before he sells it... I'm getting a sort of inside deal... knowing it's for sale before it goes in the papers kind of thing.

If I get the car (BIG if!) I'll keep it yellow, but put the black racing strips on it and paint the grille black like in that picture (stock base was a chrome grille I believe)... I may luck out on this part being that the guy that is selling it is a body shop guy, and is a rather decent painter.

I'll keep you updated on it... I'm going to have a peek at it tomorrow.

 

swapmaster: the cutlass was also available with a 455 up until the end of the 1976 model year.

 

Damn, I should have flipped the page. Yup even made a hypo
455 through 74.

 

the 350 rocket was the high output 350 4bbl, if its a base cutlass it will eather have a straght 6 or 350 2bbl if he did swap engines then its possible, the olds 350 IMO is just as good as the chev 350, its not a bad engine, but its no 455

 

The carb choices for 1971 were.

1 (6-250) AT
2 (6-250) MT
3 (8-350) 2BC, AT
4 (8-350) 2BC, MT
5 (8-350) 4BC
6 (8-455) 2BC
7 (8-455) 4BC, 4-4-2, AT
8 (8-455) 4BC, 4-4-2, MT
9 (8-455) 4BC, exc. 4-4-2

 

the rocket wasn't only the high output. the rocket name was used on many, in fact the name was canceled after a lawsuit from chevy 350's in oldsmobile's using the rocket name (somewhere around 1978 i believe it was).