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Buick Olds 350 (VIN R) specs: 350 ci (5.7L) 8-cylinder, 4.057 x 3.385 in (103 x 86 mm) bore and stroke. Built 1977–1980. Used in the Buick Electra.
The Buick Olds 350 (VIN R) is oversquare — the 4.057" bore exceeds the 3.385" stroke by 19.9% — a layout that favors airflow and RPM over leverage at the crank. The 3.385" stroke does not reach 4,000 ft/min of mean piston speed until about 7,100 RPM, so piston speed is not what limits this engine's revs — valvetrain and breathing are. Each of the 8 cylinders displaces 43.8 ci (717 cc).
It is one of 11 engines in the Buick 350ci family, all of them 350 ci — the differences between them are in compression, heads and rating, not displacement. 4 factory variants share these dimensions across 1977–1980.
| Displacement | 350 ci / 5.7 L |
|---|---|
| Bore | 4.057" |
| Stroke | 3.385" |
| Cylinders | 8 |
| Configuration | V8 |
| Compression ratio | 7.9–8.5:1 (published figures vary) |
| Bore/stroke ratio | 1.199 |
How to tell which you have: The 5th character of the VIN is the engine code: R is the Oldsmobile-built 350 4-bbl, fitted mainly to California and high-altitude cars. An Olds block has the oil-fill tube at the front of the intake manifold and the distributor at the rear.
| Fuel type | gas |
|---|---|
| Firing order | 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 |
| Years | 1977–1980 |
| Bore/stroke character | 1.199 — oversquare — bore exceeds stroke, which favours higher RPM and larger valves |
|---|---|
| Mean piston speed at 6,000 RPM | 3,385 ft/min — conservative for a street engine |
| Displacement per cylinder | 43.8 ci |
Each link opens the calculator with this engine's specs already filled in.
These records share identical bore, stroke, displacement and compression. They differ by model year and factory power rating.
| Year | Advertised HP | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | — | Olds 350 (VIN R) |
| 1978 | — | Olds 350 (VIN R) |
| 1979 | — | Olds 350 (VIN R) |
| 1980 | — | Olds 350 (VIN R) |
3 factory vehicles, 1977–1980. Each year opens that model's engine table.